Friday, April 20, 2012

Battery Ground Eagles, Charlotte 0-3 Charleston

Three goals.  Three points.

The Battery earned another fantastic result Tuesday night, throttling the Charlotte Eagles three goals to nil.  And while the attendance was rather small, the action was far from lacking.  Charleston was well represented by a host of traveling fans and the boys did their part by putting on a good show.

It was all business from the outset, with both teams pushing hard in the opening stages.  Bundu had several good opportunities and remained a threat throughout the match.  Soon after the game found its rhythm, the Battery found the opening goal.  Jose Cuevas delivered in a bending cross to an awaiting Donatelli.  The midfielder headed the ball on frame, slanting across the keeper to score from the back post in the twenty third minute.  Charleston finished off a fine first half offensively with an impressive effort from Ryan Ritcher.  Springing the offside trap, he diced the Eagles' backline and fired past Charlotte GK Eric Reed just before the half.

The second forty-five looked very different and Charlotte looked intent on finding the net.  The Battery defense weathered a tough storm and deterred the Eagle's assault time after time.  Captain Colin Falvey held the line and kept the Charlotte attack at bay.  As the game drew to a close, Charleston regained the upper hand.  The Eagles' attack eventually ran out of steam and Nicki Patterson led the Battery midfield in the quest for another goal.  Reapplying the pressure with fresh substitutes, Charleston found their third three minutes from time.  Ritcher fired another bullet from short range, but this time Reed managed to parry the shot...right into the path of JC Mack that is.  Needless to say, Mack polished off the opportunity leaving Charleston three goals to the good.

It was a complete performance by the Battery and while the three goal tally was impressive, equally impressive was our defensive stand against considerable pressure in the second half.  Charleston have a short break and return to action April 27th against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Blackbaud Stadium.  If they retain Tuesday's form, the Riverhounds will have their work cut out for them.  Another great result for the Black & Gold and a fine start to the new season!  Up the Battery!

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