Charleston SC. The Charleston Battery came out with all guns blazing tonight at Blackbaud Stadium as the home side scored six unanswered goals against the US Pro 40. 3,202 Battery fans reveled in a comprehensive Charleston performance that showcased some of the potent offensive talent that the current Charleston battery squad contains.
The first goal of the game came in only the fifth minute. Striker, Paul Conway knocked the ball forward to his partner, Velko Iotov. The Bulgarian trapped the ball, looked up, then smashed it toward the far right-hand corner. Pro-40 keeper, Matt Nyman dived to his left but he could not prevent the ball from finding the back of the net. Five minutes later the lead was doubled. Again it was Conway with the assist. This time he slotted the ball through the middle to Ivailo Ilarianov. Ivo stroked it into the net and the score was 2-0 to the Battery.
The first-half ended with no further goals scored but during the second period, the floodgates opened. After losing a player through ejection in the 53rd minute Pro-40 were reduced to ten men. Four minutes later Charleston scored its third goal. Dean Sewell sent a great pass from the midfield to Iotov. Iotov found himself free in the box. Unselfishly he flicked the ball to Paul Conway who tapped it into the net.
In the 67th minute Charleston added another. Battery skipper, Nicky Spooner doled out a crushing block-tackle in the center-circle. As his opponent fell to ground the ball popped out and dropped in front of Dean Sewell. Sewell raced away towards goal. The Pro-40 keeper came out to meet him but at the critical moment he slipped the ball towards the target. It rolled into the net and the score was 4-0.
Charleston added two more goals in the final twenty minutes, both scored by substitute forward Mac Cozier. The first came from an Ilarianov assist in the 70th minute. Then in the 84th minute he scored again, this time the crucial pass came from Jon Akin. The goals were Cozier's 6th and 7th of the season. With the win the Battery improves to an overall record of 13 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws, good for 63 points and second place in the Atlantic Division.
The Charleston Battery has two more games remaining in its current home stand. The first is on Wednesday August 9th against the Rochester Raging Rhinos. The second is on Saturday August 12th as Atlantic Division rival the Atlanta Silverbacks visit Blackbaud Stadium. Both games kick off at 7:30 pm.
Charleston Battery Man of the Match: Velko Iotov / Paul Conway.
Line Ups: Battery: Hudock (Campbell 72), Woods, Spooner (Scott 74), Sancho, Warham, Miller, Sewell (Cozier 67), Ilarianov (Saurez 70), Conway, Iotov, Cloutier (Akin 63).
Pro-40: Nyman, Cook, Green, Wilson, Denton, Longo, Asad, Salas (Munoz 45), Trembly, Zuniga, Quijano.
Pro 40: Shots: Battery 15, Pro-40 6.
Saves: Battery (Hudock) 2, Pro-40 (Nyman) 3.
Fouls: Battery 20, Pro-40 7.
Offsides: Battery 14, Pro--40 2.
Corners: Battery 0, Pro-40 6.
Cautions: Battery, Cloutier, Warham, Spooner, Cozier.
Pro-40, Cook, Quijano
Ejections: Quijano.
Weather: warm and muggy.
