Charleston down the Mariners

Photos and match report by Mike Buytas, a-league.com Match Reporter

3.Jul.2002

Brit Fest II. Fish and Chips, live music, fabulously restored MG's and Triumph cars. Fireworks. The weather was great, the beer was cheap, and the soccer was…well, we won!

The first half wasn't without excitement though. For me it started with the starting line-ups. It seems that the Battery signed another forward, Jake Edwards, a British striker form Telford United, to help aleve some of the injury woes we're experiencing at Blackbaud. Well, old Jake was starting as number nine. I don't know how long he had been training with the Battery, but he didn't seem to have been there long enough to even have his name on the back of his jersey. He made a good impression on me last night as he whipped a nice header just over the cross bar and had a goal disallowed after committing a foul on his way to the goal. Once he gels with the team and gets use to the way the team plays, I think he'll be another nice addition made by Tony, Nigel and Coach Ramsey.

The second big bit of excitement was the red card on Taly Goods in the 19th minute. The ball was played into space by the Battery midfield to an on rushing Diaz Arce. Goods came out to gobble up the ball but found the ball not moving to him as fast as Diaz Arce was moving to the ball. I'm not sure if Goods thought he was in the box or why he didn't attempt to kick the ball but he grabbed the ball a couple feet out side the box and attempted to jump back into the box after catching it. The ref immediately blew his whistle and pulled out the red card, a bit harsh I thought. The Mariners bench had to make some quick decisions and brought off Darin Lowis for back-up keeper Joe Larson.

Down to ten men, the Mariners did well to hold the Battery who couldn't seem to knock one into the goal. The first half ended 0-0 with the Battery out-shooting the Mariners 9-1.

The second half started much the same as the first half ended. With the Battery knocking on the door but the Mariners refusing to let them in. But Assistant Coach Mike "Auggie" Anhaeuser, taking the reigns from Coach Ramsey who had to fly back to England on family business, brought in some fresh legs in Kyle Swords and Ryan Trout in the 52nd and 58th minutes respectively. It wasn't long before Trout made and impact on the game. Justin Evans feed a perfect ball through the defense to a waiting Ryan Trout at the top of the box who proceeded to see if he could knock it though the net. 1-0 to the Battery in the 67th minute.

12 minutes later it was Trout again after receiving the ball from Matt Farris he completed a 50-yard dash, beating ex-Battery defender, Gabe Eastman, to score his second of the night. 2-0 Battery.

Charleston was dominating the play now and Trout scored his third in the 84th minute, again on a ball played through by Matt Farris giving Ryan his first career hat-trick. 3-0 to the Battery in front of 3,395 fans at Blackbaud stadium.

Todd Hoffard kept a clean sheet for his third strait start. It's nice to have such a great back-up keeper in Hoffard, who would arguably be a starter on any other team in the A-league.

After the match the Brit Fest celebration continued with fireworks and the band continuing to play the old British invasion tunes up in the packed as usual Three Lions Pub.

It was a good result for the Battery, solidifying Charleston as the Eastern Conference leaders and extending their winning run to 11 league matches and 12 in a row. It was also good to see Matt Farris back on the pitch after fighting a niggling Achilles tendon problem. Terry Phelan and Dusty Hudock both dressed tonight as substitutes but neither saw any playing time. Hopefully they will both be back before to long. Neither Conway, Cozier, or Donnelly was dressed for the match tonight but all were present