BY ANDREW MILLER
Of The Post and Courier staff
The Charleston Battery has been a traditionally slow starter this season. It almost cost them a game Monday night against Atlanta.
Almost.
Paul Conway scored two goals and Kevin Anderson had two assists as the Battery rallied to beat the Silverbacks, 3-2, before a crowd of about 2,835 at Blackbaud Stadium.
With the win, Charleston improved to 14-6-1 (64 points) overall and closed to within two points of Central Conference leading Richmond (14-5-3, 66). Atlanta fell to 12-9-1 (55 points).
"It's always a problem for us," Charleston coach Alan Dicks said. "I don't know how many games we've gotten behind in the first half. I would like to get a lead once in a while. But the one thing it shows you is the character of this team.
"It was an intense game, I think people could see there was a lot at stake here. Atlanta came out and played very well in the first half and it just took until the second half for us to start playing up to their level."
The game, delayed 40 minutes due to lightning, was physical by anyone's standards. There were 22 fouls, seven yellow cards and one red card.
"I think that's because there was so much at stake for both teams," Conway said. "We're pretty close in the standings, so this was an important game for both teams and the play reflected that I thought."
Atlanta grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute on Ryan Walker's goal. Walker fielded the ball about 30 yards out, dribbled through a couple of Charleston defenders and then chipped the ball over Battery keeper Dusty Hudock's head and into the net.
Charleston tied the game at 1-1 in the 37th minute on Conway's 23rd goal of the season off a corner kick. Anderson played a beautiful corner kick to the near post that Conway headed past Atlanta keeper Kevin Rueda.
"That's a set play, but like in football, if you execute well, there's really nothing that they can do about it," Conway said. "It was a great ball by Kevin."
Charleston's celebration lasted only a few seconds as Atlanta's Ignace Moleka scored just a minute later to give the Silverbacks a 2-1 advantage.
Moleka got the ball off of a free kick, eluded one Charleston defender and blasted the ball past Hudock for the score and the 2-1 lead.
"They caught us asleep on their second goal," Dicks said. "There's really no excuse."
The Battery tied the game at 2-2 on Mac Cozier's goal in the first minute of the second half. Cozier received a beautiful ball from Jukka Rantala and beat Rueda for the score.
"We knew we didn't play well at the first half and I think everyone wanted to come out in the second half and play better," said Cozier, who scored his ninth goal of the season. "I think that goal gave us the momentum to score that third goal."
Dicks said Cozier's goal couldn't have come at a better time.
Charleston grabbed a 3-2 lead on Conway's second goal of the game in the 63rd minute. It was Anderson again who got things going offensively for the Battery.
Anderson had the ball on the right side and lofted a long pass to Conway on the left side. Conway got behind the Silverbacks' defense and chipped the ball over Rueda's head for the goal.
Goals: A-Ryan Walker, (unassisted) 15th minute; C-Paul Conway (Kevin Anderson), 37th minute; A-Ignace Moleka (unassisted), 38th minute; C-Mac Cozier (Jukka Rantala) 46th minute; C-Paul Conway (Kevin Anderson), 63rd minute.
Shots on goal: Charleston 16; Atlanta 11.
Saves: Charleston 3, Atlanta 3.
Corner kicks: Charleston 4, Atlanta 8.
Fouls: Charleston 11, Atlanta 11.
Yellow cards: Ignace Moleka (Atlanta); Matt Farris (Charleston); Carlos Parra (Atlanta); Shaun McKimming (Atlanta); Sean Michael Callahan (Atlanta); John Ball (Charleston).
Red card: Ihor Dotesenko (Atlanta).
