Dane Kelly stole the show again as he lifted the Charleston Battery past rivals Wilmington Hammerheads with a sublime first half strike.
Following a visit from the English Premier League’s West Brom just 24 hours previous, regular starters Ricky Garbanzo and Zach Prince were given a rest to start the match, giving way for Dante Marini, who made his third start of the season, and Navion Boyd, who was sporting a goal in each of his last three appearances, scoring a second half equalizer on Friday night, and including one in a 4-0 victory over Harrisburg.
Odisnel Cooper also made a start in-goal for the Battery, having had a bit of a layoff with a shoulder injury, during which time Kevin Corby deputized.
The Hammerheads would create a half chance early on, with new signing Qudus Lawal causing trouble, and nearly getting on the end of a Justin Moose cross after good, patient buildup from the visitors, but the cross had too much power and would go out for a goal kick.
Tom Parratt would get a yellow card in the ninth minute after a bad foul just inside his own half on the left-wing, and would have to be careful for the remainder of the match.
A minute later, Justin Portillo would curl an effort on the right edge of the box toward goal, which had Hammerheads ‘keeper sprawling, but the stopper turned it around his far post for a corner, which led to nothing.
Laval had an effort on 17 minutes, but Cooper in the Battery goal would be equal to the shot.
And a minute later, Dane Kelly would steal the show. He received the ball on the edge of the box from Justin Portillo after some great interchanging play by multiple players on the edge of the box. Kelly would hold the ball up, back into his man, almost as if to look for another connecting pass, but he would then turn his hips ever so slightly, and take a shot from about 18 yards out. Initially looking as if the shot would go over the bar, it dipped at the last-minute, beating the ‘keeper all ends up and nestling into the top corner, opening the scoring.
The goal was Kelly’s 9th of the season, and not his first screamer, either, while Portillo earned his first assist of the season.
Wilmington striker Lawal was through for Wilmington after a great ball from midfield on 25’, but Odisnel Cooper was equal to the effort, staying big and not allowing the frontman to chip him. saving well when he tried to slide the ball along the ground.
Kelly thought he had his second after 33 minutes, after a knockdown in midfield. The striker would receive a through ball on the edge of the box, shooting on the volley. The effort went wide, though it hit the back of the net on the outside, and fooled some fans who thought it had gone in.
Andrae Campbell would surge forward from the left back position on 38′, forcing Cooper into a smart save, and earning a corner. However, the corner was mishit, and after Emanuel Adjetey whiffed at the ball as it came into the six yard box, it was cleared at the second attempt
Wilmington would have a decent attempt at goal a minute after the half time break, a free kick from the left was headed down at the back post, and saved well by Cooper in-goal. The ensuing corners wouldn’t be as fruitful, and the ball was finally cleared.
The Hammerheads would continue to push though, and shortly after, would go down the left side and get a cross in. The cross was cleared for a corner, which led to a Battery counter attack after a good clearance with a two on one. Goalscorer Kelly would get the ball with room to run, but would switch the play after a poor first touch, receiving the ball again inside the box, but the ball was cleared before he could get a shot off.
Zach Prince would replace Navion Boyd in the 54th, to add a bit of fight in midfield to counter and shut down Wilmington’s second half pressure
The Hammerheads’ Brian Ackley would be booked for a push in the back in the his own half on 63′,
Ricky Garbanzo would lead a 3-on-2 for the Battery on 77, playing to Memo Rodriguez, would switched the ball to Maikel Chang, who would make his way into the box before attempting a cross, though it would be cut out by the goalkeeper.
Chang would then fit a ball through for Garbanzo on the right of the area, but his shot from a tough angle would go over the bar.
There was a bit of a mixup at the back for Charleston when wing back Adjetey misjudged a cross, which found its way all the way through, leading to a shot which was saved by Cooper.
Zach Prince could’ve sealed the points late on, when the ball was slotted into him from the wing just outside the box, and he took a crack from range, which had Andre Rawls in the Hammerheads goal diving to his right, but he got his fingertips to it, sending it out for a corner.
Neither team would have a guilt-edged chance in three minutes of stoppage time, and the referee blew for full time, giving the Battery all three points.
Charleston next travel to Toronto to face Toronto FC II on Friday, July 24th. The Hammerheads play host to Lousville FC on Saturday, July 25th.