Thursday, August 15, 2013
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery defeated Antigua Barracuda FC 3-0 on Thursday evening at Blackbaud Stadium in front of a crowd of 3,501 fans. Forward Dane Kelly led the way with two goals as the Battery closed out their regular season with a win, and moved into third place in the USL PRO standings ahead of the weekend's final games of the season.
The Battery have qualified for the USL PRO Playoffs, but must wait until all the week’s results are in to know whether it will host a quarterfinal match at Blackbaud Stadium next Saturday night. The top four teams are guaranteed a home quarterfinal match.
The Battery started well but Antigua goalkeeper Molvin James kept Charleston off the scoresheet with a couple of good early saves. James denied Mike Azira with a good diving stop in the 23rd minute then turned away a point-blank Jose Cuevas effort minutes later.
Charleston got the breakthrough goal in the 34th minute after winger Quinton Griffith played a cross in from the right side. Antigua defender Lawson Robinson tried to head the ball clear but instead turned the ball into his own goal as it looped into the left corner of th net.
Charleston doubled its lead 10 minutes into the second half after a goal-mouth scramble following a corner kick. Kelly reacted first to the loose ball and drilled home from an acute angle on the right side.
Kelly scored his second and the Battery’s third in the 66th minute as midfielder Ben Fisk picked him out at the back-post. Kelly met the cross and finished neatly with a good first-time effort that flew home. The goal gave Kelly, who was awarded the Battery's Offensive Player of the Year award at halftime, a team-high 11 tallies for the season.
The win lifts the Battery (13-7-6) into third place in the USL PRO standings ahead of the remaining fixtures this weekend. For up to date playoff information please visit www.charlestonbattery.com.