Ahead of Saturday home game, Charleston Battery down Wilmington Hammerheads

Image by Charleston Battery

Forwards Seedy Bah and Dane Kelly both scored as the Charleston Battery defeated the Wilmington Hammerheads 2-0 Friday night at Legion Stadium. Charleston goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra also contributed four saves to earn the shutout.

With the win, the Battery (7-5-3) improves to third position in the USL PRO American Division, just one point behind the Richmond Kickers.

Charleston was the brighter of the sides from the opening whistle, and Dane Kelly came close to scoring in only the 4th minute as he flicked a near-post header over the bar. 

In the 22nd minute he threatened to score again, running onto a long pass forward on the left side. Kelly controlled the pass but saw his left-footed strike tipped around the post by Wilmington goalkeeper Kyle Polak.

Andrew Dykstra was called into action a minute later as Hammerheads forward Jyler Noviello ran onto an errant clearance. Noviello smashed a shot at goal, but Dykstra denied him with a diving save.

Seedy Bah broke the deadlock in the 30th minute after some good attacking wing play by defender Mark Wiltse. Wiltse beat his man, then crossed to the near post for Bah to scramble home.

The Battery doubled its lead in the 67th minute with a flowing counter-attack goal. Defender Colin Falvey played the ball into space on the right side for Kelly to run onto. Kelly outpaced the first defender then cut inside the second before blasting home a left-footed shot.

Wilmington tried to respond and were stopped again by Dykstra in the 78th minute. Midfielder Paul Nicholson found some space at the back post, but his shot was saved brilliantly by Dykstra, who just managed to push the ball wide of the goal.

The Battery return to Blackbaud Stadium Saturday night for a 7:30 p.m. match versus the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Fans who bring an unwrapped new toy to donate to Toys for Tots will receive a free ticket

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