The Charleston Battery lost a third straight game with a 1-0 loss to the Charlotte Eagles Saturday night at Charlotte Christian Stadium in front of 693. Eagles forward Darryl Roberts scored the lone goal in the 36th minute to lift Charlotte (6-8-2) to victory as the Battery (10-6-0) slipped down into third position in the USL PRO standings.
The first chance of the game fell to the Battery in only the second minute. Charlotte failed to clear a long ball and Charleston midfielder Nicki Paterson was the first to react to the loose ball. Paterson struck the ball well from twenty yards out but his shot curled wide of the post.
Playing as a lone striker Dane Kelly had a couple of good chances in succession. In the 12th minute Kelly found some space but his spinning shot skipped wide of the goal. Then in the 29th minute Kelly was able to break clear of defender Josh Rife but saw his drilled strike well saved by the Eagles goalkeeper Eric Reed.
Charlotte broke the deadlock in the 36th minute after right-midfielder Cheyne Roberts muscled his way past JC Mack. Robert crossed the ball into the middle and forward Darryl Roberts tucked away the chance with a superb curling volley.
The Battery fought back and Kelly almost leveled just before the break with a twisting run that allowed him to pull the ball back onto his left foot just outside the box. Kelly shaped a shot at the goal but the ball just dipped over the cross-bar.
Charleston pressed forward after the break looking for an equalizer but rode their luck defensively as the game began to open up. Twice Charleston goalkeeper Kevin Klasila had the post to thank as Charlotte came close to doubling its lead striking the ball against the woodwork on two occasions.
The Battery still had chances to tie the game with the best opportunity coming in stoppage time to substitute midfielder Jose Cuevas. Cuevas pulled off his defender at the back post but his snap header from close-range was saved by Charlotte's Eric Reed at the near post.
The Battery returns to Blackbaud Stadium next Saturday night to play the Wilmington Hammerheads; kick off is set for 7:30 p.m.
