USL-1 Charleston Battery

Fuller scores as Battery gets first win

Published on May 2, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Charleston Battery News Release


Fort Lauderdale, FL. Midfielder Ian Fuller scored the lone goal Saturday night at Lockhart Stadium as the Charleston Battery won their first game of the season defeating the Miami FC Blues 1-0. The game changed in favor of Charleston in the 18th minute as Miami had defender Walter Ramirez sent-off; with a man advantage the Battery dominated the game.

Goalkeeper Dusty Hudock earned his third shut-out of the season as Charleston improves to 1-0-3, 6 points and moves into third position in the USL First Division.

The game started briskly as the Battery went on the offensive from the opening whistle; the early pressure paid off as midfielder Tsuyoshi Yoshitake earned a free-kick 25 yards out inside the first minute. Yoshitake whipped the ball into the box but it was parried away by the Miami defense. Ian Fuller was first to the ball but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Pat Hannigan.

Minutes later the Battery threatened again as the ball was played long to forward Dan Antoniuk who was felled at the edge of the box drawing another free-kick. Fuller took the shot but saw his curling strike slam into the side-netting.

Charleston goalkeeper Dusty Hudock made a terrific save in the 16th minute after Miami saw a shot cleared off the line by defender Matt Bobo. The ball was driven back in from point-blank range but Hudock managed to smother the shot with a diving save.

Forward Randi Patterson played Yoshitake through in the 18th minute with a sharp diagonal pass. Yoshitake ran past his defender Walter Ramirez and with a clear run at goal was dragged to the ground forcing the referee to issue a red-card.

In the 22nd minute Bobo found himself at the attacking end of the pitch getting on the end of another Yoshitake free-kick. His looping header beat Hannigan but glanced off the cross-bar and behind.

After the break it was one-way traffic as Charleston continued to pile on the pressure. Yoshitake continued to be the most threatening of the Battery forward line and saw a speculative effort flash wide in the 68th minute after losing his marker on the right side.

The break-through came in the 79th minute from a set-piece. Again it was Yoshitake this time with an in-swinging free-kick to the middle from wide on the left. Ian Fuller met the cross and snapped his header home from ten-yards out.

The Battery takes on the Carolina RailHawks in Cary, NC next Saturday night; kick off is set for 7:30PM.

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USL First Division Stories from May 2, 2009


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