Match recap: Charleston Battery best toothless Bethlehem Steel FC 1-0

Sometimes you just don’t convert your chances. Bethlehem Steel FC had a flurry of chances in the second half, but couldn’t find their equalizer as the Charleston Battery continued their domination of the USL, picking up a win yesterday afternoon in the Valley.

Brendan Burke with a pretty relevant quote when asked about whether the quick turn around will help or hurt his side.

Steel were out on the front foot for most of the first half until the Williams goal, stringing together a club record 528 passes in the pouring rain. James Chambers did James Chambers things, picking out any pass he wanted, and seemed to have Steel on the front foot. Barring an offside call or two as well as a couple of better shots, Bethlehem would have been in front. Chambers almost put some bite in the game at the death, as his 20 yard blast rattled the crossbar but deflected out, giving the Battery the win.

Of course Romario Williams scored. For those unfamiliar, Williams is currently on loan to the Battery from Atlanta United, and is second in the USL golden boot race with eight goals. He missed the previous Steel fixture in Charleston due to illness (which didn’t matter a whole lot as the Battery won that one too) so he had to figure into this one. His shot came off an O’Brian Woodbine header and just beat Jake McGuire. Charleston will always be happy conceding possession and counterattacking, especially with such a talented forward in Williams. They don’t deviate from their game plan, which might make their run of form even more impressive. Charleston is more than happy letting you know how they’ll play you – they have full confidence you won’t win regardless if you can plan for it or not. They’re the real deal this year, and Bethlehem will look to put the Battery behind them quickly before seeing Harrisburg on Sunday.

Quick hits:
-Congrats and a job well done to Union Academy standout Dawson McCartney who got his first start as well as a first start for Yosef Samuel. McCartney didn’t do a whole lot of flashy, headline making moves and out of the academy kids that plug in and play, that’s the best thing you can say.

-Fresh off his save of the week win, Jake McGuire continues to be every bit as good as his individual accolades have shown. He’s kept Bethlehem in some of these tight games, and is unlucky his win percentage isn’t reflective of his save percentage.

-James Chambers made his 29th appearance for Bethlehem Steel, a club record. It would’ve worked out a bit nicer if 30 was the record breaker, but a much deserved record to have and congratulations to the skipper all the same.

Stay tuned in on that one, as we have something a bit different in the works for Steel v HCI this weekend.