CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery took their first win at their new home as goals in either half earned a 3-0 victory against Atlanta United 2 at the Patriot’s Point Soccer Complex on Friday night.

The game took a little time to settle, but the Battery threatened twice in quick succession just before the 15-minute mark as both Zeiko Lewis and Angelo Kelly forced good saves from Atlanta goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard. The visitors get their first good chance of the game soon after as Jackson Conway got on the end of a sweeping cross from the left by Caleb Wiley, but the young forward’s header went just over the crossbar.

The Battery took the lead in the 20th minute, however, as an attempted clearance came straight to Kelly 35 yards from goal. Kelly quickly shifted a pass to Lewis at the top of the penalty area, and the Bermuda international redirected the ball into the path of Nicque Daley for a sharp finish into the bottom-left corner of the net.

Charleston got a chance to add to its lead eight minutes before halftime when it was awarded a free kick just left of center outside the penalty area. Robbie Crawford fired a low effort to the right corner of the net by Lundgaard got down well to parry it away to safety. Kelly then drove a shot from 20 yards just wide of the top-left corner two minutes later, but the Battery had to settle for a one-goal lead at the break.

The Battery doubled their lead four minutes into the second half, however, as Crawford produced a delightful heel-flick to play in Logan Gdula down the right side, and his delivery to the back post was headed home well by Nico Rittmeyer. Romario Piggott almost added a third four minutes later, but his header off a cross by Rittmeyer from the left hit the crossbar and was gathered by Lundgaard.

Conway almost pulled a goal back for Atlanta in the 65th minute as he redirected a header on target from Jack Gurr’s cross that forced a good save by Battery goalkeeper Phil Breno. The visitors were reduced to 10 men with nine minutes to go, though, when Abdoulaye Diop was sent off after a hard foul on Gdula, and the Battery wrapped up the game deep in second-half stoppage time when Arthur Bosua volleyed home from a tight angle.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Logan Gdula, Charleston Battery – Gdula put in a good display down the right flank, providing the assist on the Battery’s second goal while winning 7 of 11 duels and recording two interceptions and nine recoveries.