Match recap: Charleston Battery 1, Bethlehem Steel FC 0

Bethlehem Steel FC couldn’t figure out their attack, dropping the first of their three game road trip 1-0.

The first half was mostly Charleston. Inside of twenty minutes, Quinton Griffith broke down the line, leaving Mark McKenzie behind before sending a great ball in to Ataulla Guerra who beat Jake McGuire clean to put Charleston up 1-0. Bethlehem never really settled down offensively but were kept in by Hugh Roberts and Jake McGuire. One of the reigning Team of the Week players, Roberts dealt well with Heviel Cordoves in a few battles of pace as well as one or two of strength, and Jake McGuire put together a few fine saves to hold Charleston to one goal.

Bethlehem started the second half on the front foot. Seku Conneh and Cory Burke had a few chances that deserved better than the delivery. That coupled with some poor free kicks from various parts of the park didn’t leave Charleston feeling very threatened. Unfortunately, the addition of Chris Nanco didn’t go as well for Steel as his last time out, though his effectiveness at getting to the endline might have Brendan Burke weighing his options for next week.

Elsewhere, Santi Moar had a pretty solid chance with time running out, but the scramble in front of net saw Charleston clear after a nervous moment or two. Cory Burke also had one or two chances as time was wearing thin that could have been dealt with a bit better.

Overall a 1-0 loss to the hottest team in the East isnt the worst result for Steel, who will take on Toronto FC II next week in Bethlehem's first trip north this year. Keep it here for coverage of that one and all the goings on in Bethlehem's piece of the USL.