BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Romario Williams scored his eighth goal of the regular season as the Charleston Battery earned a 1-0 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC on Thursday afternoon at Goodman Stadium. With the win, the Battery moved three points clear at the top of the USL’s Eastern Conference. Steel FC’s Seku Conneh had a low shot saved by Charleston goalkeeper Alex Tambakis in the 13th minute as the hosts held more possession early. The Battery (7-1-2, 23pts) came into the game more as the half progressed, however, and almost took the lead in the 29th minute when Skylar Thomas’ flicked finish was denied by an outstanding save by Steel FC goalkeeper Jake McGuire. Three minutes later, though, Williams drove home a finish from 25 yards as he drifted in from the left and fired a low shot that clipped the left post and found the net. Charleston could have added to its lead in the second half, only for McGuire to make big saves to deny Williams inside the opening minute of the second half and Ataullah Guerra on the hour-mark. The Battery had chances late to put the game away, Heviel Cordoves also being denied by McGuire. Steel FC (3-6-0, 9pts) also almost struck late when James Chambers fired off the crossbar as the game entered stoppage time as the hosts looked for an equalizer, but the Battery held on to take all three points.

Scoring:

32’ – CHS – Romario Williams (O’Brian Woodbine)

Three Things That Matter:

1. After suffering a late letdown against Harrisburg on Saturday, the Battery will be pleased to have closed out a narrow win against Steel FC to move three points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Arguably Charleston should have been ahead by more, and would have been if not for a stellar performance by Steel FC goalkeeper Jake McGuire. That almost came back to bite the visitors as James Chambers came a foot away from an equalizer as his late shot rattled off the crossbar, but the Battery got moving back in the right direction in the middle game of their trip to the northeast as they swept the season series between the clubs.

2. Romario Williams was a major addition on loan for the Charleston Battery a season ago, filling the gap left by the departed Dane Kelly with 10 goals in 27 games during the regular season. This year the 22-year-old Jamaican has stepped it up to another level, however, with eight goals overall and four goals in his last four starts for the side. The Atlanta United FC loanee could have added to his tally if not for McGuire’s performance, but is now only one goal behind the player he replaced in Charleston. With Kelly also tearing it up for Reno 1868 FC of late, the race for the USL Golden Boot should be fun to follow as the season continues.

3. Bethlehem was able to get into good positions regularly in attack, but wasn’t able to find the cutting edge it needed in the penalty area despite a couple of clever passages of play that almost brought a breakthrough. The experience of Battery defender Taylor Mueller played a role in that, as the veteran was consistently in good positions to intercept or clear, but Atlanta United FC loanee Miles Robinson also put in a solid performance in his professional debut. Robinson was the No. 2 pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft after standing out in college and the Premier Development League, and illustrated why he was considered one of the top prospects entering the pro ranks this year on Wednesday.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Romario Williams, Charleston Battery – Williams was a consistent thorn in the side of Steel FC’s defense, and produced the only goal to give Charleston victory.