Late goal boosts Battery

Harrisburg, PA. -- A second-half strike from forward Tom Heinemann lifted the Charleston Battery to a 3-2 triumph over a resilient Harrisburg City Islanders side at the Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday night.

The Battery jumped to a 2-0 first-half lead but squandered the advantage as the City Islanders fought back to level terms. With time running out, Heinemann produced an exquisite curling finish in the 83rd minute to settle the game.

The win moves Charleston (10-3-3, 33 points) to within one victory of securing the USL-2 regular season title. The Battery leads the second-place Richmond Kickers by seven points. Richmond has three games remaining; Charleston has four.

Charleston opened the scoring with a well-worked goal in the 6th minute. Midfielder Ian Fuller drove a cross-field ball to defender Mike Zaher, who was making an overlapping run down the left side. Zaher lifted a weighted cross to the back post for an unmarked Lamar Neagle to tap home.

The Battery doubled its advantage in the 20th minute after Heinemann chipped a ball between the Harrisburg central defenders for midfielder Rudolph Mayard. Mayard controlled the pass and slotted past Harrisburg keeper Danny Cepero from just inside the penalty box.

Two second-half headed goals from Harrisburg defender Jerritt Thayer left Battery goalkeeper Kyle Reynish asking questions of his defense and as the momentum swung toward the City Islanders (4-7-5, 17 points).

At the time, it appeared Charleston would do well to hang on for the tie.

Heinemann changed that with his superbly taken goal as he beat Cepero from outside the penalty area and lifted Charleston to its league-leading fourth road win of the season.

The Battery concludes its road swing today with a 6:30 p.m. match against the Real Maryland Monarchs.