Battery Defeats Mariners Henderson scores a brace as Charleston takes top-spot in Southeast Division

The Charleston Battery defeated the Virginia Beach Mariners tonight (Saturday, May 3, 2003) at Blackbaud Stadium by a score of three goals to one in front of a crowd of 3,728. Josh Henderson scored a brace and Chris Bagley had the third goal as the Battery powered past the Mariners to the top of the A-League Southeast Division. Charleston improves to 3-0 for the season Virginia Beach drops to 2-1.

Charleston took only 13 minutes to get on the score sheet. Midfielder, Ted Chronopoulos sent a corner into the Mariners box. It was parried out to midfielder Ryan Trout who fired a shot back into the penalty area. The ball spun across to Steve Klein who played it sharply into the 6 yard box. Forward, Josh Henderson met the cross and drilled the ball past Virginia Beach goalkeeper, Joe Larson.

The Battery dominated first half play and had two more good chances before the break. Ryan Tout headed over in the 28th minute after striker, Paul Conway had sent in a good cross. Then in the 44th minute Conway volleyed over the top from driven Henderson center.

Five minutes into the second period Charleston doubled its lead. This time Conway received the ball deep in the Mariners box. As his marker approached he flicked the ball over the defenders head and controlling the ball as it dropped he had time to pick out an unmarked Henderson in front of goal. He slipped the ball through to Henderson who redirected it into the goal.

Henderson subbed out in the 67th minute for forward Chris Bagley who took only two minutes to grab a goal for himself. Bagley ran onto a nicely weighted diagonal ball on the far flank. He held off his defender and forced his way into the 18-yard box. As he neared the bye-line he shot past Larson for the third Battery strike.

The Mariners pulled a goal back in stoppage time as Kevin Knott got behind the Charleston defense but it was too little to late as the Battery continued its unbeaten start to the 2003 season. Tonight’s match doubled as an US Open Cup qualifier, the second match of the aggregate score series is set for May 17 in Virginia Beach.

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