Charleston, SC – The Charleston Battery lost to the Wilmington Hammerheads by a score of one goal to nil Saturday night at Blackbaud Stadium in front of 4,487. Hammerheads midfielder Paul Nicholson scored the lone goal in the 4th minute to lead Wilmington to victory.

The goal came after Charleston defender Colin Falvey tangled with Wilmington’s Sammy Ochoa just outside the box and the referee awarded a free-kick. Midfielder Danny Lovitz bent his shot around the wall but Charleston goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper managed to get down and tip the ball away.

Nicholson was first to react to the loose ball and drove his shot home from an acute angle.

Charleston’s best chance to level the game in the first half came in the 25th minute after the ball was slipped through to forward Adam Mena. Mena got his shot away but the ball was blocked wide by the lunging tackle of defender Ashani Fairclough.

In the 49th minute the Battery threatened again after defender Quinton Griffith beat his man and broke to the bye-line. Griffith picked out midfielder Andre Lewis at the near post but Lewis’ shot was saved by Wilmington goalkeeper Quillan Roberts.

The game changed on the hour-nark after Wilmington’s Manny Aparicio was ejected for receiving a second yellow card giving the Battery a man advantage for the final thirty minutes.

Wilmington retreated as the Battery pressure built and Charleston created several good chances. Substitute forward Haviel Cordoves hit the cross-bar with a stinging shot from distance in the 77th minute and then five minutes later Quinton Griffith saw his left-footed drive deflected over the bar by a Wilmington defender.

With time running out the Battery finally carved out a quality chance after the ball was set to striker Mamadou Diouf ten yards from goal. Diouf drilled a shot at the goal but Roberts was well positioned and parried the ball away to safety.