Charleston Battery vs Harrisburg City Islanders, 2016 USL Season, Final Score 3-2, Charleston get a much needed win on the road

The Battery wrapped up a two-game road trip Monday night, traveling to FNB Field to take on the Harrisburg City Islanders.

Charleston bounced back well from a disappointing match in Rochester friday night, stealing a desperately needed 3-2 victory in Harrisburg, courtesy of some late heroics from local product Austin Savage.

Coming off just two days rest, the Battery opened Monday night's match with a shuffled starting XI. CB Forrest Lasso got the start over veteran Taylor Mueller, Obi Woodbine was swapped for Emmanuel Adjetey at RB, Marini got his 3rd start at midfield, and newcomer Chris Tsonis got his first start at forward for the Battery.

The most notable change came at Goalkeeper, where Odisnel Cooper got the nod over Alex Tambakis, after a tough night for Tambakis against Rochester.

From the start of the match the Battery looked much better in possession compared to their performance in Rochester, working the ball well on the ground through midfield relying less on bombing the deep ball over the top.

The Battery would draw first blood in the 24th minute, with Romario Williams notching his 5th goal of the season. The goal came off a beautiful assist by Midfielder Mikel Chang who served a perfect long ball from the left flank, finding Williams who crushed the his passed Keeper Nick Nobel.

Charleston's lead would be short lived with Harrisburg striking back in the 26th minuet with an equalizer off a breakaway counter by the Islanders. The goal came off a well timed through ball by Jose Barril that found Paul Wilson who blasted a shot straight between the legs of Cooper.

The Battery seemed unphased by the Islanders' equalizer, displaying great confidence on the ball and tilting the flow of possession in their favor.

Just before Halftime whistle the Battery would once again find the lead off a Chang free kick that would find the head of Forrest Lasso. The free kick came off a foul drawn by Dante Marini just outside the penalty area.

Chang's kick was initially seemed to be cleared by the Islander defenders, but Battery Captain Shawn Ferguson managed to keep the play alive headings the ball across the goal finding the head of Lasso who's flicking header gave Charleston a 2-1 advantage heading into the half.

The Battery's lead wouldn't be safe for long, with Harrisburg coming out strong to start the 2nd half creating quite a few dangerous chances, and eventually finding another equalizing goal in the 54th.

The Islanders' goal came off yet another perfectly timed through ball by Brail this time finding Wilson, who chipped a shot beautifully over Cooper and into the back of the net.

The moment of the night would come late, in the 80th minuet, in the form of a game-winning goal by Charleston's very own Austin Savage, just moments after he subbed in for Romario Williams.

The goal came off a perfect freekick by Justin Portillo that found an open Savage in the penalty area. Savage then struck a spectacular volley into the corner of the net giving Charleston the go ahead goal.

Monday night's drama wouldn't end with Savage's heroism, with a bit of stoppage time controversy nearly costing the Battery two point's on the road. In the 94th minuet the Islander's were gifted a penalty terrible call against Ferguson. But it appears that the Football Gods were on with the Battery, as Craig Foster's kick sailed high over the cross bar sealing the Charleston victory.

MAN OF THE MATCH:
AUSTIN SAVAGE
The Charleston native, Stratford High School and Clemson Grad, came on and played the role of super sub to perfection.

KEY TAKE AWAYS

SET PIECES
Two of the Battery's three goals came off of set pieces.

COOPER
Despite the two goals Cooper looked very good in goal, making several key saves.

WIN ON THE ROAD
The Battery got three desperately needed points on the road snapping their recent winless skid.

UP NEXT:
The Battery head home to take on Toronto FC II at 730 5/15