Bedford, OH. The Charleston Battery tied 0-0 with the Cleveland City Stars Friday night at Middlefield Cheese Stadium in front of 1,328. Veteran goalkeeper Dusty Hudock recorded four saves to earn his league-leading 11th shut-out of the season. The win lifts the Battery (8-3-7, 31 points) into a tie for first place in the USL First Division.
The first chance of the game fell to the Cleveland City Starts in the 14th minute. The ball was worked out to forward Jason Hotchkin on the left side of the box but he hit his shot straight at Hudock who made the save.
Minutes later the City Stars threatened again after midfielder Leo Gibson flicked the ball through for forward Pato Aguilera. Aguilera held off his defender but his right-footed shot was smothered by Hudock at the left side of the goal.
Charleston came close in the 26th minute after some neat midfield interplay resulted in a square pass across from Darren Spicer to midfielder Kenji Treschuk. Treschuk had to stretch back to control the ball and his shot was scuffed away from goal.
The Battery’s best chance of the half fell to Stephen Armstrong in the 36th minute after a precise diagonal pass from Scott Buete. Armstrong hit a first-time shot at goal but the ball flew just wide of the far post.
At the stroke of half-time Hudock was forced into action again saving brilliantly to deny Warren Kanu. Kanu picked the ball up in space twenty yards out but his hard shot was turned around the post by an outstretched Hudock.
The Battery started brightly after the break and had a good chance in the 48th minute after Cleveland failed to properly clear a crossed ball. Defender Frankie Sanfilippo reacted first but his right-footed attempt sailed high.
Charleston continued to press and minutes later created two good opportunities. The move stared on the right with a sharp cross from Darren Spicer to Dan Antoniuk. Antoniuk controlled the ball then saw his shot blocked through a lunging Cleveland tackle. The ball fell for Stephen Armstrong who lashed a shot at the goal but saw the ball rise over the cross-bar
With time running out Cleveland attacked again and winger Joshua Boateng managed to get behind Battery substitute defender Yeniel Bermudez. Boateng carried the ball towards the goal but his hard strike was parried away by Hudock who held firm at the near-post.
The Battery plays the second game of its two-match road swing tonight against the Rochester Rhinos (7:35 PM, Sports Radio 1450 AM).
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