The Charleston Battery ended a tough week at home tonight with a 2-1 loss to El Paso Locomotive FC in USL Championship action. After a 45 minute rain delay, a solid contingent of fans witnessed two teams that came out for a physical encounter. Charleston made two changes from the team that lost to Atlanta United on Tuesday. Josh Drack started for Nathan Dossantos at left back and Diego Gutierrez started for Nick Markanich up top. The referee decided to make his mark and gave out yellow cards early and often. The home team had several chances in the first half with shots from Molloy, Torres, Myers and a wide header by Graham Smith. Just before halftime, Charleston’s Chris Allan made two fouls and received two yellow cards to earn a red card. That would change the game.

*New Locomotive coach Wilmer Cabrera giving instructions.*

It remained 0-0 until a through ball by El Paso in the 70th minute found their own Amando Moreno at the back post for an easy finish. In the 81st minute, Coach Pirmann made an attacking change by bringing out a defender in Mark yýSegbers for the forward Jackson Conway. Conway would repay that faith with a turnaround shot in the 87th minute from a Molloy cross that tied the game at 1-1.

In the 92minute, the Battery got caught pressing for a winner and El Paso made them pay. The counter attack found none other than Amando Moreno again and he put it away past the GK Kuzemka to take 3 points back to Texas.

Charleston head to California for a Wednesday game against Monterey Bay and former teammate Tristan Trager. El Paso will welcome Birmingham Legion to Southwest University Park next Saturday.

- Del Shaffer