Zeiko Lewis says Charleston Battery are determined to build on their confidence boosting 1-0 win at Atlanta United in their USL Championship season opener yesterday.

The Bermuda forward won a 62nd-minute penalty after his cross struck the hand of a defender, which he converted to secure the points for the visiting side at the Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

“We got our first win of the season in an away game which has boosted our confidence a lot,” Lewis told The Royal Gazette. “After a long and gruelling preseason, to come out with a win gets us motivated for the next game and to continue pushing ourselves to move forward.”

The former New York Red Bulls player put in a solid shift and might have had an assist less than a minute into the game had team-mate Dante Marini got on the end of a superb pass in the box with the goal at his mercy.

Lewis was replaced in the 76th minute by Robbie Crawford, one of several Battery players making their club debut.

“The key to the win was just to dominate your individual battles,” Lewis added. “If we all win our individual battles we win the game, and not conceding on the road makes it impossible for us to lose as coach would put it.”

The Battery are away to Birmingham Legion in their next league outing on Saturday at BBVA Compass Field, where Lewis and his team-mates are keen to build on the early season momentum.

“Looking forward, Birmingham will be a different test and battle,” he said. “We have a week to recover and prepare for that game.

“However, we are all up for the challenge no matter who we play.”

The Battery will host Philadelphia Union II in the first match at Patriots Point on March 28.