Zeiko Lewis says he is “honoured” to have been named as Charleston Battery’s Offensive Player of the Year by his team’s fans.

The Bermuda forward was Charleston’s joint leading scorer during the regular season with six goals in 15 appearances. He also had two assists.

It is the second straight season that Lewis has led his team’s scoring, with his tally falling just two shy of his haul from the previous campaign.

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“It’s an honour to receive the award,” Lewis told The Royal Gazette.

“It has been a difficult and different season that many of us are use to. But with all the difficulties that we faced it was nice to get a few goals and assists this season.

“However, I want to go back stronger and better so next season I can improve on my performances from this season.”

Charleston finished second in group H during the regular season, three points behind group winners Tampa Bay Rowdies, who secured home-field advantage in the play-offs.

Tampa completed their 16 matches of the regular season while Charleston played 15.

Lewis and his team-mates were due to play Loudoun United FC in their final game of the regular season, but the rest of the campaign was cancelled because of multiple positive Covid-19 cases within the Loudoun organisation and no room for rescheduling before the play-offs.

This resulted in league officials applying the points-per-game model voted on by the USL Championship Board of Governors to determine final group standings and home advantage for play-off games.

Charleston reached the Eastern Conference semi-final for the first time in four years where they lost 1-0 to Tampa at Al Lang Stadium to put paid to their bid for a fifth USL Championship.

Tampa were due to meet Phoenix Rising in the USL Championship final.

However, the match was called after several Tampa players and staff tested positive for Covid-19, with league officials deciding not to award the championship this season.

The pandemic resulted with the 2020 regular season being suspended in March.

Play resumed in July under a revised format which saw clubs divided into eight groups playing 16-games followed by a single elimination play-off.

“This was a very trying season battling Covid regulations on and off the field,” Lewis added.

“There were many ups and downs this season. But overall it was a good campaign in terms of performance and regular-season games.“