PHOTO/WILLIAM BROWN

Charlotte Independence striker Brian Brown (center) scored the winning goal in their 1-0 result against Wilmington Saturday at Ramblewood Stadium.

Brian Brown has to score for the Charlotte Independence.

As the target striker, Brown has shown he can facilitate for his teammates as well as take shots on goal. Brown’s game-winning goal against Wilmington (1-0) showed his ability to create and capitalize on chances in the box.

“We’re doing good, but as far as me, I want to score more goals,” he said.

Said coach Mike Jeffries: “We need him to score, quite honestly. We play with one striker and he’s the striker. We want him in the box getting three-four chances a game. You saw tonight what he’s capable of when he gets defenders isolated.”

Said Brown: “I just want to get some goals, like I did tonight, and get my team three points every game.”

On loan from Harbour View FC, a team in Jamaica’s Red Stripe Premier League, Brown has five goals and four assists with Charlotte, trailing midfielder Enzo Martinez and striker Caleb Calvert, who lead the team with six each. Brown’s target for the season is 15 goals, but would be happy with 10. Charlotte (10-6-6) has eight games remaining.

“Eight games and five goals? Yeah, I can do it,” Brown said. “I’m confident enough to do it. I have a good team around me that’s creating chances for me to finish.”

Said defender Bilal Duckett: “He’s got something on the team that I’m not sure anybody else really has. I’m almost not sure how to describe it without making it sound like he’s the only good attacking player on our team, because we have plenty of good attacking players.”

Jeffries has emphasized the importance of approaching USL play in thirds rather than halves. In the first third, Charlotte went 5-3-2; 4-3-3 in the second and a draw and win two matches into the final third. Brown scored three goals and an assist in the first 10 games; a goal and three assists in the second 10 and a goal two games into the last 10.

“He creates a lot of havoc for us,” Duckett said. “He fights for us, and when he’s in rhythm, he makes us not only a better team but a different team. We have other options that we can use there. He brings something to us on both sides of the ball. He’s been valuable.”

Said Jeffries: “We want him to be in those spots more. I think he does a great job holding the ball and bringing others into the game—that’s very important for how we play, but we would love to see him get a few more goals. He’s a great passer — a good set up guy.  

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