Just 11 days ago the Chattanooga Football Club was still looking for its first win of the National Premier Soccer League season. Now it sits atop the Southeast Conference standings with four wins in the past 10 days.
In a matchup for either Asheville City or Chattanooga FC to jump a point ahead of undefeated Greenville FC with a win Tuesday night, it was coach Bill Elliott's road warriors who earned a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Memorial Stadium in the North Carolina city.
CFC broke the scoreless tie in the 58th minute as Alun Webb blazed down the right sideline and chipped a pass into the box for Markus Smarzoch, who netted an impressive finish.
Rewarding a continual drum beat and chant from its well-traveled fan base, Caleb Cole sprinted to the CFC faithful after he burst past two defenders and drilled a ground ball into the back left of the net from just inside the top left of the box in the 88th minute.
Phil D'Amico registered his third clean sheet in goal in four games. The sturdy keeper denied a blazing kick from an Asheville striker and saved another shot on target off the rebound in the 65th minute.
Chattanooga has allowed only one goal in its last four matches, dominating tempo in all four.
With its eyes on another division championship, the 11th-year club will try for its fifth straight win Saturday against Atlanta SC with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff in Alpharetta. CFC beat Atlanta 3-0 last Wednesday at Finley Stadium.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.