HIGHLIGHTS: HFX Wanderers FC vs. Forge FC (June 30, 2023)

For the first time in club history, the Halifax Wanderers have won three straight home matches after a stoppage-time penalty from Dan Nimick earned them a memorable 2-1 victory over Forge at the Wanderers Grounds.

Massimo Ferrin opened the scoring, just as he did in the first meeting between the two sides, in the 25th minute. Forge captain Kyle Bekker then replied with a brilliant strike of his own in the 88th, before Nimick’s penalty won the match for his side in the tenth minute of stoppage time.

Ferrin created a number of chances for the hosts in the early part of the match, cutting in from the left flank to fire a few warning shots, both of which were deflected behind for corner kick opportunities.

In the 24th minute, however, Ferrin created space for himself after bringing down an outstanding cross-field ball from Dan Nimick with a stunning touch. He then drifted into the middle of the box and sweetly struck a low-driven shot into the bottom corner.

Forge have now failed to score the opening goal in their past seven matches. They tried to respond quickly through a blocked Woobens Pacius shot but mostly struggled to connect in the final third in the opening half. But in the 35th minute, Tristan Borges found himself one-on-one with a yellow-carded Wes Timoteo, and turned the Halifax fullback before forcing a good save out of Yann Fillion.

That was the only stop the Halifax goalkeeper was forced to make through the opening 45 minutes as the Wanderers did well to limit any sort of response from Forge. As a result, the hosts held their lead into the half.

Forge manager Bobby Smyrniotis made a number of personnel changes to try to adjust the complexion of the match. First, he brought on fullback Malik Owolabi-Belewu at the half, pushing Alex Achinioti-Jonsson into the midfield as Aboubacar Sissoko departed the match.

When that didn’t have the desired impact, he went to his bench again bringing on Kwasi Poku and Noah Jensen. The Wanderers, however, showed impressive defensive resolve to deal with all attacks Forge were able to mount in the opening part of the half.

Forge forced another excellent save out of Fillion in the 79th minute, when some good play down the left flank allowed Pacius to cut the ball back to the substitute Jensen in the box. However, his scuffed shot was denied by the outstretched arm of the Halifax keeper.

At long last Forge found their equalizer in the 88th minute. A cross deflected into the path of Tristan Borges who turned and found Bekker all alone at the top of the box. The Forge captain sent a brilliant strike past Fillion that looked to have secured the visitors a point.

Halifax, however, had other ideas and in the 98th-minute substitute Riley Ferrazzo was brought down in the box by Tristan Henry, and was awarded a penalty. Nimick stepped up and cooly slotted home the ball to send the Wanderers Grounds into an uproar.

After going undefeated in their first four road matches of the season, Forge have now lost three straight, and have won just one of their last seven matches.

BOX SCORE

Goals

25′ — Massimo Ferrin (HFX Wanderers)
88′ — Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)
90+7′ — Daniel Nimick (HFX Wanderers) — Pen. 

Discipline

35′ — Yellow: Wes Timoteo (HFX Wanderers)
46′ — Yellow: Tomas Giraldo (HFX Wanderers)
61′ — Yellow: Malik Owolabi-Belewu (Forge FC)
72′ — Yellow: Kwasi Poku (Forge FC)
84′ — Yellow: Cale Loughrey (HFX Wanderers)
90+7′ — Yellow: Triston Henry (Forge FC)