HIGHLIGHTS: HFX Wanderers FC vs. York United FC (September 2, 2024) | Presented by tonybet

The Halifax Wanderers celebrated Labour Day Monday with a crucial 2-1 victory over York United at the Wanderers Grounds.

Goals from Massimo Ferrin and Zachary Fernandez ignited a fantastic crowd in Nova Scotia, before a nervy ending to the match courtesy of a Dan Nimick own goal.

The Wanderers remain at the bottom of the CPL table, but their season outlook looks a little bit brighter as they are now six points behind Vancouver FC for the fifth and final playoff spot, with a game in hand.

After a quiet start to the match, the hosts caught fire midway through the half. In the 22nd minute, a lovely bit of movement down the right flank saw Riley Ferrazzo and Ryan Telfer combine brilliantly, before the former played a looping cross into the box for Ferrin. The Halifax winger headed home for his fourth goal of the season to make it 1-0 for the Wanderers.

Austin Ricci had the first real chance for York United just six minutes later as he was played into the box by Mo Babouli, but the striker sent a powerful shot well wide of the target from a good area. He broke away again a moment later on the counterattack, but this time Fernandez dispossessed him as he went forward.

Ferrin then nearly had his second in the 34th minute after more great movement from the Wanderers. A clever ball into the box from Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé found the head of Fernandez, who put it across goal into the path of Ferrin, but Thomas  Vincensini was there to make an excellent point-blank save. Ever dangerous, Ferrin had another header in the 36th minute that he sent just wide.

The flurry of Halifax chances continued in the 38th minute as this time Ferrin turned provider, playing the ball through into the path of Telfer. With Vincensini caught out of his net, Telfer looked to chip the York keeper but sent the ball well wide. The score remained just 1-0 for the hosts at the half, despite their numerous offensive opportunities.

Ferrin and Halifax continued where they left off early in the second half, as an outstanding switch of play from Telfer found his fellow Wanderers attacker at the top of the box. He shot across goal, however, was again brilliantly denied by Vincensini.

The Wanderers added a second in the 67th minute. A corner kick from Telfer was flicked upward by Babouli and into the path of Fernandez, who was at the back home to tap home his first goal of the season. The important insurance marker gave Halifax a 2-0 lead.

Looking like they were in complete control, however, Halifax created a moment of their own undoing in the 76th minute. A cross into the box from York United substitute Shola Jimoh took a pair of deflections, including a crucial one off of Dan Nimick, which looped over his own goalkeeper and into the net. As a result, York cut the lead to 2-1.

Jimoh proved to be a real problem in the final moments of the match, creating multiple dangerous attacking sequences down the right flank. Further nerves were palpable around the Wanderers Grounds when the fourth official showed nine minutes of second-half stoppage time.

Both sides had decent chances in stoppage time, with Halifax looking to put the match to bed, and York trying to steal a point on the road. But it was the Wanderers who were able to hold on for a potentially monumental moment in their season.

The victory made it seven straight matches undefeated at the Wanderers Grounds for Halifax, while the Nine Stripes are winless in three for the first time this season.

BOX SCORE

Lineups 

Halifax Wanderers: Fillion; Ferrazzo (Alphonse 86′), Nimick, Loughrey, Fernandez; Callegari, Rampersad; Rea (Bayiha 71′) Gagnon-Laparé (Probo 80′), Ferrin (Daniels 86′); Telfer (Coimbra 80′) 

York United: Vincensini; Abatneh (Martínez 57′) , Higgins, León; Ferrari, Córdova, Marquéz, Botello; Babouli (Voytsekhovskyy 71′), Guzmán, Ricci (Jimoh 71′)

Goals

22′ — Massimo Ferrin (Halifax Wanderers)
67′ — Zachary Fernandez (Halifax Wanderers)
76′ — Dan Nimick (Halifax Wanderers) (Own goal)

Discipline

39′ — Yellow: Max Ferrari (York United)
57′ — Yellow: Juan Córdova (York United)
64′ — Yellow: Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé (Halifax Wanderers)
70′ — Yellow: Santiago Márquez (York United)
75′ — Yellow: Lorenzo Callegari (Halifax Wanderers)
90+2′ — Yellow: Daniel Nimick (Halifax Wanderers)