Kwame Awuah scored with the final touch of the afternoon as Forge FC salvaged a 1-1 draw against a defensivley resolute HFX Wanderers team Sunday at Tim Hortons Field.

Forge made four changes from the team that took down Atlético Ottawa 2-0 in their last league match two weeks ago at Tim Hortons Field. Chris Nanco, Joshua Navarro, Paolo Sabak and keeper Triston Henry all slotted in for Tristan Borges, Mo Babouli, Elimane Cissé and Baj Maan as the Hammers continue to balance multiple competitions all while dealing with ongoing injury concerns.

Before a midweek Canadian Championship win over PLSQ side AS Blainville, Halifax’s last league action was also against Ottawa as Atlético defeated the Wanderers 2-1 in their first-ever home match at TD Place on Saturday, August 14. Head Coach Stephen Hart made three changes to the team that lost to Ottleti with Mateo Restrepo, Morey Doner and Marcello Polisi replacing Peter Schaale, Joao Morelli and Stefan Karajovanovic to start.

The story of the opening quarter of an hour was the health concerns of two key Halifax players as striker Akeem Garcia and central defender Mateo Restrepo were both forced off through injuries with Karajovanovic and Schaale replacing the pair from the bench.

Despite some early adversity for the visitors, it would be the Wanderers who opened the scoring as Morey Doner combined beautifully with Karajovanovic on the right flank before squaring a dangerous ball into the box which Marshall cooly converted with a first time finish in the 16th minute.

There were few chances at either end in the opening 45′ ― a fact that Hart and HFX were quite content with — but for Forge specifically, the only shot attempt in the first half came through David Choiniere. the Hammer’s lone bright spot in attack to start, Choiniere found space in behind the Wanderers back three for the first time in the 29th minute but ultimately his strike on goal was comfortable enough in the end for Christian Oxner.

The home side opened the second half on the front foot and after some sustained pressure and a couple of corner kicks, substitute Maxim Tissot nearly solved Oxner from distance in the 52nd minute but his effort was kept out only by the crossbar.

Moments later it was Halifax threatening at the other end and following another blistering run down the right wing from Doner, it looked as though Gagnon-Lapare would double the Wanderers lead but his left footed shot narrowly missed an open Forge goal.

Forge would enjoy a little more in the final third after the interval but just as it looked as though their efforts would be all for not, Awuah caught Oxner off his line with a deep strike from the left flank seconds before the referee called full time as the game ended 1-1.

Lining up in a 5-3-2 defensively, HFX flexed their tactical versatility but Forge’s relentless efforts to equalize in the second half ultimately paid off.

With the result, Halifax remain in 7th place with 12 points in 12 matches played, seven behind Forge who currently hold the final postseason position.

BOX SCORE

Goals

16′ — Alex Marshall (HFX Wanderers)

90+6′ — Kwame Awuah (Forge FC)

Discipline

53′ — Yellow: Chris Nanco (Forge FC)

55′ — Yellow: Jonathan Grant (Forge FC)

90′ — Yellow: Alessandro Riggi (HFX Wanderers)