In his first start for Cavalry this season, Aribim Pepple scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over HFX Wanderers at Spruce Meadows.

With the victory, Cavalry moves up into second place in the league table. The Alberta outfit is undefeated are also now undefeated in their last six matches in the Canadian Premier League, having not lost since April 22.

Halifax had several waves of attack early on in the match, taking the match to the hosts with some good ball movement. While they were not able to truly trouble Marco Carducci in the Cavalry net, attempting a few long-range efforts, it was a promising start for the visitors.

Whether it was the time off, or just the intensity of the visitors, it took Cavalry some time to get going in this match. They finally broke through in the 20th minute. Bradley Vliet’s cross was deflected into the path of Ben Fisk, whose shot Oxner got a hand to before Eriks Santos cleared the ball off the line.

Colin Gander came closest next, latching onto a clever layoff from Aidan Daniels and dragging his shot from distance just wide of Carducci’s net. A few minutes later, Garcia was able to test Carducci from close range after getting on the end of a nice cross from Zachary Fernandez, but the Cavalry FC keeper was up for the challenge.

Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé came even closer in the 35th minute, as his long-range rocket of a strike hit the post to Carducci’s right.

Looking to relieve the pressure, Cavalry had a good string of possession to end the half, including some promising forays into the Halifax half. They never truly troubled Oxner again, however, with only the single shot on target during the first half. The match remained 0-0 at the break.

The hosts came out of the break flying, however. After the last match between these two sides ended with all four goals being scored from set-pieces, it only seemed right that it was another such situation that broke the deadlock in this one.

Ben Fisk’s excellent delivery found Karifa Yao at the back post who headed it into the path of Aribim Pepple. The young striker showed incredible skill as he volleyed the ball past Oxner for his second goal in as many matches.

Fisk then nearly doubled the lead himself in the 60th minute when he let off a strike from just outside the box. It was a little too close to Oxner, however, and the Halifax keeper was able to gather the ball.

Halifax again tested Carducci in the 72nd minute, when a deflected cross from Fernandez fell into the path of Alex Marshall. The Wanderers’ striker’s turning effort, however, resulted in the fourth save of the match for Carducci.

Cavalry should have doubled their advantage a few moments later, as José Escalante’s low cross found Joe Mason wide open in the Halifax box. What should have been a tap-in finish for the Cavalry striker, however, was blocked by Mateo Restrepo.

Escalante then came incredibly close himself from a close-range free-kick, sending a cannon that hit the crossbar the Oxner’s right. Neither team truly had another major scoring opportunity, as Cavalry remain a perfect 3-0-0 at Spruce Meadows this season. They are the only club left in the league who have not dropped a single point at home.

BOX SCORE

Goals

46′ — Aribim Pepple (Cavalry FC)

Discipline

54′ — Yellow: Charlie Trafford (Cavalry FC)

64′ — Yellow: Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers) 

68′ — Yellow: Karifa Yao (Cavalry FC)

69′ — Yellow: Mason Trafford (Cavalry FC)

84′ — Yellow: Mateo Restrepo (HFX Wanderers)

90′ + 2 — Yellow: Sergio Camargo (Cavalry FC)