HFX Wanderers FC ended their experience at The Kickoff in Winnipeg with a statement win over host side Valour FC, topping the first-place Manitoban club 1-0 on Saturday to take three points out of the bubble with them back to Halifax.

With key defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste set to miss the rest of the season with injury, Valour entered the match with Rodrigo Reyes and Stefan Cebara beside one another at centre-back in a lineup that, otherwise, looked quite similar to what they’ve rolled out in previous matches. The Wanderers, meanwhile, deployed a powerful front four with Omar Kreim, Alessandro Riggi, Joao Morelli, and Akeem Garcia, as they continued to try new combinations to jumpstart their attack.

It seems this particular combination worked our fairly well for HFX, who were definite protagonists in the first half. They mustered 10 shots in the first half, six of them on target, as they continued to test Valour goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.

Despite the keeper’s strong efforts to keep out most of the Wanderers’ chances, he was ultimately beaten in the 44th minute by a tremendous volley from the top of the box by Pierre Lamothe to put HFX up 1-0 and end Sirois’ shutout streak after five consecutive clean sheets.

A handful of substitutions in the early second half helped Valour get more of a foothold in the match, with Masta Kacher, Jared Ulloa and Rafael Galhardo all checking in. The Winnipeg side certainly grew into the game, taking control of the ball in much of the second half and attempting to challenge the Wanderers in midfield, but Valour still couldn’t get into the attacking third much.

The Wanderers ultimately held on to their narrow lead by continuing to press forward, and it was perhaps thanks to Sirois that Valour finished just one goal behind. Seeing out the 1-0 win, HFX leapfrogged two CPL teams (York United and Atlético Ottawa) in the standings to climb out of the basement and secure their second win of the year.

BOX SCORE

Goals

44′ — Pierre Lamothe (HFX Wanderers FC)

Discipline

30′ — Yellow: Morey Doner (HFX Wanderers FC)
45+2′ — Yellow: Joao Morelli (HFX Wanderers FC)
45+2′ — Yellow: Stefan Cebara (Valour FC)
49′ — Yellow: Pierre Lamothe (HFX Wanderers FC)
54′ — Yellow: Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers FC)
90+4′ — Yellow: Cory Bent (HFX Wanderers FC)