Forge FC notched an important 2-0 away win over Valour FC on Thursday, leapfrogging the Winnipeg-based side and getting within striking distance of first place in the Spring Season title race.

Forge struck early, in the eighth minute, when Anthony Novak was played on a one-v-one nearly 50 yards out from goal. The ball from Marcel Zajac came after a quick counter-attack from Forge following a corner. Valour was caught out as the former League1 Ontario striker smartly stepped around Farago and slashed home the first goal of the match.

The marker was the highlight to a Forge-heavy first half, as the visitors held Valour off with two banks of four in a defensively solid 4-1-4-1, which would stay in place in the second half.

Borges came close to copying his teammates goal early in the second half, rounding Farago but not getting past a sliding Jordan Murrell who cleared the ball off the line at the near post.

It wouldn’t be long before Borges got on the board, however. The attacking midfielder smashed a left-footed strike in the net in the 69th minute, sealing the win for his side.

The win puts Forge on seven points, two behind first-placed Cavalry FC in the Spring Season standings, and three points in the CONCACAF League qualifying with Valour and FC Edmonton. Valour, meanwhile, now sit on six points on five matches in the league.

Valour will enter a lengthy break post-Forge match, not taking on another CPL team until June 1 when they travel to face FC Edmonton (6:30 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. MT/OneSoccer) at Clarke Stadium in another CONCACAF League qualifier. Forge will have the weekend off before shifting to face 905 Derby opponent York9 FC (4 p.m. ET/OneSoccer) on Saturday, May 25 in the first CPL match at York Lions Stadium.

Box Score

Goals

8′ – Anthony Novak (Forge)
69′ – Tristan Borges (Forge)

Disciplinary

18’ – Yellow Card – Raphaël Garcia (Valour)
31’ – Yellow Card – Marcel Zajac (Forge)
89’– Yellow Card – Kadell Thomas (Forge)

Key performers

Anthony Novak (Forge FC)

It’s a striker’s dream to be in on goal with nearly half a field-worth of space, but it’s another thing to turn that opportunity the way Novak did. Smartly stepping around the ‘keeper, not once looking to fire away, as he opened the entire net to his left foot. It’s a little thing, sure, but it proved to be an important chance taken by Forge.

Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)

Forge captain Kyle Bekker marked his return to his side with a season-best performance at IG Field. He looked comfortable in alongside Alexander Achinioti Jonsson and Elimane Cisse, being the clear creative force for Forge in the middle of the park.

Tristan Borges (Forge FC)

Shifted out to the left, Tristan Borges shined bright for Forge. Both cutting inside and firing crosses from the touchline, he was an important offensive piece. Oh, and there was that left-footed, outside-fo-the-box wonder strike in the 69th minute.