Join Ivan Sørensen again this week as we look at Halifax football clubs and how they are doing.
The Wanderers then
Last week I said the Wanderers were still undefeated. Today that is no longer the case, as the trip to Quebec ended in a 2-1 loss to Supra. The new expansion team is here to make a statement, providing another strong opponent for Halifax.
So, how did the team look? Sartini stated afterwards that the first half did not go according to plan, and that is hard to disagree with. Supra were able to control large stretches of play and make life difficult for the Wanderers, limiting their ability to build rhythm or impose themselves. Despite an early penalty goal giving Halifax the lead, they finished with only six shots and five corner kicks.
The second half was a stronger showing, with the Wanderers adjusting better to the pitch conditions and the opponent, but time was not on their side. There is still a sense that the team is coming together, and you can see the difference between when they can stick to their plan versus when they are forced into reactive play, where it becomes harder to express their identity.
Still, it is not all negative. Supra registered 22 shots, and only two found the net, while Halifax continue to score in every match they have played so far. They are also tied with Cavalry for the most goals scored in the league with six, which gives them a solid foundation to build on moving forward.
The Tides then
The Tides have arrived, and what an arrival it was.
It is no secret that last season was brutal, and a lot of question marks surrounded Stephen Hart heading into this year. This is his first season where he has had full control, from pre-season planning to roster construction and implementing his game model on the pitch. As a result, this opening match felt like both a statement of intent and a first real indication of whether the “bad times” are behind them.
The answer, at least for one night, was a resounding yes. The Tides played with purpose and conviction from the opening whistle. The first shot came in the 3rd minute, setting the tone for a completely different mentality than what supporters were used to seeing. There was an obvious edge of belief throughout the performance: players contested every ball, long passes and early crosses were played with confidence, and every phase felt like a chance to create something dangerous.
Addison Weichers opened the scoring before halftime, giving the Tides control heading into the break. In the second half, they kept pushing, with Rhodes and Vallerand both adding their first goals of the season. By the final whistle, it was a 3-1 win, and more importantly, it looked and felt like a team performance built on identity rather than survival.
It was not flawless. There were moments where short passes in dangerous areas were intercepted, and against a forward like DB Pridham lurking around the box, those errors could have been costly. That is the kind of issue that tends to get cleaned up with time, as this group builds chemistry and experience together through the regular season.
Still, for an opening statement, it could not have been much clearer: this is a different Halifax Tides side, and they showed up ready to compete.
Current standings
With the defeat, the Wanderers drop to 5th with 5 points. That puts them just outside the playoff positions and five points off the top. Still, as mentioned, they remain one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the league, outscoring almost everyone.
The weekend brings their toughest test yet as they face Forge at home. The Wanderers have not failed to score so far, but Forge have not conceded a goal and are the clearest example of a team that sticks rigidly to its plan. There is cautious optimism around Halifax, but the midweek training sessions are likely to be intense in preparation.
For the Tides, it's, of course, a strong start, sitting top of the standings with 3 points and a +2 goal difference. Sunday brings a different kind of challenge as they face Toronto, who impressed in their opening match against Vancouver. In many ways, Toronto represent a benchmark in the league, and this will be a real test of what Hart’s new side can deliver against one of the early pace-setters.