Wanderers remain undefeated amid early season test against Forge FC
Saturday's match against Forge FC was never about the result.
And although the 0-0 draw, which played out during a pleasant spring evening at the Wanderers Grounds, earned the Wanderers an important point, the emphasis post-match was on how head coach Patrice Gheisar's new-look squad faired versus the CPL's perennial champions.
It was, in essence, a litmus test for Halifax's progress this year, a temperature taking for a blue-clad club on the rise. And both the eye test and data suggest the Wanderers are ready to hang with Bobby Smyrniotis' seasoned squad.
"Listen, Forge has probably played 50 big games," Gheisar told reporters post-match. "They've played in CPL Finals, I don't know, for six years, semi-finals, Concacaf Champions League. For them this stage is very familiar."
"This is the third season we haven't lost to Forge at home. We also believe in (ourselves). Having that belief really helps. I think what we're starting to see more and more is this is a team that can manage defending moments and also attacking moments."
Both sides are known for wanting the ball and to be the aggressor. However, as Forge have shown in previous campaigns, good defending is key to winning trophies. It's also something the Wanderers struggled to do in 2024, conceding 43 times in league play, which was tied for the worst defending record in the league.
But the Wanderers are learning, showcasing a deeper commitment to working without the ball. Although early, they currently boast the least amount of goals conceded (four) behind only Forge (three). Saturday was also Halifax's second clean sheet in a row, a feat they failed to accomplish the entirety of 2024.
When asked about his club's improving defensive record, Gheisar said some changes to personnel and an emphasis in pre-season helped lay the foundation for a more balanced squad.
"We really worked on making us comfortable without the ball. Often, when we didn't have the ball, we'd jump out, leave spaces, they'd get it to another advanced space and it'd be a goal," he said.
The changes, which include a more aggressive press and energy in midfield, have caught the eye of Smyrniotis, who praised his opponent post-match.
"They do a good job of clogging up the penalty area. A lot of times, their four defenders are very narrow inside and they try and take away the spaces in the final third," said Smyrniotis.
Halifax's new-found commitment to defending was contrasted on Saturday with the return of former Wanderer Dan Nimick, who signed with Forge this off-season. If Nimick exemplified the Wanderers' woes in the back half of last season, his replacement, Thomas Meilleur-Giguère, is the embodiment of their new, grittier attitude.
Meilleur-Giguère was a threat offensively, nearly opening the scoring in the first minute, but especially shined off the ball. The Québec-born defender won all four of his duels, led his side with eight clearances and had a goal saving block on opposing striker Brian Wright to preserve the clean sheet.
His mentality, said both coaches and teammates, is all about defending.
"I love playing with Thomas. He's freaking insane," said Kareem Sow, who has started in all five of Halifax's matches this year. "He loves, and lives, to tackle, to win headers, to defend. I feel like I have a great partnership with him and I enjoy playing with him because we're on the same page about defending."
Meilleur-Giguère's emotion, be it after a tackle or big block, is palpable; often, he'll flex, smack his chest or scream encouragement. His bravado is new to the Wanderers' backline but it's hard to argue with the results and how he makes his teammates feel.
Sow noted there's lots for a player like himself to learn from Meilleur-Giguère and his championship pedigree. Much of it, he said, comes down to desire.
"Thomas is an absolute monster. Whenever the ball goes into the air, you know he's going to win it," said Sow.
It's that same desire the Wanderers hope to replicate across their season and that their opponents, who they'll play again on Wednesday night in the Canadian Championship, have made part of their core identity.
But desire isn't something constant or easy to grasp through a 28 match season. It's a flame that needs to be fed, and kept alight, from stunning Saturdays in Halifax to rainy Wednesdays in Hamilton. The Wanderers had a good dose of it this weekend but they'll need more if they're to prove that their red-hot start isn't that of a pretender but rather the sustainable beginnings of a contender.
In many ways, that status of contender begins with good defending, something Wanderers captain Andre Rampersad knows far too well. He, like the rest of the Wanderers, has something to prove.
"I think, when you look at teams that end up winning championships, this is what you need in certain games. You just have to see it out," he told reporters.
"I thought the guys were brilliant in the second half. We had them pinned. I think there were probably a couple chances, half chances, here and there but the overall performance, we learn from this. Also, we played the best team in the league, arguably. It's our first real, real test and I think the boys stood up to the challenge."
The Wanderers currently sit second on the league table with 11 points through five matches and, though a small sample size, look to be a much improved side.
The question, of course, is can they sustain this level of play and attention to detail through the entirety of the season? We'll get a much clearer picture as they resume their feud with Forge on Wednesday and then quickly pivot to welcome Cavalry to the Wanderers Grounds on Saturday.
The tests, and need for desire to overcome them, only get harder from here.
FURTHER READING:
Josh Healey
Josh Healey
Josh Healey
Cover Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan / Halifax Wanderers FC
