RECAP + HIGHLIGHTS: Halifax Wanderers vs. York United | Oct. 4, 2025

The Halifax Wanderers and York United FC played to a cagey 1-1 draw on Saturday at the Wanderers Grounds, with Massimo Ferrin and Nassim Mekidèche scoring for their respective clubs. The draw, and split points, mean that the Nine Stripes stay ahead on the table and closer to hosting a home playoff match.

Both sides started the match in good order and with disciplined lines as they jostled for the first advantage. York United head coach Mauro Eustáquio again opted to play with a back four — this time composed of Max Ferrari, Frank Sturing, Luke Singh and Orlando Botello — and a trio of Kembo Kibato, Steffen Yeates and Leonel Lopez in midfield. Meanwhile, with strikers Tiago Coimbra and Reshaun Walkes ruled out due to injury, Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar rotated Ryan Telfer up top and slotted in Wesley Timoteo for Vitor Dias, who was also unavailable.

The first chance of the match came in the eighth minute as Telfer was sprung in the box, albeit at a poor angle. Nine Stripes’ goalkeeper Diego Urtiaga came out to challenge and coolly corralled the Trinidad and Tobago international’s attempt. The Wanderers had another look a few minutes later as Sean Rea found himself with space on the left side of the pitch but his shot went high and wide. However, on a corner in the 15th minute, the Wanderers struck first, seeing a whipped ball headed back to Rea, whose shot was blocked, before it was shovelled behind Urtiaga courtesy of Mekidèche to give Halifax a 1-0 lead.

York United weren’t deterred, controlling possession for much of the first half, while having looks at goal. Their best chance came around the 27th as their press stripped the Wanderers of the ball in their final third, with the trio of Ferrin, Abonijah Reid and Julian Altobelli breaking towards goal. Ultimately, Reid fired a shot just inside Halifax’s box but Rayane Yesli stood tall to keep the lead.

Tempers flared near halftime as referee Scott Bowman handed out three yellow cards, with both sides competing hard and throwing their weight into tackles. York United finished with 64 per cent possession in the first half but weren’t able to make the most of it as they managed just four shots. The Wanderers, for comparison, had six shots but three big chances.

Eustáquio went to his bench first, bringing on veteran Elijah Adekugbe and youngster Shola Jimoh as they searched for a goal. Only minutes later, Jimoh was integral in whipping a ball into the box, which Ferrin eventually managed to get a boot on to tie the match 1-1. Gheisar then chose to bring on his own substitute, taking off Timoteo for Yohan Baï.

The match settled down around the 75th minute, with both sides looking for an opening. However, in the 86th minute, Halifax finally had their chance as York United misplayed a ball outside of their own box. Johnston jumped onto the loose ball and laid it off to Baï, who rang it off the far post. York United had a look of their own in stoppage time with a late corner but it was cleared by Thomas Meilleur-Giguère. York United finished the match with eight shots to Halifax’s 10.

With two matches remaining each, and York United ahead by a point on the table, the Wanderers will have felt like they missed an opportunity towards securing a crucial home playoff match for their fans.

BOX SCORE

Lineups

Halifax Wanderers: Yesli; Alphonse, Meilleur-Giguère, Mekidèche; Sow (Biello 87'), Callegari, Johnston, Pearlman; Rea, Timoteo (Baï 71'); Telfer

York United FC: Urtiaga; Ferrari, Sturing, Singh, Botello; Kibato, Yeates (Adekugbe 63'); Reid (Jimoh 63'), Lopez (Ferrazzo 90'), Ferrin; Altobelli (Hundal 76')

Goals

15' — Nassim Mekidèche (Halifax Wanderers)
68' — Massimo Ferrin (York United FC)

Discipline

36' — Jefferson Alphonse (Halifax Wanderers)
36' — Adam Pearlman (Halifax Wanderers)
45+1' — Max Ferrari (York United FC)
45+3' — Leonel López (York United FC)
45+3' — Wesley Timoteo (Halifax Wanderers FC)
62' — Frank Sturing (York United FC)
90+3' — Riley Ferrazzo (York United FC)
90+5' — Yohan Baï (Halifax Wanderers FC)