It's familiar territory in unfamiliar surroundings for Cavalry FC.
After two wins in four days the Cavs (3-1-0) are top of the table through two weeks of action at the Canadian Premier League's Island Games Tournament in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
"I think what we've shown is we've got different layers to us," said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. in the post-match press conference. "But we've kept rotating the team, which isn't always easy because you lose a bit of rhythm, but I think we've found a way to create the freshness against teams that perhaps have played a game less than us."
Wing back Nathan Mavila opened the scoring with a strike from distance on the left flank in the first half and striker Jordan Brown added what help as the late winner in the 90th minute as the Cavs edged the HFX Wanderers 2-1 on Aug. 23.
"Initially Iooking for the cross, but I'm taking the goal all day," said Mavila of the tally. "To be fair I saw the right back cut off the line so I cut in and obviously I'm aiming for (Marcus) Haber, which is a good target. As the ball went and I hit it (the goalie) was off the line and it went in."
The Wanderers made it interesting late with Akeem Garcia converting on a penalty kick in stoppage time to cut the lead in half in a cagey battle which saw both clubs finish with eight shots and the Cavs have the slight edge with 54 per cent possession.
"I think it's probably been the toughest game of the tournament so far, in terms of it was a very close game in possession, duels won and lost, we edged it with goal scoring chances which speaks to the quality of the players," Wheeldon Jr. said. "It's probably a bit of four-game fatigue, that was our fourth game, that was their third and they had a day prior, so that does add into it and so you have to manage it hence why we've been rotating.
"But credit to Halifax, they're a bloody good team, they're physical, they're technical and they're very well coached. Stephen Hart was the national team coach for Canada and Trinidad and Tobago for a reason."
In the first Al-Classico of 2020, the Cavalry dispatched FC Edmonton 2-0 on Aug. 20 in a dominant performance.
The Cavalry held a 72 per cent edge in possession and didn't allow a shot on target with Brown tallying the brace, scoring at the end of the first half and doubling his money with a penalty kick goal in second half stoppage time.
"Patient, surgical performance, we just had to bide our time, we had to wait for pockets to open, be patient on the ball and then when they had it try and just take their outlets away," Wheeldon Jr. said. "Our midfield, (Nik) Ledgerwood and (Elliot) Simmons were terrific, our flanks were good, but our back-three was solid. Once you do that, it gives you a platform to expose for the front three, who just worked their socks off to create chances."
Brown, who scored the first goal in Cavalry franchise history in 2019, was deservedly named man-of-the-match.
"Every time I'm in the starting 11 first and foremost I have a role on my team, and maybe people don't realize what my role on my team is, but I like to lead the line and be the first line of defence," Brown said. "I want to get on the ball and just create havoc on the other team's defenders, that's my mindset every time I go into the game.
"For me, to add goals to my game, that's just icing on the cake."
This week, the Cavalry will look to remain unbeaten as it takes on the expansion Atletico Ottawa for the first time on Aug. 27 followed by an Aug. 30 tilt with Pacific FC.
For more information go to cavalryfc.canpl.ca
