Cavalry FC maintained their undefeated record against Vancouver FC on Friday night in Langley, with a 1-0 victory.

Maël Henry’s first goal of the season, in his first start of the campaign, was the difference for the visitors, who picked up their second consecutive road victory.

Cavalry looked the sharper of the two sides in the early stages of the match, finding ways to move the ball through the Vancouver press and find space in the attacking third — especially down the flanks.

In the 23rd minute, that paid dividends. Fraser Aird played a ball down the line to Sergio Camargo, who looked to play into the path of Diego Gutiérrez. A somewhat fortunate deflection off Vancouver defender Allan Enyou saw the Cavalry midfielder get in behind and skip down the byline. His low cross deflected off the hand of Vancouver keeper Callum Irving, and into the path of Henry, who simply had to stay composed and tap the ball home to give Cavalry a 1-0 lead.

Henry was nearly in again in the 33rd minute, as he got in behind the Vancouver backline and made a clever touch to take down a Charlie Trafford long ball. Vancouver centreback Rocco Romeo, however, made a brilliant challenge in the box to deny the opportunity.

Despite a solid amount of control as the half wore on, Cavalry were not able to add to that lead. Nor were Vancouver able to get much going offensively, managing just one shot on target during the first 45 minutes — leaving the Cavs up 1-0 at the half.

Both sides made changes at the half, with Bradley Kamdem returning, while Vancouver FC brought on 16-year-old Grady McDonnell — coming off his first career assist — and Mikaël Cantave.

Cantave quickly provided a spark for the hosts, causing all kinds of problems for the Cavalry backline down the left flank — firing a warning shot that was just high and wide in the 54th minute.

Cavalry quickly settled things down once again, however, and in the 63rd minute Henry from a distance, and Camargo from close range, forced a pair of quality stops from Irving as the visitors pushed for a critical second.

Vancouver looked to respond, as new midfielder Olivier Rommens found teammates in good areas on multiple occasions, showing his stellar passing range. None of them resulted in anything more than half chances, however.

In the 75th minute, Cavalry brought on new signing Lowell Wright for his club debut, and almost immediately he forced a fantastic stop from Irving with a fierce shot on target.

Vancouver FC searched desperately to find a late equalizer at home for the second straight week. In the 85th minute, substitute TJ Tahid found Diaz outside the box, who sent a curling strike just wide of Marco Carducci’s net.

Cavalry had one last chance late, as Malcolm Shaw found himself in plenty of space as Vancouver pressed for a winner in stoppage time. But he could not connect with the onrushing Wright, and the chance went out for a goalkick.

With the victory, Cavalry FC leap over Vancouver FC in the standings, and move up into fourth place.

BOX SCORE

Lineups 

Vancouver FC: Irving; Chung (Campagna 68′), Romeo, Enyou, Gee (Crawford 60′); Powell (McDonnell 46′), Rommens, Garcia, Fisk (Cantave 46′); Bitar (Tahid 77′), Díaz

Cavalry FC: Carducci; Aird (Daley 84′), Klomp, Trafford (Kamdem 46′), Field; Shome, Gutiérrez; Henry (Myroniuk 68′), Camargo (Wright 75′), Wähling; Warschewski (Shaw 75′) 

Goals

23′ — Maël Henry (Cavalry FC)

Discipline

61′ — Yellow: Shamit Shome (Cavalry FC)