A huge first half from Ottawa Fury FC helped the expansion franchise to its first-ever win at TD Place Wednesday night.

The 2-0 victory gives Fury three wins in its last four games, the winning streak only interrupted by Sunday's loss to Minnesota.

The victory, on the strength of goals from striker Vini Dantas and midfielder Nicki Paterson, was a long time coming for a club that had yet to win at home in the spring season, with Fury's last victory in Ottawa coming May 31 against FC Edmonton at Carleton University.

While striker Tommy Heinemann scored the winner in the Edmonton match, it was Vini Dantas who potted his 2nd of the season -- and first of the fall campaign -- in the 21st minute to give Ottawa a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

Fury coach Marc Dos Santos was happy his team earned a victory in a game where they were the favourites, something that hasn't always gone that way.

"We had to win, we were supposed to win this game," he said.

As for getting that first home win, in front 3,105 people, Dos Santos said it was good to check that one off, too.

"We always worked in a very serious way and it's good just to get it done with so you (media) don't speak about it anymore," he cracked.

Getting a rare spot in the starting 11, Dantas was fired up early and turned in an all-around strong performance before exiting late in the game.

Dantas picked up the ball on a nice feed from Oliver a few yards above the Atlanta penalty box and pulled off a nice move to shake off the defender and open himself to the goal before striking the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

His performance was the culmination of hard training when he wasn't getting a regular start, Dantas said.

"It feels good, I've been working really hard," he said of the goal. "Now that I got a chance (to start) it feels really nice to deliver what coach has been asking of me."

In a season with many firsts for the new North American Soccer League club, Nicki Paterson scored his first-ever goal in a Fury jersey to provide his side some insurance, converting a perfect pass through the box and along the ground from Brazilian midfielder.

The goal was a big relief for the Scottish Paterson, a popular player among both teammates and fans, who was sidelined for all but the first game of the spring season with a knee injury. Since returning for the fall season it's been a somewhat up and down year for Paterson, who lost his spot in the starting lineup in the two games before Wednesday's contest, as Fury coach Marc Dos Santos elected to stick with a winning lineup.

"It's been a long tough season for me individually, but I feel like the guys overall are in a good place right now and its just good to be able to add to that," Paterson said.

He said he was happy to get the first goal monkey off his back.

"I've been getting teased by friends and family and guys in the locker room so it's good to be able to get that one," he said.

Ottawa keeper Romuald Peiser picked up his third shutout in his last four appearances.

While eighth-place Fury's playoff hopes are all but non-existent, the three points put Ottawa just two back of FC Edmonton on the combined NASL table. The Canadian team finishing highest on the table gets to host the second leg of next year's Canadian Championship.

Fury travels to San Antonio Friday to host the Scorpions Saturday night before heading to New York to play the Cosmos the following weekend. Ottawa then returns home to host FC Edmonton and Indy Eleven on Oct. 18 and 26, respectively.

Twitter: @chrishofley