The San Francisco Deltas overcame an early onset of cold weather to gut out a 1-0 victory over FC Edmonton at Clarke Stadium.

All six games the NASL “natural rivals” played were decided by one goal. San Francisco won five of the six matchups to take 15 of an available 18 points from the Eddies.

With predictions of the area’s first snow that evening, the cold conditions and a stiff breeze at their back worked in favor of San Francisco in the first half.

The Deltas had two excellent chances in the first ten minutes of the match. Both were denied by the crossbar. Renier Ferriera hit a free kick hit off the bar in the fifth minute, and a bicycle kick by Pablo Dyego also deflected off in the same manner.

The teams went into the locker rooms tied up at nil-nil.

“The conditions and weather made it tough for both teams. It was a type of game that required a lot of concentration,” said SF Deltas head coach, Marc Dos Santos. “We had chances to score and come back at half with a goal, but we didn’t.”

FC Edmonton then took advantage of the conditions for their best chances in the second half but Deltas keeper Romuald Peiser was up to the challenge.

Eddies striker Sainey Nyassi got past the Deltas defense just after the hour mark but was stuffed by Peiser’s aggressive keeping. Shortly after Peiser also stopped a blistering free kick from Daryl Fordyce that found its way around the defensive wall.

But the freekick once again ended up being the savior for the Deltas. In the 78th minute, a Kyle Bekker corner found the head of a charging Kenny Teijsse at the near post and he thundered the ball past Edmonton keeper Tyson Fargo.

We had to suffer more to get the full three points in the second half,” noted Dos Santos. “I’m proud of our mentality and seeing our guys get the job done.”

With the victory, the Deltas were able to keep second place in the NASL combined standings. San Francisco is three points above third place North Carolina FC with three games in hand and six points above the New York Cosmos with two games in hand. They are also eight points above fifth place Jacksonville with two games in hand.

The Deltas now travel to South Florida to take on Miami FC for two road games on Wednesday, October 4th, and Saturday, October 7th, before returning home to San Francisco for a home game against Indy Eleven on Wednesday, October 11th.