“It was just one of those nights,” proclaimed Elma N’For after Saturday’s draw with FC Carolina United. Asheville City seemed to outplay the Charlotte-based NPSL squad the entire match, and they won a playoff spot, but they ultimately couldn’t come away with the win.

Asheville just can’t catch a break with the weather. On yet another Saturday that was mostly sunny all day long, the clouds decided Memorial Stadium needed another shower about an hour before kickoff. Small pools of standing water were still scattered about when the match finally kicked off over an hour after the scheduled start time.

Between the weather and possibly the holiday weekend, this was the least attended match in Asheville City’s brief history with a record low of 1,558. (That’s still impressive.)

The rain obviously had its effects on the match as well. Whenever there is an alteration from normal conditions, the underdog almost always seems to benefit more. The Blues were favored to win and three points would have moved them into second in the standings, a position that holds home field for the first playoff match. Alas, it wasn’t in the cards.

(Photo Credit: Alex Hamilton)

With the Silverbacks losing at home on Saturday to the New Orleans Jesters, ACSC moved to within two points of them going into the final weekend. Knoxville blasted Birmingham 6–2 last week and then beat the Georgia Revolution 3–2 on Saturday, securing the 1-seed in the East. The Force have been steamrolling as of late and have a shot at hosting the semi’s and final if they win again on Saturday.

As it stands then, Knoxville Force have clinched first, and Atlanta and Asheville have clinched second and third, with the seeding and home field on the line in the season’s final games.