With a playoff birth on the line, FC Monmouth and Atlantic City FC took to the field in front of a crowd that numbered in the hundreds.
Atlantic City FC did not get off to a good start early on in the first half. FC Monmouth’s offense penetrated the Aces’ defense only to be met by goalie Matt Perrella who stopped the attacking opposition by deflecting several shots.
FC Monmouth got on the board in the 20th minute as Brain Hawkins with an assist from Sam Decencio lofted one passed Perrella to give Monmouth a 1-0 lead.
The Aces would tie the game up in the 28th minute when Joao Brum rebounded a shot from goalkeeper Jake Leahy who punched one right at Brum who faked out the Monmouth defender and scorched one to the right corner of the net to make it a 1-1 game. Brum’s latest goal gives him six goals for the season.
The Aces would take the lead in the 30th minute when Walter Calderon with the assist from Jacques Francois and Michael Bello, chipped a shot passed Leahy to give the Aces a 2-1 lead. Monmouth made one last charge to try and tie the game, but the whistle was blown to end the half.
At the start of the second half, FC Monmouth would again pressure the Aces’ defense. Monmouth’s aggressive play would help them tie the game up when Aces goalie Matt Perrella left the goal box to try to recover the ball only to have Bryant Knibbs prevent the attempted save and launched one into the net to tie the game up at 2-2 in the 51st minute.
The Aces would take command of the game from there and in the 75th minute Walter Calderon scored his second goal of the game with an assist from Joao Brum putting the Aces on top 3-2.
One minute later Calderon would complete a hat trick with an assist from David Nigro who set up a long pass to Calderon who rocketed one past goalkeeper Jake Leahy putting the game away with a 4-2 final score. Walter Calderon was named Man of the Match.
The Aces improved their record to 6-2-1 and clinched a playoff spot in the Keystone Conference. The Aces close out the regular season Saturday afternoon against FC Motown at Egg Harbor Township High School Silver Eagle Stadium at 4 pm.
