Such summarized the sentiments of Carolina RailHawks forward Joel Bailey, who, along with his teammates, treated last Friday’s SAS Stadium crowd of 5,125 to a 2-0 win over the California Victory.

The outcome snapped the RailHawks’ five-game skid that began after Carolina’s last home win — July 15 over the Chicago Fire.

“We weren’t in a position to be guaranteeing anything,” RailHawks coach Scott Schweitzer said.

The coach was speaking of the organization’s promise to offer attending spectators free tickets to (Tuesday’s) Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against the Richmond Kickers if Carolina did not claim a victory over California.

“We need to play every game like it’s our last game,” Schweitzer continued. “‘Cause if we lose, we pretty much think that’s what will happen.”

Bailey, playing in just his second match for the RailHawks, thwarted defeat for at least one more day by driving a 30th minute shot past goalkeeper Eric Reed into the net’s lower left corner.

Carolina (5-9-7) outshot the Victory 10-3 in the first half, including 4-1 among shots on goal. The RailHawks attempted all four of the contest’s pre-intermission corner kicks.

Goalkeeper Chris McClellan earned his eighth shutout this campaign.

“We just kind of like went out there to try to express ourselves as players,” Bailey said. “I don’t really think anything was that planned. I think everything basically kind of came naturally.”

A Bailey pass set up Chris Carrieri for a 37th-minute shot on goal that sailed wide left. Bailey put another offering on the frame in the 54th minute before departing the match to a rousing ovation — to which he responded with an applauding gesture to the home grandstand.

“They’re making me feel welcome,” Bailey said. “So I was just trying to acknowledge that.” Connally Edozien, who assisted Bailey’s goal, closed the scoring with his team-leading fourth goal – a 58th-minute header follow of Carrieri’s offering deflected by the goalkeeper.

California (4-12-7) did not deviate from its flat back three defense, which left it vulnerable to the RailHawks strikers’ speed.

“They haven’t changed that all season,” Schweitzer said. “Then, with speed and diagonal runs through the center of the field, you should get chances on goal.”

Carolina (22 points), 10th in the USL First Division’s 12-team First Division, sits three points ahead of the Victory.