Video highlights from the RailHawks 3-1 Southern Derby cup victory over the Charleston Battery at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC on September 6, 2008.

Diallo draws a penalty and Kupono Low converts it

Curfman's cross after some great passing leads to a Charleston own goal

Watson skins the defense and sets up Rey "Boom Boom" Martinez for his first goal as a RailHawk

These and other video clips courtesy of USL Live / PlayOn! Sports are also available through iTunes via the RailHawks Underground podcast.

Wake Med Soccer Park is one of the finest venues in the United States to watch soccer, if you have a car. The total absence of public transportation to the stadium would be more noticeable if anyone seemed to mind.

A light crowd came out to see the last place ‘Hawks roll the dice in their bid to reach the post-season. They were facing a Charleston Battery team that had looked very impressive in a 2-1 loss to D.C. United in the final of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday. Almost everything went well for the home side as they notched three goals for the third time in five games.As Charleston sat back and hoped to spring on the counter, Carolina dominated early possession, attacking with fluidity through Ronald Cerritos in the center of midfield. When they were able to get the ball to the flanks, Nuñez took on defenders with his usual aplomb, creating trouble in the Battery backfield.

>> Read Chris Gaffney's full match report at Geostadia.

The Carolina RailHawks continued their mastery over the Charleston Battery, going to 5-0-0 all time against their Southern Derby rival with a 3-1 victory Saturday night at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Kupono Low started the scoring in the 21st minute when he converted a penalty earned when Hamed Diallo was bowled over in the area on a breakaway. Shortly thereafter, Charleston suffered a major setback when their midfield general Osvaldo Alonso had to leave on 25 minutes through injury. But hardly could Carolina capitalize when their own playmaker Ronald Cerritos also had to leave the match due to injury after 35 minutes.

But Cerritos' substitute, Steven Curfman created an almost instant impact on the match when 8 minutes later he gave Carolina 2-0 halftime lead when he finished off a wonderfully worked set of passes through the midfield with an 18 yard shot that was turned in by a Battery defender. Charleston would finally score against Chris McClellan for the first time in 5 career matches for the RailHawks when former NC State standout Aaron King pulled a goal back for the Battery in the 68th minute.

With Carolina looking to hold the lead and Charleston pressing forward for an equalizer, it looked like the RailHawks would head to Charleston for the final of the Southern Derby Cup needing a full three points. But in the 86th minute, Matt Watson created a simple tap in for Rey "Boom Boom" Martinez who scored in his home debut for the RailHawks and fixed the final 2 goal margin.

Now, with Charleston and Carolina tied on four points in the Southern Derby standings and Atlanta on 5 with no games remaining, a simple draw between the RailHawks and Battery on September 19th (Live on Fox Soccer Channel) will give all three teams a 5 point tie atop the standings but the goal differential tie breaker would belong to the RailHawks.

A number of Battery fans are driving up to the Triangle for today's Southern Derby match so we thought we'd host them for a little pre-game tailgate and some "smack talk" before kickoff.

Please bring your cooler, some food, and some lawn chairs (the ground's going to be wet and soggy) to the grassy area below the abstract art sculpture to join TSF for a little pre-game festivities. See you there from about 6:30pm Saturday night!

While the USL-1 playoffs may be slipping away from the Carolina RailHawks, the chance to take home at least one trophy this season is still in reach.

With two matches remaining against Charleston, Carolina needs 4 points and a +2 goal differential in their final two matches against the Battery to capture the 2008 Southern Derby trophy. Carolina hosts Charleston, who are coming off a hard-fought and heartbreaking 2-1 defeat in the US Open Cup Final by DC United at RFK Stadium, on Saturday evening at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Carolina is 4-0-0 all-time against the Battery and Charleston has never scored a goal against the RailHawks. With Hanna looking like she will clear the area by game time, and a number of Charleston supporters reportedly planning on roadtripping to the Triangle hoping to take the Southern Derby Cup home with them, it should be an exciting evening Saturday at the Park.