This was not a game for the purists. It was the sort of game that even Coaches dislike. But it was thrillingly exciting and one in which both sides showed great determination and character. The Eagles as they so often do somehow someway finding a way to come through to take the win.

A vital and crucial win indeed. It was their second win in just over 48 hours and lifted them into clear 4th place in the table with an 11-win 5 loss record. They now only have two games left in the regular season before the end of season play-offs. Two games against 2nd and 3rd in the table.

Oaklands Wolves away next Saturday and Caledonia Gladiators at home in two week’s time. It’s going to be nerve wracking and tense to see if the Eagles can maintain that fourth position and cement a home play-off game in the playoff quarter-finals.

Tense and nerve wracking though Newcastle seem to be able to do and cope with this win showing that in abundance. Scrappy disjointed not connected at times and not playing the brand of basketball they can credit has to go in the end to the Eagles for getting over the line.

Credit also must go to Nottingham as well. The Wildcats clearly came with a game plan to disrupt and spoil the Eagles. They are clinging on to the final play-off position and their spirited determination to stay in that place was very much in evidence throughout the forty minutes.

It was that tough no-nonsense approach that cost the Wildcats. Foul trouble and continually sending the Eagles to the free-throw line a vital factor in the final analysis. For the second game running Newcastle found themselves at the charity strip with chances to seal the deal once again.

On Thursday in London the Eagles had made 33 of 36 free-throws. On Saturday they were not as accurate but 18 of 26 compared to Wildcats 2 of 6 from the same line perhaps illustrating the difference in discipline on the night.

Plus, as always, Newcastle had Andrea Daley. This double-double scoring and rebounding phenomenon just continues to dominate all in front of her at the moment. In a game where her side only netted 59 points Daley had 23 adding in another impressive 14 rebounds.

Shanique Lucas was again her main scoring support with 14 points whilst captain Jada Dapaa had 12 points and 6 rebounds. Sarah Wells with 7 points and 5 rebounds from the bench also contributing. But as ever, every Eagle that stepped on court played their part.

The Wildcats came into the Vertu Arena on the back of four successive losses. They also had the memory of a heavy 85-56 defeat at home back in November on their own court against the same opposition in their minds. Early on it looked like that was prevalent in their thoughts.

Whilst not firing on all cylinders the Eagles under Daley’s power, Lucas’ drive, and speed and Dapaa’s toughness cruised into a 10-2 early lead in the first period. It looked ominous for Nottingham, but they rallied superbly and made the second half of the first ten minutes theirs.

An 11-3 run to answer Newcastle’s strong start meant that the game was tied at 13-13 at the end of the first and it was already looking like the next thirty minutes were going to prove to be a war of attrition. The second period showed that.

Newcastle made the first move and established a six-point advantage at 21-15. Had they broken through and reasserted themselves? No was Nottingham’s emphatic answer. Ten unanswered points and tough, tough defence put them four points up. Their first lead of the game.

Eagles answered to finish the first half with a 6-3 run, but it meant much to the surprise of the good-sized Eagles faithful fans in the building Wildcats were up 28-27 as the team headed to the locker rooms.

Anyone expecting the Eagles to come out all guns firing in the third were to be disappointed although they did manage to get back in front at times early in the period. The lead actually changed hands five times until a 6-0 run from the visitors gave them a 6-point lead at 39-33.

But Wildcats were in foul trouble and Newcastle through Daley, Zoe Willis and Lucas kept coming back until with 1:35 came the crucial Wildcats foul. Coach Karen Burton was having to leave players on court on four fouls to keep the Eagles at bay. One of those was Johanna Langbehn.

She had 14 points and 8 rebounds when she picked up her fifth and final foul and had to go to the bench for the rest of the game. A severe loss to Nottingham. Eagles took advantage as they kept netting their free-throws and a level 17-17 period ensued.

That meant Nottingham went into the final period still in front by a single point but under severe pressure as their hosts kept coming at them. Newcastle were able to eventually turn the game around and established a five-point lead at 50-45 with just over two minutes to go.

Kayala Buggs though for Wildcats managed to hit two triples in a row between Eagles scores and kept her side right in the game as the seconds ticked by. Daley though was not going to be denied and inside the last ten seconds nailed two more from the charity stripe to make it 59-55.

Six seconds left on the clock up stepped Buggs again with another triple to take it to a one-point game. Up stepped Eagles Head Coach Chloe Gaynor with well-timed game managing time-outs that she had saved. It enabled her side to eventually hold on and see the Wildcats off.

Coach Gaynor is not a fan of ‘a win is a win’ she likes to look at the bigger picture. But in reality, here the bigger picture was that the win was vitally important and whatever the failings of her side during the game they still got over the line.

It took them to fourth place in the standings. The place they want to be and sets them up well for the last two challenges ahead which will be crucial in the final reckonings.

Tickets for the Eagles women’s final home game of the season