Team Northumbria responded to TeAroha Keenan’s call for a much-needed homecourt win by sentencing bottom club Celtic Dragons to a 60-48 Sport Central defeat.
The hosts are now six points clear of Netball Superleague’s bottom club and can focus on reeling in eighth-placed Severn Stars.
Keenan had challenged her players to win both of their remaining home games starting with struggling Dragons.
And TN will wrap up their Sport Central campaign a week on Monday confident that they can bag a third successive home win with victory against Team Bath.
Dragons arrived on Tyneside on the back of nailbiting clashes against Manchester Thunder and Mavericks - both games that the Welsh club could have won.
And Keenan was right to warn against complacency - at the same time insisting a TN victory was imperative.
On the back of a confident start from shooter Georgia Rowe the hosts pulled 13-10 ahead after the first quarter.
And TN led by as many as eight goals in the second period before Dragons pegged back the lead to trail 30-25 at half-time.
A typically nervous third quarter - traditionally a poor period for Keenan’s side - saw the visitors close to within two goals at 35-33.
But a four-goal Chiara Semple burst put TN back in the driving seat before Dragons hit back again.
Only three goals separated the two teams heading into the final quarter and Keenan rang the changes with Vicky Burgess and Iman Thomas providing fresh legs in mid-court.
It was a move that would ultimately pay off as Dragons tired and TN took control to lead by seven with less than six minutes to play.
And a win against Team Bath in 10 days’ time would send Keenan’s side into their final three games on the road dreaming of a top six finish.
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