Daniel Hildreth says he always knew Worthing Thunder would win their latest nailbiter.

He just wishes his side could put their opponents away without all the late dramatics.

Magic followed their overtime thriller with Plymouth by beating Manchester Magic 86-83 at Durirngton last Sunday having trailed 80-77 with 2min.11secs to go.

Lavoris Jerry's carefully guided jumper, four free throws and a put-back by Gaylon Moore plus one from two by Hildreth at the line did the trick as Magic could muster just a Jacob Molina three in the last 131 seconds.

Hildreth admitted: "This team is very capable without question but we seem to do just what is required.

"We started really well and then Manchester came back and what we must question is why they came back.

"Did they do anything different? Not really. We seemed to go away from what was working and Manchester had enough individual talent to get back in the game.

"When it matters though we do what we need to. Deep down we believe we will win and that is a good sign."

Thunder's advantage was as big as 21-13 with 3:31 to go in the first but Magic then led 49-38 on the back of two Steven Gayle free throws 2:30 from half-time.

Jerry came up with a trademark dunk to tie it up at 51-51 early in the third and from then on there was very little between the sides.

Jerry was four-of-five from three-point range, all four of those successes coming in the first 14 minutes of the contest.

Hildreth insists Thunder can only get better as they spend more time on court together.

He said: "I know it is halfway through the season but we are still getting used to each other as a team.

"We are really confident. The coaches are bringing in new defences for us so they are clearly confident in us as well and willing to test us a bit more.

"The big game for us was Plymouth and getting into the final. We said then if we beat Manchester and Solent we would be happy going into the second half of the season."

The final stage of that target comes at Fleming Park, Eastleigh, tonight (8pm) when Hildreth will come up against another English point guard lost to the BBL in Solent's quicksilver Mark Jackson.

The Thunder man said: "We have always had great battles, even back in the juniors. Mark is very talented, perfectly capable of playing in the BBL, and I like to think I am as well.

"It's frustrating there is no room for us there but we will have a good 40-minute battle, then a drink and a chat afterwards."

Thunder expect to fill two coaches with fans going to the Trophy final at Birmingham on January 12. The fare is £16 (members) or £20 (non-members) with tickets available on (01903) 505162 or from mickcafc@yahoo.co.uk.