Vixens shooter Tegan Caldwell slotted the crucial goals for her side, drawing the score level at 39-all with just under a minute to go, before converting the resulting centre pass. But it was the Vixens defence that proved the heroes down the stretch, with Geva Mentor, Bianca Chatfield and Julie Corletto closing down the Magic attack that had dictated the pace for much of the game.
The luckless Magic also copped a couple of head-scratching calls over the pressure-filled final minutes, with Irene van Dyk pinged for offensive penalties on consecutive Magic possessions to let the Vixens back in.
Van Dyk otherwise had a very strong game against one of the competition's best defensive lines. Laura Langman was also a stand-out in the middle, with a high work-rate on both attack and defence.
There was little to distinguish between the top and bottom placed teams as the lowly Magic made the early running playing a disciplined and patient brand of netball.
The Vixens struck back from a shaky start as the game developed into an arm wrestle with both defensive ends playing influential roles.