Match Report: South Shields 3-0 Southport

South Shields ended the season on a high despite missing out on play-offs with a 3-0 win over Southport.

Jordan Hunter's third Mariners goal in the 66th minute sealed victory for Elliott Dickman's side.

Paul Blackett reached 30 goals for the season in the Vanarama National League North from the penalty spot.

Shields knew that a win wouldn't be enough to see them into the play-off places after last week's defeat to Tamworth.

Defeat for Boston United against Hereford or a shock victory for Bishop's Stortford against Curzon Ashton would see the Mariners finish in the top seven given they won their game at the 1st Cloud Arena.

Shields opened the scoring at the best possible time as the stadium was on its feet to applaud the 17 victims of the Sima Shed bus accident in the same minute when Aaron Martin headed home from Jordan Hunter's shot that was set up nicely by Chris Renshaw in the Southport goal.

Paul Blackett converted from the penalty spot in the 24th minute after Renshaw was booked for clearing the forward out.

That goal was Blackett's 30th and final goal of the Vanarama National League North season, cementing him as top scorer in the league.

Jordan Hunter scored a rare goal from a tight angle in the 66th minute, his first since returning on loan and only his third ever for the club.

Despite victory, results elsewhere meant that the Mariners missed out on the play-offs by a point, finishing eighth overall in what has been a historic season for the newly-promoted club.

South Shields: Boney, Hunter, Briggs, Broadbent, Adams (C), Smith, Heaney, Jenkins (Abbey 75), Woods (Savage 80), Blackett, Martin (Stephenson 70)

Unused Subs: Sloan, Gomes

Goals: Martin (17), Blackett (24), Hunter (66)