MATCH REPORT: SOUTH SHIELDS 4-0 SCARBOROUGH ATHLETIC

Paul Blackett double sees Mariners cruise to 4-0 Scarborough win 

South Shields dominated in Tuesday night’s clash with Scarborough Athletic, opening the deadlock within five minutes thanks to Blackett’s opener. 

The Mariners' second came one minute before half-time with Cedywn Scott rifling in from close range. 

The third and fourth goals of the evening came in the second half with Blackett securing his brace in the 51st before Dan Ward tucked away in the 65th minute.

Shields came into Tuesday night’s tie with Scarborough extremely confident. 

Ian Watson made two changes coming into the clash, with Dillon Morse coming in for Ethan Mann and Ward coming into the side for Sean McGurk.

The visitors' last fixture saw them lose heavily to AFC Telford in a 4-1 away defeat, the Mariners' previous fixture, on the other hand, saw them triumph in a 2-1 victory at home to Hereford. 

A huge three points were at stake; however, Shields were confident they’d be the side taking them.

The Mariners began and were immediately taking the game to the visitors — playing threatening long-balls in behind. 

It only took five minutes from the opening whistle before Shields opened the deadlock. 

Oliver Bainbridge had space to whip in the cross from the left side of the field — the cross took a slight deflection, forcing Ryan Whitley into the save; however, the keeper parried it to a dangerous area where our number-nine was waiting. 

Blackett made no mistake and flicked it into the net to put Shields one goal to the good. 

Four minutes later, the Mariners came close again, after neat work from Ward, Cain Sykes, and Blackett. 

Ward played a fantastic around-the-corner ball into Sykes, who turned and found Blackett with the through ball, whose strike was saved by Whitley.

With just more than a quarter of an hour on the clock, the Mariners were in again, and it was that trio once more creating danger. 

Sykes found Ward, who played the ball into Blackett, whose shot was blocked and went out for our third corner of the game.

In the 29th minute of the game, Shields conceded a penalty; however, our shot-stopper Jasper Sheik took the penalty into his own hands, guessing the right way and saving Stephen Walker's spot kick.

With four minutes before the half-time whistle, the visitors came close to the equaliser but were denied by a Will Jenkins last-ditch block.

Harry Green had sight of an open goal; however, Jenkins' incredible recovery allowed the midfielder to slide in and block the shot, stopping a sure goal. 

Moments later, on the stroke of half-time, Shields got their second of the evening. 

A fantastic cross was fizzed in by Luke Woolston into Scott, who took the ball down, turned, and rifled into the net. 

The second half kicked off and Watson’s men started identical to the way they finished off the first half — tremendously intense.

This pressure and constant attack resulted in a goal five minutes into the second half, with Blackett bagging himself a second of the match, rifling one in 20 yards from goal. 

Two minutes before the hour mark, Shields had another opportunity, once more, Blackett causing the danger. 

The man who’d bagged a brace so far looked as though he turned provider when he picked out Jenkins from the cross whose volley just rose over the bar.

The fourth goal of the evening came 25 minutes before the full-time whistle. 

Jenkins played a through ball that cut open the visitors' defence for Ward, who made no mistake, tucking the ball past Whitley. 

South Shields: Sheik, Tinkler (Mann 80’), Bainbridge, Sykes, Morse, Blackett (McGurk 66’), Jenkins, Ward, Scott (Alcock 63’), Kelly (Savage 88’), Woolston (Carson 66’)

Scarborough Athletic: Whitley, Weledji, Maloney, Thornton, Purver, Walker, Green, Colville, Tear, Brown, Waldron

Goals: Blackett 5’ 51’ Scott 44’ Ward 65’

Attendance: 1946