MATCH REPORT: SOUTH SHIELDS 4-1 MERTHYR TOWN

Paul Blackett first-half brace fires South Shields to 25th league win of the season and in touching distance of AFC Fylde in the Enterprise National League North

South Shields began the clash in mesmerising fashion with Blackett picking up a first-half brace in seven minutes with goals coming in the 17th and 24th minute.

Astonishingly the Mariners first-half - in terms of scoring did not stop there - as soon after Sonny Finch’s astonishing solo-goal put the hosts three ahead going into half-time.

The hosts full-back Oliver Bainbridge headed home the Mariners fourth of the afternoon just nine minutes into the second-half. 

And then with 12 minutes left to play, Merthyr Town’s Lewys Twamley dispatched a consolation penalty. 

Coming into Saturday’s clash with the Martyrs, the Mariners were looking to get back to winning ways following their last three away outings. 

Hotshot Blackett, undoubtedly was in the starting lineup with the number-nine searching for his 23rd league goal of the season.

The Mariners started brightly, however did face a nervy moment in the ninth minute of the game when Twamley crashed a strike against the bar.

Soon after these nerves turned to booming cheers from the home fans as Blackett netted the opener. 

Sean McGurk drove forward and immediately found Bainbridge down the left side who rifled in a cross into Blackett’s path who lashed the ball first time into the roof of the goal. 

Then just seven minutes later, extraordinarily Blackett bagged his brace - a goal which was almost a carbon-copy of the opener. 

McGurk again drove forward with the ball this time the winger did not find Bainbridge but slammed in a delicious ball into Blackett’s path who for the second time of the afternoon crashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Eleven minutes later the Mariners entered dream land thanks to Finch - who stormed through the entire Merthyr defence and slammed the ball into the bottom left corner for a wonderful solo goal.

Soon after the hosts picked up a fourth, Finch again was at the heart of the move. 

Finch picked up the ball on the right side, looked up and floated a terrific ball into the box where astonishingly, left-back Bainbridge had burst in, to head the ball past Jaimie Cogman.

Then with 13 minutes to play the hosts conceded a penalty after Twamley was brought down in the box, the visitors winger dispatched the penalty claiming a consolation goal for the Martyrs.

South Shields: Watson, Tinkler, Bainbridge, Sykes, McGurk (Wheeldon 52’), Blackett (Carson 81’), Jenkins (Savage 89’), Mann, Finch (Smith 74’), Alcock, Dodds

Merthyr Town: Cogman, Ryan-Phillips, Garrick, Twamley, Spiers, Evans, Maddox, Cox, Williams, Thomas, Lucas

Unused substitutes: Sheik, Morse, Robson, 

Goals: Blackett 17’ 24’ Finch 35’ Bainbridge 57’ Twamley 78’

Attendance: 2197