Match Report: South Shields 7-0 Rushall Olympic

Paul Blackett scored a first-half hat-trick as South Shields picked up three big points in a 7-0 thrashing of struggling Rushall Olympic on Tuesday night.

The match was turned within 10 minutes when Nathan Cameron was red-carded and Shields never looked back from that moment.

Blackett scored his first of three goals from the spot following a challenge inside the box, before Martin Smith made it two with a wonderful lob from distance.

Blackett then found his second and third strikes of the game soon after, culminating in a performance which rightfully earned him the man of the match award.

Others may have had their claim too, meanwhile, as Tom Allan netted twice to cap off a stunning debut for the forward after the break.

The visitors largely found things difficult during the first-half but their intensity and quality on the ball improved as the game went on. 

Credit must be handed to the Pics' goalkeeper, Paul White, for keeping his side in it at times.

He made a wonderful save to prevent Mackenzie Heaney from getting on the scoresheet, after Allan had thwarted a back-pass previously.

He later managed to deny Allan, who was sent through on goal thanks to Will Jenkins' floating delivery around the 70th minute mark.

Much of the squad could have been singled out for praise – it was that type of game.

Sam McLintock tried his luck from far out after spotting Myles Boney off his line late on, but it ultimately went wide.

Iestyn Hughes made it seven with seconds to spare, as Elliott Dickman’s men climbed to eighth place in the Vanarama National League North table.

Shields are only outside of the play-off spots due to goal difference, but the teams around them have played fewer games too. 

Nevertheless, it has been a remarkable return to form in recent weeks for the Mariners, who have not lost at home since the controversial 1-0 defeat against Radcliffe in October. 

Up next for Shields is a tantalising trip to top-of-the-table Curzon Ashton on Saturday. 

South Shields: Boney, Hughes, Broadbent (Bramwell 65’), Morse, Taylor, Briggs (Jenkins 60’), Heaney (Dudik 72’), Smith, Mee, Allan, Blackett (Crossley 45’). 

Unused substitutes: Seymour. 

Goals: Blackett (11’, 32’, 42’) Smith (‘18), Allan (71’, 77’), Hughes (90+3’). 

Rushall Olympic: White, Green (McDonald 75’), Cameron, Hull, Fairnie, McAlinden (McDonagh 75’), Bonser, Flanagan, Martin, Lalkovic (McLintock 56’), Watts (King 56’). 

Unused substitutes: Pennant. 

Attendance: 1,547.  

Image credit: Kev Wilson (@KevWilson19)