South Shields delivered a commanding performance to defeat Witton Albion 7-0 in their latest Northern Premier League fixture on Saturday. The victory marked a strong response following their heavy 6-0 loss at Hereford the previous week.

The Mariners opened the scoring early, with Khanya Leshabela finding the top-left corner from the edge of the box in the fifth minute after a well-placed cutback from Sean McGurk. Just two minutes later, South Shields doubled their lead when captain Paul Blackett headed in a cross from McGurk at the back post.

Blackett quickly added a second from open play in the 13th minute, showcasing his composure as he finished past the defender. He completed his first-half hat-trick six minutes before the break, calmly slotting home a through-ball that penetrated Witton Albion’s defensive line.

After halftime, South Shields maintained their dominance. Substitute Cedwyn Scott scored the fifth goal just before the hour mark, tapping into an empty net following effective support from fellow substitute Jordan Jones. Scott then doubled his goal tally by finishing with a left-footed shot past Cameron Terry in the Witton Albion goal.

The final goal came ten minutes from time when Adam Campbell, also introduced from the bench, scored to complete a comprehensive 7-0 win for South Shields. The former Gateshead trio of Blackett, Scott, and Campbell all featured prominently in the result.

The emphatic victory serves as a significant turnaround for South Shields, regaining momentum after their heavy defeat at Hereford and demonstrating their attacking potential as the season progresses. Witton Albion, meanwhile, struggled to contain the Mariners’ forward line and were unable to offer a response as the match slipped decisively away.