The visitors took the lead after just two minutes, as Sunderland loanee Ben Middlemas rifled the ball into the bottom corner with the first attack of the game.

The Hoops levelled matters just a couple of minutes later though, when Corie Andrews produced a neat finish to poke the ball in after a cross from the left.

Zac McEachran aimed for the top corner, but saw his effort fly over the crossbar, while Paul Blackett saw an effort cleared off the line at the other end.

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The Hoops came close to taking the lead when their high press forced goalkeeper Myles Boney into a mistake, as he gave the ball to Andrews, who crossed for Josh Parker, who couldn’t slot in from close range.

Away skipper Robert Briggs thought he’d nudged South Shields into the lead when his strike hit the underside of the crossbar, before bouncing off the line and away.

The final chance of the first half saw Parker fire wide from Reece Fleet’s pass.

Four minutes into the second period, Blackett was too quick, as he latched onto a ball on the right wing, and then netted past Kai McKenzie-Lyle.

Blackett made it a brace just after the hour mark, when he picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty area and lobbed the ball into the top corner.

The Mariners added their fourth of the afternoon when right back Jid Okeke, on loan from Stockport County, collected the ball on the halfway line and drove forward, before crossing for Aidan Rutledge to slot home in the box.