NORTHERN LEAGUE

CHAMPIONS and FA Vase finalists South Shields ended their league campaign with a 3-2 win at lowly Guisborough Town.

Jordan Blinco gave Shields a secondminute lead before Barrie Smith and Carl Finnigan also got their names on the scoresheet. Steven Roberts and Jamie Poole netted in reply for the hosts.

Morpeth Town finished runners-up after a 4-2 win over Marske United, in which Jordan Fry scored twice.

Gareth Bainbridge’s double handed third-placed North Shields a 3-1 home win over Newton Aycliffe.

Washington warded off the drop in spite of losing 4-2 at Ryhope CW, with Guisborough, Chester-le-Street Town and West Allotment Celtic relegated.

West Allotment finished bottom after a 3-0 defeat at home to Dunston UTS, while Chester-le-Street lost 2-0 on home soil to Newcastle Benfield.

Experienced strike pair Paul Brayson and John Campbell were on the scoresheet for Benfield.

Ashley Winn scored twice in Jarrow Roofing’s 3-2 win at Ashington, while Whitley Bay finished unbeaten in 11 games after a comfortable 4-1 win at Penrith.

And in the day’s other game, John Butler’s hat-trick and Stephen Callen’s brace gave Sunderland RCA a stunning 5-0 win at seventh-placed Consett.