A PARTIAL floodlight failure at half time saw the entire second half of this HFS Loans League game played in semi-darkness. Gateshead must have wished that the failure had been total as they were completely outplayed by a rampant Southport side.

After a promising start, the Tynesiders found themselves two goals down in the first 15 minutes. Tony Quinn started the rot in the ninth minute, shooting home powerfully from 15 yards.

Four minutes later, the deficit was two. A Mitchell free-kick found the head of former Middlesbrough forward Bobby Thompson. His flick-on in turn found Wilkes, who cleverly lobbed the ball over the head of Simon Smith.

A foul on Neysmith in the 30th minute by Gary Powell saw Phil Marsden send Simon Smith the wrong way from the penalty spot to register goal number three.

Peter Hampson replaced Ian Donaldson at half time, but Gateshead completely lost their way in the second half gloom as Southport scored a further four goals.

Steve Wilkes converted a Quinn corner in the 56th minute, and then a mistake by Paddy O’Donnell allowed Clint Neysmith to shoot home from 12 yards. Southport completed the rout with two goals in the final 10 minutes.

First, Neysmith scored his second goal from a seemingly impossible angle, and then Bobby Thompson rounded off a fine personal display with a simple tap-in two minutes from the end to complete Gateshead’s misery.

Gateshead: Smith, Doolan, O’Donnell, McCabe, Powell, Webb, Lewis, Graham, Sheardown, White, Donaldson (Hampson). Sub: Gardner.

SOUTHPORT set a record for the club with their victory over Gateshead, the previous best being 7-1 at the expense of Buxton in their final match of the 1984/85 season.

Gateshead, who had recorded a 4-0 victory at Worksop in their previous away match, were totally overplayed and, in the second half, were demoralised by some superb Southport attacking play.

For most of the match Southport goalkeeper Paul Evans, who has had to work overtime on so many occasions this season, was a virtual spectator. His one difficult save was just before the interval when he dived to his left to hold a fierce free kick from Ian Donaldson.

IThe visitors sent on substitute Peter Hampson to reinforce their defence in the second half, the move being far too late as they were already three goals behind.

Hampson played well in his role as sweeper, but he could not prevent another four going in. Ironically, Southport’s outstanding player up front was Bobby Thomson. He did not score himself but he kept the visiting defence on the alert all the time and was involved in several of his side’s goals.

Tony Quinn began the rout in the ninth minute with a fierce left-foot shot following a build-up by Thomson and Phil Marsden.