The scoring was opened by the home side - who had made a bright start - as Darius Osei struck with 16 minutes on the clock to spark wild celebrations among the bulk of the 2,669 crowd.

Whitby responded with Jacob Hazel levelling matters, before JJ Hooper rose highest to head home and give Shields the lead again in the 28th minute.

But despite a number of chances, Shields were unbale to rubber-stamp their authority in the first-half and this gave Whitby all the hope they needed to go on and win the game themselves.

The 1st Cloud Arena was rocking before the players had even made it out the tunnel. And, on the pitch, things could barely have started better; with a number of chances going the way of the hosts, it seemed a case of when, not if they took the lead, and they did so when Osei drilled into the bottom corner from close range.

The Mariners looked inspired and purposeful early on, with Whitby struggling to get a foothold. After avoiding any further damage though, Lee Bullock and Nathan Haslam's side managed to get themselves level. Jacob Hazel had plenty of time to pick his spot and roll the ball into the bottom corner of Myles Boney's goal.

But the hosts quickly turned the screw back in their favour, going back ahead five minutes later as Hooper, having timed his jump to perfection, got his head onto the end of a right-wing cross to head home and beat Shane Bland.

Whitby should have found themselves back on level terms when Harry Green latched onto a loose pass and was supported by Hazel. With the goal gaping, Whitby's top scorer dragged the shot wide after the ball had been squared to him.

The sting certainly hadn't been taken out of the game in the second as Whitby began at lightning pace, Shields midfielder Robert Briggs having to head off the line following a corner early on.

The visitors, second best for the majority of the first half, began to take control with Shields at times looking laboured and lacking a spark.

The Seasiders did have to ride their luck at times, with Hooper, Osei and Jordan Hunter all missing presentable opportunities, but they were full value for their victory which was very much inspired by the introduction of Marcus Giles from the substitutes' bench.

The young striker went close in the 74th minute as his curling effort, which was always going wide, hit the head of Hazel who did his best to divert the ball towards goal. This came after Jassem Sukar should have done better with a left-footed strike inside the area.

Giles did get his goal 12 minutes from time though as he put the pressure on the home sides' defensive backline who didn't have the pace to keep up with the Whitby man. The angle was against the young striker in the box, but he still managed to fired into the bottom right-hand corner wo set up a grand stand finish.

Hooper did head onto the roof of the goal netting for Shields, but it always looked that there would only be one winner in the closing stages and that would be Whitby.

Malik Dijksteel scuffed an effort wide before Hazel struck over the crossbar from range.

This wasn't the end of the action, though. Giles' pace was key once more as he picked the ball up in the midfield before picking out Hazel. Being forced wide didn't bother the division's scoring leader however, as he was able to cut inside onto his left foot and find the net in the dying stages.

In the end, Whitby were unable to claim a play-off spot of their own due to results elsewhere, but this victory against their full-time opponents was undoubtedly a highlight of a positive season.