Sam Austin hit a first-half hat-trick as Southend United scored six times before the break to crush bottom side Gateshead 6-1 in the National League.

Harry Cardwell raced on to a Zavier Massiah-Edwards through-ball to open the scoring after six minutes.

Massiah-Edwards was the architect of the second two minutes later as his deflected cross fell to Kyle McAdam to score.

Austin fired home the third from a Vontae Daley-Campbell cut-back and, after Cardwell had helped himself to his second and his side's fourth, Austin struck twice more at the end of the first half to complete his treble.

The visitors, whose impressive start to the season continued, took their foot off the gas in the second half and David Eguaibor pulled a goal back in the 89th minute, but the damage had long since been done.

Match report supplied by PA Media.