Spennymoor's chances of winning promotion from the UniBond League First Division were dealt a blow when they lost at Bishop Auckland on Easter Monday.

Played at Dean Street, it was a bad-tempered affair which Bishops won 3-2, but Spennymoor had the better of the opening stages, before the hosts took the lead.

Sean Hope sidefooted home from a corner after just 13 minutes but Moors equalised before half-time when Jason Ainsley was pulled down in the box, and Steve Preen converted the resulting penalty.

Moors looked as if they were on their way to victory on the hour when Preen nodded the ball down for Danny Brunskill to sweep home, and he nearly added a third, but his header from an Ainsley free-kick came back off the bar.

Bishops levelled after 75 minutes when Neil Maddison broke clear and beat Martin Kearney with a right-foot shot, and seven minutes later he forced home an inswinging free-kick from Stuart Irvine.

Moors dropped to third place, because Radcliffe Borough won at Rossendale.