Spennymoor Town’s hopes of a league and league cup double improved with two late goals in their league cup semi final at Sunderland RCA to give them a 3-1 win.

Moors took the lead after 16 minutes when Steve Richardson turned quickly and scored with a low shot, but the RCA deservedly equalised after 70 minutes when Moors keeper Sam Grieveson misjudged the bounce of a long ball, allowing Joe Walton to score.

But with seven minutes left, Richardson scored with a 30 yarder, and in stoppage time, Craig Ruddy crossed for Craig Hubbard to score with a diving header. It will be Moors' first league cup final of any sort since 1994, when they reached the UniBond League Cup final against Hyde United.

Moors boss Jason Ainsley said: "That was a very nervous ending to the game, because it could have gone either way. Steve richardson came off his sick bed and scored two very good goals for us."

Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said: "We had some very good chances, and two penalty appeals turned down. Our players put in a shift and a half, and maybe if we had their strikers, then we would have won." In the STL Northern League, Bishop Auckland had their first goalless draw for nearly a decade when they drew 0-0 with Dunston. Bishops keeper Peter Jeffries pulled off two good saves from Terry Galbraith in the first half, but after half time, Wayne Gredziak twice missed when he was clean through for Bishops.

Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers said: "I thought we had the chances to win the game, but at least we've moved up the table."

Dunston boss Billy Irwin said: "Considering the state of the pitch, I'm pleased with a point." In the second division, Team Northumbria’s promotion hopes suffered a blow when they lost 2-1 at Whickham.

They took the lead through Mark Fenwick early on, but Whickham levelled on 69 minutes through Tony Thirkell, and then scored the winner with a twice-taken penalty by Graeme King, after Thirkell’s first attempt was disallowed.