Bishop Auckland manager Alan Shoulder admitted that his team "isn't out of the mire" after they went down 2-1 to Colwyn Bay.

Bishops' home record has been poor this season, but Shoulder saw plenty of encouragement in their performance on Saturday.

"When Anthony Lee hit the post in the opening minutes, I had a feeling that it might not be our day.

"But all the lads worked hard throughout the game, and they battled to the end.

"We're not out of trouble yet, but if the players keep playing like that in the weeks to come, then we should be."

Shoulder spoke with his squad after the game and said: "Hopefully, all of the players will stay, but because of my budget, I can't bring anybody in."

After Lee hit the post, Danny Brunskill also had a shot saved before the Welshmen took the lead.

The opener came from a disputed penalty after David Campbell was adjudged by the referee to have brought down James McIlvogue.

Carl Chillingsworth went close for Bishops after the break, but McIlvogue put the visitors well in control with a second goal.

Kevin Bromley scored late on for Bishops.

The Spennymoor revival gathered even more pace on Saturday when they upset the form book with a super win over promotion chasing Radcliffe Borough 2-1 at the Brewery Field.

"The lads were brilliant," said manager Tony Lee.

"There were some very good performances, and I couldn't fault anyone."

Lee gave debuts to three new players, but it was two of the previous players at the club who scored the goals.

Moors had a couple of chances before they took the lead after 56 minutes, when Lee Grant scored with a header from a Wayne Edgcumbe cross.

But they didn't increase their lead until the 89th minute, when Edgcumbe fired home after a shot from Jason Ainsley was blocked.

Radcliffe scored a consolation goal in the last minute, but that didn't prevent Moors from moving another place up the table and eight points above the relegation zone.

Lee returns to his old club, Bishop Auckland, on Wednesday night in a UniBond League cup tie.

In the Premier Division, Whitby lost 2-0 at Barrow, former Darlington striker Lee Ellison scoring both goals.

Gateshead lost 2-1 at Hyde United, Mike Morrell scoring.

The last North-East team in the FA Umbro Trophy, Blyth Spartans, went out 3-0 at Burton Albion after Paul Baker missed an early penalty.

* The semi-final draw of the Durham Challenge Cup is; Billingham Town or Willington v Gateshead, Chester-le-Street or South Shields v Bishop Auckland.