Bishop Auckland will take on Lancaster in the final of the UniBond League Cup after their superb 3-0 semi final win at Marine on Tuesday night.

Danny Mellanby was their hero, scoring a hat-trick to seal Bishops' second final appearance.

Manager Tony Lee said: "Once again, Danny showed that he is a quality player, and he took all his goals well.

"But several players did well the other night, and it was a very good all round performance."

Mellanby opened the scoring after 15 minutes, when he scored from a long throw by Micky Nelson.

Bishops kept control of the game and had the chances to increase their lead, but had to wait until the 78th minute for their second , when Mellanby pounced on a mistake in the Marine defence and fired past the home keeper.

And the youngster completed his hat trick in the last minute, when he scored from close range.

A venue for the final has yet to be set, although it is unlikely that it will be a Premiership or First Division ground. The game will not be on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7, because Bishops are aiming for the other leg of their cup double, against Brandon in the Durham Challenge Cup.

Spennymoor, meanwhile, are on course for an unwanted first if they fail to improve over the rest of the season. Moors are currently rock bottom of the Premier Division with eight points from 35 matches, and they need to double that tally to beat the previous lowest, set by Netherfield in 1982-83.

If Moors win another league game, they will avoid another record again set by Netherfield, who won just two matches in 1982-83.

Both Bishops and Moors have a hectic week next week. Bishops are at Hucknall on Tuesday, while Moors go to Worksop, then on Thursday the pair meet in the local derby at the Brewery Field.

l Former Newcastle favourite John Beresford has signed for UniBond League club Worksop. Beresford is a close friend of former Newcastle star Chris Waddle.

l Blyth have signed defender Richard Forster on a contract after strong interest was shown in him by several Football League clubs.

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Emley 37 28 6 3 75 33 90

Stalybridge 36 25 9 2 81 25 84

Bishop Auckland 35 21 5 9 71 43 68

Lancaster 35 20 7 8 73 53 67

Altrincham 39 17 9 13 71 52 60

Worksop 33 15 10 8 82 50 55

Gainsborough 37 15 10 12 43 44 55

Barrow 35 15 9 11 63 50 54

Hucknall 35 15 9 10 45 43 54

Accrington 37 13 9 15 56 58 48

Whitby 37 13 8 16 54 65 47

Bamber Bridge 36 13 7 16 50 58 46

Gateshead 35 12 9 14 56 52 45

Hyde 34 12 8 14 63 58 44

Runcorn 34 12 8 14 45 55 44

Droylsden 36 13 5 18 43 61 44

Blyth 35 12 6 17 47 50 42

Burscough 34 11 8 15 47 55 41

Leek Town 35 11 7 16 37 47 40

Marine 35 9 10 16 46 61 37

Frickley 38 7 12 19 45 75 33

Colwyn Bay 35 7 8 20 49 86 29

*Spennymoor 35 2 3 30 26 90 8

* Denotes one point deducted