Bishop Auckland manager Brian Honour is determined Bishops will bounce back after gallantly losing 2-0 at promotion chasing Farsley.

Bishops needed to win to have a chance of staying in the league, but instead they were beaten by two goals in the last 20 minutes. But as it turned out, even a victory would have been in vain, because Frickley, the only team Bishops could have overtaken, picked up a point at Marine.

Honour said: "We didn't look like a team that was fighting relegation. We can bounce back from this next season, because our finish to the season has given everybody optimism.

"I'm already looking forward to the new campaign. We'll dust ourselves down and have a real go."

Mark Sheeran shot wide and Tony Hall hit the post for Bishops in the first-half. The home side took the lead with a Roy Stamer shot before James Knowles fired a second.

Bishops now finish third bottom of the amended league table. They will be saved if one of the remaining Premier Division clubs resigns from the league but, despite the rumours about Prescot Cables, this seems unlikely.

There is also a question of where they will be playing next season. The Brewery Field isn't up to UniBond League standard, so improvements will have to be carried out before they can play games there.

Whitby will be part of the play-offs after they pulled off a good 2-1 away win at Workington. Sub David Wells scored both their goals in the second-half.

Workington might be in trouble with the FA after a spectator appeared to attack Whitby's Graeme Williams as he was being carried off.

Blyth finished their season well, beating Bamber Bridge 3-1, with goals from Kevin Shoulder, Chris McCabe and Gary Ankers.

Gateshead lost 3-1 at home to Hyde United, after Paul Brayson gave them the lead.

The UniBond League Board yesterday decided to delay the end of season play-offs by a week. An emergency meeting was arranged to discuss the fate of Spennymoor because the FA ruled their previous decision was void due to lack of numbers at the meeting.

The Board ruled once again Spennymoor's results should be expunged, which will be a blow to the clubs hoping their results would be decided on the basis of 0-0 for a home game, and 1-0 defeat for away games.

If any club appeals against the decision an FA tribunal will sit on WednesdayMay 4. This is an unusual step. In normal circumstances fourteen days is allowed in which to lodge an appeal.

The Northern Conferenceplay-offs will not take place next Saturday. The decision also means Farsley Celtic are champions on goal difference from Hyde United.