Bishop Auckland have been given a bye into the semi-finals of the Durham Challenge Cup after Sunderland last night withdrew from the competition.

Bishops were hoping for a share of a bumper gate at the Archibalds Stadium tonight until they were told that Sunderland were unable to raise a team.

Competition rules state that a Football League club cannot use any players who have appeared in the first team in the previous 28 days, and new players must be registered seven days before the game.

Durham FA secretary John Topping said: "They have withdrawn from the competition because they can't raise a team. The matter will now go before the County Cup committee. The punishment is left to the committee's discretion."

Bishop Auckland vice-chairman Tony Duffy said: "We're delighted to be through, but we've missed out on a good pay-day because earlier in the competition Sunderland were donating the gate receipts to their opponents."

A Sunderland spokesperson said: "It's with regret that we have had to withdraw from the competition. We'd like to apologise to Bishop Auckland for the short notice of the decision, but with a heavy fixture schedule looming and with a lot of injuries at the club there was little option."

Jermaine Easter will play for Spennymoor at Billingham Synthonia tonight in the quarter-final - under orders from Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper.

Easter, part of Pool's promotion winning squad last season and in the first year of a new, two-year contract at Victoria Park, was loaned to Moors before Christmas, but he told manager Tony Lee after the defeat at Whitby on Boxing Day that he didn't want to play again.

But, after hearing of Easter's decision, Cooper read the riot act to the player and ordered him back to the Brewery Field.

Moors' boss Tony Lee admitted: "He was told that he wasn't doing himself, Spennymoor or Hartlepool any favours at all if he refused to play for us."

Easter is expected to play for Moors tonight at Billingham Synthonia, one of Lee's old clubs.

Moors have four players - Leigh Grant, Jon Cullen, Christian Hanson and Steve Preen - missing so Lee's squad will be stretched.

Billingham Synthonia could be unchanged from the team which drew at Marske on Saturday.

Last night Jarrow Roofing won 2-1 at Gateshead to progress to the semi-finals.

Reay was on target for the Tynesiders, but goals from Quinn and Ian Chandler - who is to take over as Whitley Bay boss - sealed the win.

In the Albany Northern League, Dunston should be unchanged for tonight's visit of Chester-le-Street.