Bishop Auckland manager Alan Shoulder praised his side's character after their crucial 3-2 win at Marine on Saturday in the UniBond Premier League.

Bishops lifted themselves to fifth from bottom after playing their second game in two days, hard on the heels of Friday's Durham Challenge Cup win over Billingham Town.

"I can't fault the lads at all," said Shoulder. "To play a cup final and a league game in such a short space of time is a tall order, but they came through it well. There were some tired legs in the second half."

Bishops gave a debut to striker Wayne Edgcumbe and after he was fouled, Mark Salmon headed in Tony Skedd's free-kick. Marine equalised through Richie Townsend. Bishops, though, quickly regained the lead with a 25 yarder from Skedd, but again Marine levelled with a header from Rick Bainbridge. But Bishops midfielder Paul Proudlock scored a superb long-range winner.

Whitby are now in the play off spot after they drew 2-2 with Hucknall at the Turnbull Ground. Whitby were 2-0 down at one stage, but pulled a goal back with a David Logan penalty, then Craig Skelton lobbed the keeper for the equaliser.

In the First Division, Spennymoor kept their play off hopes alive when they beat bottom club Ossett Albion 3-2 at the Brewery Field. Moors gave debuts to Steve Hutt and Danny Brunskill, and it was Brunskill who opened the scoring after just 52 seconds. Jason Ainsley then fired the second from 20 yards to make it 2-0.

Ossett pulled a goal back through Jamie Robshaw, but Lee Ellison made it 3-1 from a pass by Jarrod Suddick. Robshaw pulled a late goal back from the spot.

Moors are now two points off the play off places