AMID dressing-room reports that manager Ken Wright was considering his future, Chorley produced a performance full of fire and commitment and deservedly won a bruising encounter to end their dismal run of eight UniBond First Division games without a win.

The match, which delivered three stunning goals, was a personal triumph for the two Magpies goalscorers, striker Ian Barker on his return to the club from Mossley and long-serving centre-back Ian Leather whose sublime strike was his first goal for Chorley.

Spennymoor, as befitted a side boasting eight goals in the last two matches, were on fire in the opening minutes and would have had something to show for one particularly smooth build-up but for a tame finish from Lee Adamson.

But Barker's determination gave Chorley a priceless, confidence-boosting lead in the 19th minute when he dispossessed a hesitating Matty Hyson and cut inside to score with a rising drive in-off the far post.

After Simon Marsh had made a smart reflex save to keep out Jarrold Suddick's low shot, Barker was denied a second only by a deflection off a Spennymoor defender with his keeper wrong-footed.

Leather doubled Chorley's lead on the hour when his determined tackle on the centre-line won him the ball and he embarked on a solo run before delivering the perfect chip over the stranded Chris Errington in the Spennymoor goal.

The Moors, however, hit back immediately to lay siege to the Magpies' goal.

Corner followed corner and when the sixth of these was only half-cleared Tony Skedd left Marsh standing with a thunderous 35-yard drive which flew just inside the left-hand post.

But Spennymoor could not maintain the pressure and the Magpies stayed solid to regain the initiative. In fact, in the closing stages only two magnificent saves by Errington prevented substitute Danny Mills from extending the lead and Barker also wasted a fine chance when sent clear only to shoot wide.

RESULT: CHORLEY...2 SPENNYMOOR UNITED...1