CHORLEY have signed Alex Porter from Bamber Bridge.

The midfielder has impressed manager Mark Molyneaux in his month-long loan spell at Victory Park, so much so the Magpies chief has made the move permanent.

And it is a welcome boost for Molyneaux, who is without Ian Leather for tomorrow's FA Trophy preliminary round tie at home to Gresley Rovers.

The defender is getting married and Danny Mills will miss the game as he is also attending the wedding.

But Molyneaux is confident Chorley can continue the good form they have shown in their last three outings, when they have beaten Colwyn Bay 3-2, Whickham 5-0 in the FA Cup second qualifying round and Prescot Cables 4-2.

And the Magpies chief, who returns to the touchline tomorrow after a six-month ban, is proud of the way his players have answered his rallying call to lift themselves from the foot of the UniBond First Division.

Two weeks ago, the Chorley boss revealed he had set himself a five-game deadline and if things didn't improve on the pitch in that time he would seriously consider his future with the club.

Since then, Chorley have lost only once in four games.

"They have responded really well," he said. "We knew we could only get better.

"I wasn't happy with the goals we conceded against Prescot in midweek but we always cause massive problems going forward and we scored some great goals. Phil Baylis scored a 35-yard wonder goal."

The Magpies have been in red-hot form in the FA Cup qualifying rounds, which bodes well for the visit of the Derbyshire side tomorrow.

Molyneaux said: "We just want to keep the run going."