FIT-AGAIN striker Ashley Wright drew high praise from player-manager Steve Tate as Newport hauled themselves off the foot of the Eastern Division with a vital 3-0 win at Spalding.

Wright, who recently returned from a broken leg sustained 19 months ago, capped a marvellous individual performance by scoring Port's first goal after 23 minutes.

Ex-Peterborough United full-back Adam Lang made it two with a well-worked free kick and recent signing Jamie O'Rourke put the game beyond Spalding's reach with 15 minutes to go.

Tate had been tempted to play himself up front alongside O'Rourke because of his extra experience, but he said: "In the end I chose to play Ashley and, boy, was I proved right! He tore Spalding apart and was the best player on the park.

"I was playing next to him when he broke his leg against Ashford the season before last and didn't think he'd ever recover properly, but I'm pleased to say he's back to his old, bubbly self."

It wasn't just Island lad Wright's performance that brought a smile to Tate's face. The whole team responded to his rallying call in a game the Islanders simply had to win.

Spalding, managed by ex-Pompey favourite Alan Biley, are themselves deep in trouble near the foot of the table and Tate said: "I put my side under pressure to perform and they came up trumps. It was probably my best day as manager because I asked them to do something and they did it.

"Even Alan Biley said we shouldn't be where we are in the table and I take good heart from that.

"I don't think anyone's going want to play us now. When a team's second from bottom of the table, other clubs usually think it's an easy three points, but that's not the case with us.

"If you look at our team on paper, you realise how good they are, and it's up to me to get the best out of them."

Fleet are now propping up the Eastern Division pack after their scheduled home game with Erith & Belvedere was rained off.