DARWEN manager Lee Purvis is sticking by his teenage keeper Kevin Baldwin - even though long-serving Lee Purvis is back is back in contention.
Purvis played 196 consecutive games for the NWCL Second Division side before missing last week's game at Squires Gate because of a short holiday.
Wilkes had to sign Baldwin from Bamber Bridge on short notice as cover and the keeper did so well he keeps his place for the game against Norton United at the Anchor Ground tomorrow.
"I always hated it when I was a player, when I was brought in for an injured player or whatever and was then dropped again when that player came back in even though I had played well," said Wilkes.
"It just made me think 'what is the point of being here?' so I am not going to drop Kevin because he played really well last week.
"He has a presence about him. He made three really good one-on-one saves.
"Lee Purvis played 196 consecutive games and he has been brilliant and I feel bad but he left me in the lurch last week because I didn't have another keeper."
Meanwhile, Wilkes says his side are 'playing for fourth place' in their quest for promotion.
"Stand and Formby probably won't get promoted because their grounds aren't good enough so it is open to the next two places. But we need consistency. We need to get three or four wins together."
Darwen travel to Bacup on Boxing Day.
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