DARWEN goalkeeper Lee Purvis will chalk up a century of successive appearances on Monday but hopes the real celebration will come with promotion at the end of the season, writes PETE OLIVER.

Purvis has helped Darwen climb to the top of the First North Western Trains League Second Division by keeping 11 clean sheets and conceding just 10 goals in 19 games.

In fact it took nearly half-a-dozen games into the season before he had to pick the ball out of the net, when player-manager Steve Wilkes deflected a ball past his own keeper.

"I'm quite happy that in a lot of games I've not had much to do. The defence is playing very well and if I am called upon I'm doing alright," said Purvis, who will clock up his ton against third-placed Bacup Borough at the Anchor Ground.

"I'm proud of the record although I nearly missed out on it to be honest," he added.

"I went to Holland for the weekend a couple of weeks ago, but luckily the weather saved me and the game was off.

"It will come in a big game as well and it's one we need to win, especially with it being at home."

Purvis started his career with Horwich RMI and played for Chorley's reserves before joining Ramsbottom United and then Darwen two years ago this month after playing a solitary game in local football for Garswood. The 27-year-old welder tasted relegation in his first season at the Anchor Ground and after missing out on an instant return to the top-flight last year, is hoping this season will see him repeat the promotion success he previously enjoyed with Ramsbottom.

Purvis added: "I was here for the last part of the season when we went down. Last year we did well but I think the Cup run in the ATS Trophy more than anything, did for our league form a little bit.

"We tended to raise ourselves for the Floodlit Cup and then died away in the league. We seemed to be waiting for the next game in the Cup and it was a little bit disappointing.

"This year we've got most of the same players but a couple more lads have joined and we're doing a lot better.

"Promotion is the main thing and the way we are going about it so far hopefully we will do it.

"It would be nice if we could win the League but the main thing is to make sure we go up."

And the in-form shot-stopper, who lives at Upholland, near Wigan, believes the recipe for success is two-fold.

"We aren't conceding many and we are scoring goals which I think is the big thing.

"When we went down our biggest downfall was that we weren't scoring a lot of goals. Paul Baker is notching nearly every week and you need to have that if you're going to win things."

"And everyone wants to play for the club. There's no money there so players are there because they want to be. When I was at Ramsbottom we won the Second Division and no-one got paid there. Everyone's on an equal footing and that helps team spirit."

And once he's got the first century of games out of the way, Purvis will look forward to cracking on towards another.

"I will stay there as long as I'm wanted," he said.

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