PAUL Baker is a striker with the midas touch after his seven goals in six games have taken Darwen towards the summit of the First North Western Trains League Second Division.

And the veteran hit-man plans to extend his purple-patch tomorrow when the Anchormen hit the Wembley trail with a Carlsberg FA Vase tie at Northern League outfit Peterlee Newtown.

Now 34, the former Great Harwood hot-shot contemplated hanging up his boots at the end of last season.

But manager Steve Wilkes persuaded him to carry on and Baker aims to repay his boss with the goals that could finally bring some silverware to The Anchor after years in the shadows.

"I did think about packing it in but Steve persuaded me to carry on and I'm glad he did," said Baker.

"The atmosphere at the club is absolutely brilliant and that has a lot to do with Steve.

"He gets everybody motivated. We take things seriously before the game but we have some great crack afterwards and that's why we've been doing so well."

It was that kind of spirit which took Darwen to the final of the Lancashire ATS Trophy last season.

And they have managed to maintain that momentum during the start of this campaign, where they remain unbeaten in the FNWTL Second Division.

No-one has profited more than Baker, whose hat-trick in Tuesday night's demolition of high-flying Alsager took his tally to five goals in two games. But he's quick to give the credit to his wingers who have supplied all the bullets so far.

And he has his sights set on beating his season's best ever haul when he bagged 23 for Harwood during the days of his lethal partnership with Pete Smith.

"Last year we didn't have a lot of width in the side but Steve has brought in the likes of Lee Slater and Anthony Keefe and they've done brilliantly," said Baker.

"And with people like Denny Khan and Jimmy Khan around the service has been much better.

"So I don't see why I can't score 30 if I can stay fit."

A couple more tomorrow wouldn't go amiss as Darwen put their league commitments on the back-burner.

And Baker druels at the prospect of another possible cup-run on a par with their exploits in the ATS Trophy last season.

"That was one of the highlights of my career, without a doubt," said Baker.

"It was superb for a club like us to beat the likes of Accrington Stanley and Southport and then take Morecambe to penalties in the final. "And the lads are hungry to go on a run like that again.

"It's going to be difficult against Peterlee, though, because teams are always tough from that part of the world.

"But we'll give it our best shot and hopefully we can keep the run going.

"We've done well so far this season but I still don't think we've reached our best yet.

"Tuesday night's performance was probably the best we've played so far.

"But I think there is more to come."

Neil Durkin and Jimmy Khan are both unavailable for the clash but Anthony Keefe should be fit to rejoin the squad.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.