WALSALL manager Chris Hutchings has saluted Rene Gilmartin as fully deserving of the first-team goalkeeper’s berth at Bescot.

Oct 10 2009 by Brian Halford, Birmingham Mail

Gilmartin has this season at last deposed Clayton Ince from the senior spot between the sticks.

The 22-year-old took full advantage when Ince was away on international duty to impress enough to retain his position.

After two years as deputy, suddenly it is Gilmartin who is the first ‘keeper on the team sheet while veteran Trinidad & Tobago international Ince must wait for another chance.

And Hutchings is delighted with the competition right at the back of his team.

“Rene has done fantastically well for us and that is why he has got the shirt,” the manager said. “He has kicked the ball well, he has been commanding and taken crosses when he had to.

“He has not had any chance with the goals that he has conceded.

“He is the man in possession of the shirt and Clayton knows that and knows he has got a job on his hands to get the shirt back.

“Rene has been playing regularly, and apart from in the defeat at Hartlepool, we have been on a good run of games where we have had good results and a couple of clean sheets so that breeds confidence from the defence’s point of view.

“As a keeper you come out and take a couple of good crosses and all of a sudden you feel on top of the world and that’s what Rene has done.”