Kitamirike and Diamonds

By Neil Ravenscroft
September 29 2004

A win in September at last and a triallist turns up on the training ground - and it's a defender. Have Merse's priorities now changed?

Walsall finally got their first win of September 2004 last night in what will be the last match of the month.

A poor first half could have seen the Saddlers out of the LDV Trophy, as they struggled against lower division opposition in the shape of Rushden and Diamonds, with Ian Roper conceding a first half penalty, well saved by Paston, and the Second Division side generally well on top. Walsall were again suffering from "unable to string more than two passes together" syndrome.

The second half, however did produce a better, if still sub standard, performance and, once Jorge Leitao scored in the 75th minute, knocking in a rebound off the keeper from a Matty Fryatt shot, the team got stronger and there was only going to be one winner.

Merson's comments after the game were that the most pleasing thing was keeping a clean sheet, so it looks as if his priorities may be changing at last.

The second round draw is on Saturday morning.

There has also been a surprise development this afternoon, with trialist Joel Kitamirike turning up to play in a behind closed doors friendly with Port Vale, the game ending 1 – 1, Taiwo Atieno getting the Saddlers' goal.

Kitamirike, a former Chelsea trainee, had been on trial with the lads some weeks ago and had been expected to feature in a reserve game, but nothing came of that. The 20 year old centre half, who played 25 games for Brentford on loan last season, is very highly rated and has dual Ugandan/British nationality. He did make one first team appearance for Chelsea, in the European tie in Tel Aviv a couple of years ago, when a number of the first team squad refused to travel.

The official site says he made a good impression, but gives no indication as to what happened last time he was here.