THE SADDLERS ran out worthy winners against Gillingham with Ishmel Demontagnac and new loan signing, Eric Skora on the mark.

Walsall's first effort at goal came in the sixth minute when a teasing corner by debut boy, Eric Skora was met by the head of the returning skipper, Chris Westwood. The ball was cleared from almost on the goal-line as Ishmel Demontagnac put the follow-up into the side-netting.

It was an evenly balanced start to the proceedings and the Gills went close six minutes later when Paul Shields fed Matthew Jarvis whose low shot was easy for Joe Murphy to gather.

The Saddlers took the lead shortly afterwards when Demontagnac was picked out on the left and he fired home with a sweet strike from a tight angle to beat Tony Bullock.

A good break out of defence by Jorge Leitao, who was playing in a right midfield role, saw him exchange passes with Matty Fryatt but the final ball had just too much pace on it and Bullock was able to gather.

An intelligent ball by Skora set Fryatt away in chase on 26 minutes, but Leon Johnson was alert to the danger to clear.

At the other end, a corner was dangerously curled in and produced an important block by Murphy at his near post before Danny Jackman caused problems on the Gills left and his low cross from the by-line was cleared from in front of goal by Julian Bennett.

The resulting corner saw Shields win a header from a good position, but his effort was off target and the ball was eventually cleared.

The Saddlers were looking to raise the atmosphere which for the most part of the first half was subdued. On the stroke of half-time, Demontagnac embarked upon a positive run towards goal only to be brought to ground. However, the referee decided to give a free-kick against him and duly booked the youngster for diving.

In injury time at the end of the half, a quick throw-in caught the visitors napping and was latched onto by Skora who lifted the ball over the advancing 'keeper from a tight angle but the ball went wide.

The second half burst into life straight away with Demontagnac providing a couple of teasing early crosses and Larrosa having a good opportunity that was blocked.

At the other end, Jarvis caught The Saddlers on the break-away only to be denied by a block from Murphy.

The action acted to ignite the crowd and with 57 minutes on the clock, a good move by Walsall saw Demontagnac find Larrosa out wide on the left and as the ball was pulled across the penalty area, the ball found its way out to Skora who fired home with a sweet strike that flew home for a richly-deserved debut goal.

The Saddlers were stepping up the pace at this stage and a ball over the top from Demontagnac saw Bullock just beat Fryatt to the ball to clear, however an instinctive header from Leitao saw the ball loop back over the 'keeper before being cleared.

Some more trickery by Demontagnac with 15 minutes left on the clock saw the teenager cross to the far post where a stooping header from Leitao caught out the 'keeper and struck the base of the post.

Within minutes another Demontagnac cross was this time headed back across goal by Leitao only for Larrosa to be denied by a combination of Bullock and a Gillingham defender.

There was some nervous Saddlers' defending at the other end as the visitors looked to get themselves back into the proceedings and made a triple substitution.

The lively Demontagnac was replaced by Steve Staunton after running himself into the ground and the 17 year-old will this evening join up with the rest of the England Under-18 squad ahead of their game in Turkey next week.

An excellent ball by Daniel Fox set the busy Skora away and his teasing ball was cleared just ahead of Fryatt and Leitao who were waiting in the middle.

The new-boy, who has not even had a training session with his team-mates, was at the heart of everything and caused the Gills problems all afternoon. He then linked up well with Staunton to create an opening for the experienced substitute which he blazed over from a good position, but it mattered not as Walsall ran out comfortable winners.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography