High praise for James Shea from Neal Ardley
Neal Ardley saluted James Shea’s goalkeeping heroics after last night’s battling JPT victory against Southend United.
Shea, who is pictured making a great save in the shoot-out (photograph by Paul Willatts), saved two spot-kicks, but it was his overall performance that most impressed Neal Ardley.
“He was outstanding from start to finish,” Neal told Dons Player. “I have to give credit to Ashley Bayes (Goalkeeping Coach) because he did a hell of a lot of homework on James last season. Ashley spent a whole season watching him and looked at James in training too. He stuck his neck out and Dave Anderson at Harrow is a true Wimbledon person. Dave gave us the nod and said he was the best goalkeeper he’d seen. Between these two people we made the judgement call.
“A few people raised their eyebrows, but he was top drawer tonight. It was not just about his saves from the very first minute, it was his command of the area and the way that he came for through balls.”
Shea has played in every minute of all seven matches so far this season since arriving from Harrow Borough and he kept clean sheets in the league victories at Luton Town and Southend United.
Dons Player subscribers can watch a full five-minute video interview with Neal Ardley and an interview with Tom Beere will follow this afternoon.