‘We will have to make a decision’ – AFC Wimbledon boss weighs up goalkeeper battle after Charlton pre-season win

Johnnie Jackson says that Lewis Ward is set to play 90 minutes on Tuesday night against Maidenhead as the AFC Wimbledon boss weighs up the battle for the number one shirt with Crystal Palace loanee Owen Goodman.

Goodman started the 2-0 win over League One side Charlton at Plough Lane on Saturday afternoon.

The 20-year-old also started the first half of the 5-2 defeat to Brentford last weekend.

Both Goodman and Ward arrived over the summer, with Ward penning a one-year deal following his release from Charlton.

The Dons head to National League side Maidenhead United on Tuesday and then play Barnet next Saturday in their final pre-season test.

“They will both get minutes and opportunities,” said Jackson.

“It was Owen’s turn to get 90 minutes today,

“Wardy will get 90 on Tuesday. We will be getting closer then, so we will have to make a decision.

“It’s good for Owen to get a clean sheet – I thought he did really well.

“He had to make a few saves, which is natural against a good team. They will have their moments.

“He was on call when we needed him. He did great.”

Eagles youngster Goodman arrived mid-way through July despite the Dons agreeing early on in the window they were going to sign the former Colchester loanee.

“In an ideal world, we would have got him before we went to Spain,” added Jackson.

“We could have done the work that we needed to get what is required of him.

“What’s required is making saves and being a good goalkeeper to start with, but there are other things we do in our play that he needs to get used to.

“He’s starting to do that now. You saw that his kicking today was excellent. He put it in some really good areas and he looked assured.”