New Zealand international goalkeeper Jamie Searle has helped his Forest Green Rovers side to a 3-0 win in the English Football League Cup with a match-winning performance.
Searle (22) made two crucial saves in the first half against Shrewsbury Town, acrobatically tipped a shot over the bar in the second half and then saved a late penalty.
His clean sheet display earned him the Player of the Match award.
Main photo: Teammates rush to congratulate Jamie Searle after his penalty save.
Fellow All White Max Mata was in the starting line-up for Shrewsbury and was substituted in the 62nd minute.
Searle signed with the English League Two club in July, his fourth professional club after spells with Aston Villa, Swansea City and Barnsley, since heading overseas in 2019 from New Zealand where he played for Whakatane Town and Waikato clubs Melville United and, briefly, Cambridge.
READ MORE: All Whites goalkeeper Jamie Searle joins League Two club Forest Green Rovers >>>>
Another New Zealander is with Forest Green Rovers as its Chief Executive.
Aucklander Marcus Reynolds was chosen from more than 600 applicants for the role in June.
Reynolds (43) has a background in New Zealand sport, having been a regional CEO with NZ Rugby League, CEO of the ASB Classic and Tennis Auckland, and a senior advisor at Sport New Zealand.
READ MORE: Aucklander lands CEO role with English League One club ahead of 600 applicants >>>>
Watch the highlights
Jamie Searle’s saves feature in this two-minute highlights video from Forest Green Rovers’ 3-0 win against Shrewsbury:
