The 28 year old skipper netted from the spot in added time during a 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, facing an old friend in the process. Ward-Prowse and Forster used to live next door to each other in Winchester before the goalkeeper left St Mary’s for Spurs last summer. Forster faced Saints for the first time since his exit with Spurs captain Hugo Lloris injured, but he could deny close friend Ward-Prowse when it mattered most.
James Ward-Prowse said: “Playing against Fraser, he’s my best friend, played with him for many years and he was my next-door neighbour for a while. Playing around with my son in the garden and mucking about, he knows my penalties. I was trying not to look at him because I knew I’d laugh! More importantly, it was imperative I stuck to my focus, technique and my practice and thankfully it came off.”
The result leaves Saints bottom of the Premier League but still just two points adrift of safety with 10 matches remaining of the campaign. St Mary’s erupted as Ward-Prowse buried his first penalty of three this season to post a sixth league goal for the hopeful England international.
James Ward-Prowse said: “I think it felt like a win at the end there. You could feel it in the stadium, everyone appreciated our work and that’s got to be a given for the rest of the season.”
