ELLA Morris has explained her impassioned golf-swing celebration after netting Saints’ winner versus Bristol City, revealing: “I’ve grown up watching James Ward-Prowse.”
The full-back was on hand to turn home in opening minutes of extra-time – an historic notch which proved to be the only goal of the FA Cup fourth round clash with Championship opponents.
The England under-19 international launched into Ward-Prowse’s customary celebration in front of 3638 supporters inside St Mary’s.
Saints men’s skipper has been with the club for almost two decades, since he was a schoolboy, and has gone on to make nearly 350 first-team appearances.
He has made the golf-swing a trademark of his contributions to Saints goalscoring records. Ward-Prowse has scored six in 20 Premier League matches this season.
“I’ve grown up watching James Ward-Prowse,” Morris told the Daily Echo, speaking after her match-winner.
“He’s a bit of a Mr. Southampton and I’ve been with the club since I was young as well, so for me the benefits of doing his celebration at St Mary’s is a bit of a similar thing for me.
“I look up to him a lot so I thought I would do the celebration here at St Mary’s. It’s amazing, the support we got today was insane and I think it shows a lot about the club as well.”
Morris continued: “How much they’ve been supporting the women’s side, the new Twitter page and everything coming out has been amazing.
“It’s huge credit to the club for supporting women’s football like they have, to get everyone out here and a big thank you to everyone who gave up their Sunday afternoon.”
After a long slog of 90 minutes playing against higher-league opposition in the Robins, in which both sides came close to taking a lead, Saints would have been forgiven if they could not quite find the energy to secure their fifth round place.
Instead, it took just 90 seconds for a hasty attack to find Katie Rood’s headed knock-down in the area, and for Morris to send the stadium – playing host to the team for only a second-ever time – into raptures.
For Saints Women and youngster Morris, who are targeting regular Championship tests next season with the side hopeful of promotion from the National League, it will be an unforgettable moment.
“Ecstatic, as soon as it has gone in the back of the net it’s a thrill,” the 2019-20 player of the season for her childhood club, Morris, added.
“We got the win, we dug in and the girls were insane the whole game but I’m glad I’m the one who put it in the back of net – it doesn’t matter who it was, but for me personally it is a huge moment.
“It’s a dream for me to score at St Mary’s.”
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