Some 53,000 people packed into Windsor Park to see this match. The result went against the home side but in no way did the final scoreline tell the full story. Indeed, only in the last 30 minutes did England finally get on top.

The game had begun with Ireland pressing forward in their usual passionate style. Frank Swift, Lionel Scott and Jack Howe all showed hesitancy in the English defence and the Irish should really have pressed home the advantage that their early play had given them. As it was, they were punished by a freak goal by Stanley Matthews after 27 minutes which gave England a lead they barely deserved.

Taking a throw-in on Tom Finney's wing, Matthews received a return pass from Jackie Milburn. He then swung across a curling centre which ricocheted off the far post, hit Smyth on the back and went into the net. It was an amazing goal and cruel luck for the Irish. England's only other worthwhile attack of the first half came just before the break when, following a brilliant five man move, Mortensen had Smyth at full strecth to save.

Five minutes into the second half, Northern Ireland equalized. O'Driscoll beat Howe for speed and Dave Walsh headed home his cross in fine style. For a few moments it seemed that the now rampant home team might forge ahead. But suddenly and unexpectedly, England and especially Matthews came to life. Within ten minutes it was 4-1 to the visitors!

First Milburn headed in Matthews' cross. Then Mortensen headed in a pass from Billy Wright after more good work by the Blackpool winger, before finally Mortensen got on the end of a fine cross by Stan Pearson to cleverly lob the ball over the advancing Smyth. Quite suddenly it was all over and the crowd, so excited a few minutes earlier, were dazed into a stunned silence.

Finney now began to lose Carey, after previously having been well held by the full-back. Milburn showed dash and spirit and England at last were now moving as a team.

Two more headers added to the goals tally. First Mortensen scored his third goal by heading a Henry Cockburn free-kick; then Pearson added number-six with a header from yet another Matthews cross.  England had thus scored five goals in a little over 30 minutes. With the last kick of the game, Dave Walsh scored his and Northern Ireland's second, only to leave everyone wondering just what an earth had gone wrong.

Billy Wright's first of 90 matches as England captain. The two Stanleys - Matthews and Mortensen - dominated the match. Matthews scored the first and helped lay on a hat-trick for his Blackpool team-mate. The Matthews goal was a freak effort. His centre from the right curled and hit an upright. The ball bounced against the head of Irish goalkeeper Willie Smyth and into the net.  'Wor Jackie' Milburn announced his debut with a neatly headed goal. Davie Walsh scored his second goal with the last kick of the match to bring a little respectability to a scoreline that flattered England. Five of the England goals came in a 30 minute burst in the second-half. The Irish more than held their own for the other hour, and might have had at least two more goals but for some desperate work by the England defenders.

Source Notes

""Congratulations!" said Miss Helen Mearden, the bus conductress. "Thank you," I replied, trying to be polite but wondering what it was all about. "Yes," went on Miss Mearden, "it's a great honour to be chosen to captain England." Captain of England! If I had felt a little drowsy after so much travel those three words had the same effect as a bucket of ice-cold water being emptied over me. Miss Mearden must have noticed the look of surprise on my face, for she handed me a newspaper, saying, "The England team to meet Ireland is in the Stop Press column."" - Billy Wright, The World is My Football Pitch, p69.

TheFA.com
Original newspaper reports
Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record (Breedon Books Publishing Company, Derby, U.K., 1993)
Billy Wright's The World is My Football Pitch (Stanley Paul Co, London, U.K., 1953)
Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats
Norman Giller, Football Author
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CG