What a difference a month makes! After their abysmal performance in Belfast, England came back to Wembley to produce a tremendous display which augered well for the future. It was a stirring game from start to finish which built up a thrilling climax with England's late flurry deciding the issue.

On a dismal, rain-soaked November day, the two sides served up some lovely football. Wales contributed much to the game and can consider themselves unlucky not to gain some reward out of it. Over 91,000 people soaked up the atmosphere — and the rain — and they really enjoyed this game.

England soon moved into a smooth rhythm. With some much improved passing they put together some sparkling moves and, but for Ronnie Allen missing a couple of chances, might have taken the lead. As it was, Wales were to do just that in the 35th minute.

Ford, who sold a clever dummy to Billy Wright, allowed the ball to run on to Allchurch. The inside-forward hit a low cross into the middle which Ray Wood failed to cut out. Before anyone could clear the danger, the mighty Charles roared in to score. The Welsh number-nine was magnificent and his duel with Wright was probably the highlight of the game. To the England skipper's credit he contained him well, calling upon all his skill and experience.

Despite the Welsh lead, England continued with their excellent football. The visiting defenders held on doggedly, though, and at half-time they still had their lead. 

England's new inspiration was coming from their wing-halves. Len Phillips and Bill Slater gave fine performances with Phillips always seeming to have that extra yard on the ball. Having played so badly in Belfast, it was also heartening to see the forwards play with so much conviction. Although they missed chances, they all contributed well with Stanley Matthews, Frank Blunstone and Len Shackleton particularly impressive.

Both goalkeepers made fingertip saves as the game continued after the break and it was obvious that England's pressure must bring its rewards. It came with 20 minutes left. Good work by Shackleton and Blunstone gave Matthews the chance to run at Sullivan. A typical burst by the mercurial winger ended with a lovely cross which Roy Bentley outjumped him to head in England in front.

Wales were down but by no means out and a few moments later their fans went wild when they saw Charles once again emphasise his power. This time he declined the obvious pass to Tapscott and elected to swivel and fire in a thunderous shot low past the startled Wood from the edge of the box to make it 2-2.

England were not to be denied, though, and just before the end Phillips found Blunstone with a pass and the winger, capped a promising debut to send a fine low centre into the middle where, once again, Bentley's strength saw him run the ball into the net. The England number-eight thus completed a memorable hat-trick.

Although Ford and Allchurch only just failed with shots at the other end before the final whistle, England had won an excellent victory. To the lasting pleasure of their fans it was the way their team played that was more important. Their football, at times, was a delight.                                                   
   

Roy Bentley, at last forgiven for his part in the 1950 World Cup humiliation against the United States, celebrated his recall by sinking Wales with a hat-trick. Two of his goals came from headers at the far post after he had exchanged passes with Matthews. John Charles, leading the Welsh attack with fire and flair, scored twice to bring the scores level at 2-2 before Bentley completed his hat-trick two minutes from the end of a thrilling match played on a rain-saturated Wembley surface. Bentley's Chelsea team-mate Frank Blunstone made his England debut on the left wing and Bill Slater played alongside his Wolves skipper Billy Wright in his first international match. The duel between John Charles and Billy Wright was worth the admission money on its own. Two great and talented competitors locked in a struggle for supremacy. Charles won on points, but it would have been a knockout against any other England centre-half that the selectors had tried since the Neil Franklin fiasco. Wright managed to shut the big man out for most of the match, but he took the two chances that came his way in dynamic style.
 

England, the reigning British Champions, ahd already beaten Northern Ireland 2-0 at Windsor Park. Wales had lost 1-0 to Scotland at Ninian Park and, as in 1952, had to avoid defeat to retain their interest in the Championship.

They took the lead when a cross by Allchurch was converted by John Charles. Wales held this until 20 minutes to go when Roy Bentley headed in from Matthews' centre. Four minutes later King misjudged Byrne's cross and Bentley scored again. Wales took less than a minute to draw level with a clever piece of skill from Charles as he turned swiftly to send a low drive past Wood. England took the points, however, when Blunstone crossed and Bentley came charging in to complete his hat-trick.

Wales avoided finishing bottom by defeating Northern Ireland 3-2 at Windsor Park. England and Scotland were once again left to decide the destiny of the British Championship. The following season Wales beat England for the first time since the war.
     

On Friday, 15 November 1952, The New Musical Express published the first ever singles chart in the UK, comprising the twelve highest selling singles of the week, it increased to twenty on Friday, 1 October 1954. When England beat Wales, Vera Lynn's My Son My Son was the best selling single. The chart was published on Friday, 5 November 1954:-

Source Notes

TheFA.com
Original newspaper reports
British Path�
Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record (Breedon Books Publishing Company, Derby, U.K., 1993)
Glen Isherwood's Wembley: The Complete Record (SportsBooks Ltd, 2006)
Norman Giller, Football Author
Wales' Complete Who's Who since 1946 (Sutton Publishing Ltd, Stroud, U.K., 2004)
officialcharts.com singles chart
Drew Herbertson, Scottish FA historian
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CG