Not since 1934 had England managed to Beat Scotland at Wembley and in this, the 72nd international between the two countries, they finally broke the hoodoo with a vengeance.

Cunningham won the toss for Scotland and the teams kicked-off in glorious sunshine with the full tartan flavour on the terraces. Within seconds though the Scots were a goal down. Martin, who endured a nightmare throughout, inexplicably dropped a cross from Frank Blunstone. Don Revie was in there quickly to get in touch on to Dennis Wilshaw, who rammed in the loose ball.

Duncan Edwards, making an immediate and impressive impact, was at the heart of England's early play. On seven minutes they increased their lead. A perfect centre by the incomparable Stanley Matthews was snapped up by Nat Lofthouse's head and it was 2-0. Matthews, now 40, was superb and his teasing play gave Haddock a torrid time.

Scotland still worked hard, though, with Docherty a driving force. They found that when they put pressure on the England defenders then they too, looked vulnerable. In the tenth minute good work by Johnstone set up a chance well-taken by Reilly and it was now 2-1.

The pace of the game was relentless and the crowd could not look away for a moment for fear of missing something. England's attacking play was often exhilarating with Matthews going close and Wilshaw hitting a post. The pressure had to tell and in the 24th minute, good passing by the forwards was finally rounded off by Revie's cross-shot finding the net.

Cumming moved across to try to help Haddock stem the danger from Matthews but three minutes later the winger carved yet another goal with his superb footwork. This time he pulled the ball back for Lofthouse to score his second and England's fourth. It was not all one-way traffic and McMillan, Johnstone and Reilly all showed up well, but there was no denying England's convincing half-time lead.

In the second half Scotland continued to match their rivals in ball skills but alas their finishing let them down. This was highlighted when McKenzie missed a fine chance after 47 minutes. Understandably perhaps, the game went through a scrappy and lifeless spell for awhile. Docherty impressed with his energy and tenacity for Scotland as did his counterpart Edwards for England. At 18 years old, this young colossus looked to have a tremendous future.

Matthews went close and then further attempts by Matthews, again, and Lofthouse brought the game back to life. Matthews then set up another chance for Wilshaw to head number five on seventy minute. Three minutes later the same pair combined again for Wilshaw to crash home an unstoppable drive in the far corner, thus completing his hat-trick. By this time, Scotland were demoralised and with seven minutes left Wilshaw scored yet again following a Matthews centre.

Docherty did salvage something for Scotland when he hammered home a free-kick. The power and accuracy of his kick left Bert Williams helpless, but that goal in no way devalued from the superiority of a marvellous display from England.
   

Stanley Matthews was the engineer and Dennis Wilshaw the executioner in this annihilation of the Scots. Wilshaw's four goals included the first hat-trick by an England player against Scotland. Duncan Edwards, the human powerhouse from Manchester United, was, at 18 years 183 days, the youngest England player of the 20th century. Chelsea right-half Ken Armstrong collected his only cap, and later emigrated to New Zealand for whom he won thirteen caps. This was England's first victory over Scotland at Wembley since 1934. Wilshaw started his goal rush in the first minute, and two goals from Nat Lofthouse and one from Don Revie gave England a commanding 4-1 lead at half-time. Scotland caved in as Wilshaw snatched three goals in thirteen minutes in the last third of the match. Tommy Docherty, who ran himself into the ground for the Scots, got a little reward for all his work when he scored with a late free-kick. The talk afterwards was of the powerhouse performance from Duncan Edwards, who looked the complete player in his debut.
   

England had already beaten both Northern Ireland and Wales and needed only a point to retain the Championship. Scotland had failed to beat Northern Ireland at Hampden Park and so needed to win to claim their first outright Championship since 1951.

They were still unbeaten at Wembley in the British Championship since 1934.

England were ahead in the first minute. Blunstone crossed and Martin came out but Dennis Wilshaw slotted the ball into an empty net. They scored again in the seventh minute, Nat Lofthouse hitting the target after good work by Revie and Stan Matthews.

Lawrie Reilly then pulled one back by scoring in his fourth successive game at Wembley when Wright was uncharacteristically hesitant. But Don Revie soon scored when Martin fumbled and before the half hour England had notched their fourth, Matthew's crossing for Lofthouse to score.

England now eased off a little but finished with a flourish.

With 20 minutes left a pinpoint centre from Matthews left Wilshaw with a simple header for the fifth. The 40-year old Matthews was now destroying the Scottish defence almost at will. He sent Wilshaw through to complete his hat-trick and then created another chance yet again for Wilshaw to score.

Tommy Docherty scored a late consolation goal from long range but England had emphatically buried their Scottish jinx with their biggest ever victory over their rivals.

Footballer of the Year Don Revie made his first Wembley appearance, scoring England's third goal.
     

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 Scotland, Tennessee Ernie Ford's Give Me Your Word was the best selling single. The chart was published on Friday, 1 April 1955:-

Source Notes

TheFA.com
LondonHearts.com
Original newspaper reports
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
officialcharts.com singles chart
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CG