The first international match according to association rules was played at Kennington Oval on Saturday last under the most unfavourable auspices. Snow had commenced to fall early in the morning, and as it continued without intermission until the time fixed upon for play the ground was covered with a thick coating of snow, which ought to have been sufficient to put a stop to the game. As with the exception, however, of the English goal-keeper both teams turned up it was decided to play, though only for an hour, instead of the usual period of an hour and a half. Cursham, of Nottingham, the English captain, lost the toss, and at 3.15 he set the ball in motion from the western goal. It soon became evident that there was very little opportunity for the display of any great skill as the ball not only stopped almost dead in the snow, but gradually lost its original shape and became almost too heavy for the backs to lift, requiring a cleansing process every time that it went behind either goal line. Hence the game lost much of its interest though it proved to be fairly well contested on the whole. Wales were the first to make an advance, Davies being particularly active along the right side. After the first few minutes the English forwards settled down to their work, and their attacks were frequent. The Welsh goalkeeper once saved his charge well, and a corner kick for England soon after failed to be utilised to the disadvantage of Wales. Several times the Welsh forwards broke away, but Bury's kicking generally brought the ball back into their quarters, and at length Bailey placing the leather neatly across to Whitfeld, the latter made the first goal for England in about ten minutes from the start. The kick-off was followed by some animated play on both sides, and Dacres and Roberts several times got the ball over the English goal line. Kenrick played very resolutely back for Wales, and the defence was good, but again, the English forwards overpowered all opposition, and the ball being sent right across the Welsh posts, Sorby had little difficulty in securing goal the second for England. Soon after this ends were changed, and the game was resumed with even greater vigour. The play of the English forwards was very loose, and the Welshmen had several opportunities which they allowed to escape.  Wace in the centre was very vigorous for England, but the Welshmen were certainly better together, and great cheering greeted a goal by Davies after a long run. During the last quarter of an hour the Englishmen made several desperate attacks, and once they had a narrow escape, a clever shot by Davies hitting their right goal post. Still no further score was made, and at the end of an hour the victory remained with England by two goals to one.
    

In spite of the fact that a thick layer of snow covered Kennington-oval on Saturday, the match between England and Wales, announced for that day, was played.
With one exception the whole of those selected to take part in the game were at their posts. Kenrick won the toss and chose to defend the eastern goal, having a little advantage from the wind. Play began at a quarter past 3 o'clock, when Wace kicked off in the presence of about 100 spectators...
Wace, Cursham, Bailey, and Whitfeld were most pertinacious in their onslaughts, however, and at length the last named, to whom the ball had been well centred by Bailey, kicked the first goal for England...
Whitfeld then effected a run along the left side of the ground, and passed the ball across to Sorby, who kicked a second goal for England, within 20 minutes of the commencement...
Shortly after this, a combined rush on the part of Davies, Price, and Roberts took the ball along the left side of the ground. The last-named then centred it cleverly to Davies, who shot it between the posts and scored the first goal for Wales.

The Football Association Yearbook
original newspaper report & The Morning Post/Independent, 20 January 1879
Douglas Lamming's A Century of English International Football 1872-1988
Welsh Football Data Archive
Cris Freddi's England Football Factbook
Ian Garland & Gareth M. Davies' Sons of Cambria