"LAST MINUTE GOAL SAVES IRELAND" Daily Mirror

Appropriately, there were plenty of fireworks in this explosive match which saw Northern Ireland almost pull of an astonishing victory. During the first half hour of the game, England were well on top and a couple of fine chances went begging. But although England had the edge, they were not firing on all cylinders.

Stanley Matthews was not as prominent as usual but Tom Finney was playing well and gave Martin a troublesome afternoon. Wilf Mannion was also performing well and was consistently the best of the England forwards. However, Ireland came more into the game as the first half wore on, playing with their customary passion. A lot of effort was put into the half by both sides but, alas, no goals.

Nine minutes into the second half came the almost unbelievable - Ireland took the lead! Dave Walsh, taking a pass from Doherty, upset the form book by putting Ireland 1-0 up with a good shot past Frank Swift. It could have been worse for England shortly afterwards as Ireland nearly went two up. First Eglington and then Smyth came very close to breaching the shaky England defence.

Ireland were playing like men inspired but with 20 minutes left, it seemed that all their good work was for nothing as Matthews was sent sprawling in the area. Mannion took the penalty kick but Hinton saved.

Ireland, everyone thought, now surely had to win; but England also knew how to fight and they rose to the challenge superbly. With only seven minutes left they equalised. Billy Wright, up with his forwards, gave Mannion the chance to make amends for his penalty miss and this time the 'Boro man made no mistake.

Amazingly, the match then took a new twist. Mannion sent Matthews away down the right. Over came a perfect cross and Tommy Lawton volleyed a magnificent shot past Hinton from 15 yards.

It would have been a travesty if Ireland's spirited display had ended with nothing to show for it. Happily, justice was done in the dying seconds. Indeed, it was the last kick of the game when Eglington put over a superb cross to find Doherty throwing himself at the ball. The former Glentoran man was injured in the process but the important thing was that the ball nestled in the bottom of the net. The final whistle sounded immediately and Doherty was carried from the field by jubilant Irish supporters, the hero of the day.

Vernon, Doherty, Farrell and Bill Walsh were the cornerstones of a fine team performance by the Irish.
  

Three goals came in the last eight minutes after Northern Ireland had battled to hang on to a 54th minute lead given to them by West Bromwich Albion centre-forward Davie Walsh. 'Peter the Great' Doherty headed a last-minute minute equaliser for the Irish following goals in quick succession for England by Wilf Mannion and Tommy Lawton. Mannion had a penalty saved in the 70th minute by Fulham goalkeeper Eddie Hinton. The roar that greeted the save from the predominantly Irish crowd could have been heard back in Belfast. It was the first time in 13 meetings with England that the Irish had avoided defeat, and the game had a suitably explosive finish for Guy Fawkes Day. It would have been an injustice had Northern Ireland not got a draw from this game. They were often the superior side, with Peter Doherty pulling the strings and playing with the skill that made him one of the world's outstanding inside-forwards. He was carried off at the end by jubilant Irish supporters, who counted this as a victory. There were 68,000 shoe-horned into the Goodison ground, and most of them seemed to be shouting for the Irish who must have felt it was like a home game.
    

In direct contrast to the match with Wales the result of England's next International, against Ireland at Goodison Park, Everton, on Nov 5, remained undecided until the last kick of the match; three of the four goals were scored in the last seven minutes. The result was a draw, 2—2, a fair reflection of the equality of the teams and the coolness and vigour of Ireland in face of the England eleven's reputation. The English team was the same as in the match against Wales, but for once the left was more in evidence than the right wing; The first half was largely taken up by attacks by England, Ireland's half-back line showing great strength and opportunism, continually breaking up the smooth movements of the English forwards and forcing them to fight for possession of the ball.
Nine minutes after the interval D. Walsh, snatching up a pass from Doherty, suddenly scored for Ireland. England tried again and again but were unable to equalise; a demoralising factor was a penalty kick, taken by Mannion after a foul on Matthews, which was saved the Irish goalkeeper. Thus until seven minutes from the end, Ireland held their 1—0 lead.
Then came the chapter of surprises. First Mannion, from a pass from Wright, equalised. Next, taking the ball from Mannion, Matthews was off down the right wing and centred to Lawton, who put in a perfect shot from 15 yards out. England were now the apparent victors at 2—1, but Ireland was not to be defeated while even a minute remained and made one last great effort. Eglington centred and Doherty threw himself full-length at the ball; while he lay hurt on the ground the ball lay in the England net, the final whistle blew.