ENGLAND'S recent good run at Wembley was stretched to seven consecutive victories after they beat Wales by three goals to one. The match was far from memorable though and was too often interrupted by a succession of injuries.

Wales began in their usual fervent fashion as the awesome J. Charles was soon showing his power. After only eight minutes they produced a shock by taking the lead. An infringement by Roger Byrne gave Allchurch the chance to send a free-kick to the far post from a position just outside the right-hand edge of the penalty area. The kick was perfectly judged and it was met by the incoming J. Charles who outjumped the defenders to head firmly past Ted Ditchburn's despairing left hand.

The Welsh supporters were delighted but their joy was soon replaced by concern as Jack Kelsey was injured diving at Tom Finney's feet. The goalkeeper was badly hurt and had to be stretchered off. Sherwood went in goal and immediately impressed with some confident handling. However, the rhythm of the game was upset and England, although not convincingly, began to take control.

With tenacious defending though the Welsh held on to their lead with Daniel holding Finney expertly and Hopkins outstanding at full-back. Finney was struggling in his new roll of a ball playing centre-forward and even when Mel Charles had to go off for treatment five minutes from the break` England could still find no way past the resolute defending of the Welsh.

Indeed, Wales almost snatched another goal on a couple of breakaway occasions and Ronnie Clayton was very fortunate to see his foul on Allchurch only produce a free-kick just outside the box when a penalty looked likely. John Charles almost broke through again, only for Billy Wright to make a brilliant saving tackle.

England, meanwhile, came very close when first Finney headed a Colin Grainger cross against a post, and then Grainger himself hit the same post with a header from a Stan Matthews cross. The Welshmen in the 95,000 crowd kept cheering their players on and their team miraculously held out until half-time. After the break M. Charles returned fully fit to the fray and took up a position on the left wing to provide, perhaps, a nuisance to the England defenders. Unfortunately, it was not to be and the goalkeeper soon hobbled off again, this time for good.

The pressure increased from England and in seven minutes after half-time they forged a lead they were not to lose. First, a corner by Grainger on the left was headed back across the goal by Finney and Johnny Haynes was on hand to hit a low, hard left-foot volley past Sherwood to equalise.

Shortly afterwards England took the lead when an excellent passing movement between Haynes, Clayton, Matthews and Johnny Brooks ended with the latter latching on to a rebound off a defender to hit home an angled shot wide of the unfortunate Sherwood.

Ironically, Grainger then had to leave the field injured, thus making the sides level in numbers again, but then Haynes began to hobble too. This did not seem to stop England from retaining control though and, with Wright now stifling the threat from John Charles, there was little danger from the Welsh attack.

Brooks was enjoying much more freedom now and with 15 minutes left he and Matthews set up goal number three. Combining at a short corner, the ball ran for Matthews to centre from the right. In came Finney to delicately flick the ball wide of Sherwood to score the decisive goal.

The game was now well and truly over and the feeling was left that the injuries had had a bad effect on the pattern of the match. Also there was a question-mark over Finney as the new centre-forward as his ball-playing style seemed a little lost as the natural tendency of the wingers to cross the ball did not suit such a tactical move.
   

This Home Championship match was wrecked by an injury to Welsh goalkeeper Jack Kelsey, who was carried off after being knocked out diving at the feet of Tom Finney. The incident came while the Welsh supporters were celebrating an eighth minute goal from John Charles, who rose above Billy Wright's challenge to head in an Ivor Allchurch corner. Right-back Alf Sherwood took over in the Welsh goal, and from then on England were dominant despite the stirring efforts of John Charles to turn the tide. Second-half goals from Johnny Haynes, debutant Johnny Brooks and the versatile Tom Finney at centre-forward gave England an undistinguished victory. This was England's seventh successive win at Wembley. The subject of whether substitutes should be allowed  was again a major talking point. Wales started full of fire and were obviously going to give England a difficult afternoon, but then the injury to goalkeeper Jack Kelsey robbed them of their rhythm. They also had Mel Charles as a hobbling passenger for much of the match, and we were handicapped by injuries to Colin Grainger and Johnny Haynes. It would have made sense to at least allow substitute goalkeepers, but the powers-that-be refused to follow the lead of the Continental clubs who were using substitutes more and more. It would be another nine years before they at last saw sense and allowed substitutes.
  

Wales had beaten England 2-1 at Ninian Park the previous year, their first victory over England since the war. They had only won once at Wembley, during war-time England had already drawn 1-1 with Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, while Wales had drawn 2-2 with Scotland at Ninian Park. All four teams had shared the previous season's British Championship, but England were aiming for a record sixth successive title. Defeat would eliminate Wales, as in their previous two visits.
The visitors were ahead after only eight minutes. An inch-perfect free-kick from Allchurch was headed in by John Charles. Four minutes later, however, they seemed destined to lose their lead when their goalkeeper Kelsey was injured diving at the feet of Finney. Sherwood went in goal. Somehow they managed to hold their lead until half-time. Kelsey came out for the second half for a short while but Sherwood stayed in goal.
Inevitably, England scored. Just after half-time a corner from Grainger was headed on by Finney for Johnny Haynes to volley the equaliser. Johnny Brooks put England in front from a rebound. Then, with half an hour left, England were reduced to ten men when Grainger went off with an injured ankle. The Welsh were still disadvantaged, though, and finally the ageless Matthews crossed for Tom Finney to score the third.
Yet again England and Scotland decided the British Championship. Wales did not return to Wembley until 1960 and they would not beat England again until 1977.
  

In a game marred by injuries England gained a somewhat hollow victory over Wales before 90,000 spectators at Wembley on November 14th. John Charles headed a perfect goal for Wales in the eighth minute, but five minutes later Kelsey, the Welsh goalkeeper, was hurt as he went down to the feet of Finney, and Sherwood took his place for the remainder of the match. Wales held their lead until the interval, but second-half goals by Haynes, Brooks, and Finney soon placed England on top, even though Grainger also had to leave the field with a leg injury. Altogether an ill-fated International.