After the dismal showing in their previous match against Luxembourg, England were determined to do much better in this annual clash against the Welsh. They certainly played their hearts out and with a little luck could easily have won. With John Connelly back on the right wing, England's attack had a bit more penetration about it. Connelly ran Stuart Williams ragged, failing only in his lack of confidence to finish off the approach play.

Bryan Douglas missed a sitter early on and then Ray Pointer's close-range stab hit Kelsey when the goalkeeper knew little about it. On the half-hour, however, Wales took the lead. Ward's ungamely challenge on Peter Swan left the England centre-half with one boot missing, and in the confusion Graham Williams scored to send the near 62,000 crowd wild with delight. The crowd already held high hopes, especially as the prodigal son of Wales, John Charles, was back in the side.

Generally, though, England were on top and they did not deserve to be behind. Johnny Haynes and Bobby Robson were outstanding in midfield, although the real heroes were probably Ray Wilson and Ron Flowers. They had the pleasure of marking the two best Welsh players in Jones and Woosnam and they did it with an assurity that kept England well on top. Douglas couldn't believe his eyes when somehow Harrington deflected a goal-bound shot wide. Then there was an amazing let-off for the Welshmen.

Four shots in as many seconds, by Pointer, Bobby Charlton and Haynes, were kept out by the huge figures of Kelsey and John Charles. The excitement was reaching fever pitch. But, at last, with virtually the last kick of the first half, England deservedly found an equalizer. A lovely move, at pace, between Ron Springett, Haynes, Charlton, Haynes again and Connelly ended with Douglas nipping in to score from the winger's centre.

Sadly, the second half was not a very good one and will be mainly remembered for a series of injuries rather than the football. But England remained in control without threatening in the vital area.

Charlton tried his best and he continually peppered Kelsey's goal with some long-range screamers. Pointer did a lot of strong running off the ball in that familiar stooped style, taking defenders out of position but the other England players could not take advantage. The goalscoring power of the previous season's team would hve finished off the Welsh. On the plus side, though, Swan blotted out Ward effectively and Wilson continued to impress, with his speed more than a match for Jones. England were handicapped in the final ten minutes when Jimmy Armfield was reduced to hobbling up and down the wing after an injury.

It did not affect the result, though, and both teams had to be content with the draw. Despite failing to press home their superiority, England could go into their vital World Cup tie with Portugal confident in the knowledge that they had given a much more encouraging performance in Cardiff.
     

Bryan Douglas, having switched from the wing to the role of inside forward between Burnley team-mates John Connelly and Ray Pointer, scored the 44^th minute goal that gave England a draw in what Welsh idol John Charles described as "the toughest international match in which I've played." England's walking wounded at the end included Pointer (concussion), Flowers (gashed face) and Armfield (pulled muscle). Wales took a 30^th minute lead with a strange goal. Centre-half Peter Swan tangled with Cardiff City centre-forward David Ward, and as he challenged for the ball his boot came off. In the confusion that followed Graham Williams steered the loose ball into the England net to send the 62,000 Ninian Park crowd into ecstasy. There was more muscle than method in a goalless second-half in which England produced little quality play to boost confidence before their upcoming crucial World Cup qualifier against Portugal.
     

Source Notes

TheFA.com
Original newspaper reports
Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record (Breedon Books Publishing Company, Derby, U.K., 1993)
Norman Giller, Football Author
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CG