After the euphoria that followed the previous month's splendid victory in Madrid against Spain, England came back down to earth with a bump as a young Poland side gave a fine defensive performance to earn a draw.

This was the first meeting between the two countries and the first full international at Goodison Park for 13 years. The conditions were not good as early-evening rain had left the pitch saturated. The heavy conditions hampered England's style, and play was bogged down regularly in a sea of mud.

Right from the kick-off, the determination of the Polish side was there for all to see. They employed a five-man defensive barrier, superbly marshalled, and extremely effective. When England did get through, they found Szeja in unbeatable form.

Roger Hunt twice went close and George Eastham and Nobby Stiles also put in goal attempts. Alan Ball was magnificent and covered every inch of the Goodison pitch in setting up all the most positive of England's play. Stiles and Bobby Moore gave him good support but the attack was not firing on all cylinders. Gordon Harris, in for Bobby Charlton, gave plenty of effort but lacked that certain something that separates the good players from the very good.

Joe Baker, after a lively opening, faded as the game wore on and Hunt was guilty of some bad misses from chances he would probably have gobbled up, had they been across Stanley Park at Anfield. But Poland must not have any credit taken away from them. Their defence was outstanding both in the air and on the ground, and the red shirts battled for every loose ball, Just before the break they snatched a surprise lead.

Moore, clearing too casually, had his pass blocked by Banaś, who had only just come on to the field to replace Wilim. The new man ran on and reached the by-line. He crossed low and hard and there was Sadek and the number-nine deserved his goal.

Hunt still found time to head Baker's cross wide before the break but Poland's lead stayed intact. They began the second half in a very determined mood and they had the scent of a famous victory. However, England kept plugging away and the crowd roared them on. Again chances were missed as England laid siege on the Polish goal, but Sjeza stood firm.

With 15 minutes to go, England at last found the inspiration to equalize. It came from an unlikely quarter. George Cohen made a barmstorming run down the right, crashing through some hefty challenges from three defenders before sending over a delightful cross to the far post. A tactical switch had pushed Moore forward and the England skipper met the cross with a good header, his joy at scoring plain for all to see.

This tactic almost paid higher dividends right near the end when Ball, still buzzing around tirelessly, centred from the left and Moore again stormed in from the right to power a header towards goal. This time, though, the ball thudded against the crossbar and Poland escaped.

England had to be content with a draw in the end but it must be said that Poland definitely deserved a share of the spoils.
  

Bobby Moore scored one of the two goals that decorated his 108 international appearances to cancel out Poland's lead on a glue-pot pitch at Goodison. Moore put the finishing touch to a late move started by Burnley winger Gordon Harris, deputising for the injured Bobby Charlton, and it was Jack Charlton who made the final pass that created the opening for England's skipper. This was the first match between England and Poland, and the first full international for 13 years at a Goodison ground that was to be one of the World Cup venues.  Incessant rain turned the pitch into a quagmire that made every step a challenge. No doubt buoyed by his rare goal, Moore stormed into the penalty area in the closing minutes to meet a centre from the tireless Alan Ball and powered a header against the crossbar. Again, Alf Ramsey played 4-3-3, with Stiles, Ball and Eastham working together in midfield.
  

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