The Scots got a thorough caning from England's under-23's at Shawfield Park, Glasgow, last night; and once again it was a case of hats off to Johnny Haynes.
Fulham's ace-high inside-forward stayed ice-cool when England were unsettled for a long first-half spell, then gradually pulled his side round with the skill of a veteran. Not only that, but Johnny carved the goal openings, as well.
First, in 29 minutes he slipped the ball so accurately to Frank Blunstone from a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area that the Chelsea winger had no trouble finding a corner of the net. Then, just before half-time, he pushed a sweet, long ball through for John Atyeo to juggle his way past hefty Doug Baillie, Scotland's 14-stone centre-half and ran in goal no. 2. England's third, early in the second half, was from a Blunstone-Haynes move that left Duncan Edwards in a bang-on position.
      Edwards scored another soon afterwards, from a centre by Harry Hooper, and completed his hat-trick in a total of 19 minutes.
Just before the end it was Fulham's Johnny himself who scored goal No. 6.

All this was quite a transformation after a series of early shocks had found England fumbling.
      The trouble began straight from the kick-off, when Bobby Ayre fell heavily and dislocated his left elbow. He was taken to hospital, but was discharged later and is expected to be fit in a few days.
Travelling reserve Stan Anderson came on as substitute and it was the necessary arrangement of the team that gave England an unbalanced look until the arrival of the first goal. Anderson went to right-half, Ron Flowers crossed to the left, and Edwards moved up to lead the attack. The breaking up of England's half-back line, which was so powerful a factor in the defeat of Italy, robbed full-backs [Bill] Foulkes and Peter Sillett of their confidence; and if Reg Matthews had not been his cat-like self in goal, there could have been a lead for Scotland, so persistently did left-winger Davy McPartland and inside-right Jimmy Walsh hammer away. But all the time Haynes was rallying his forces. Soon Anderson was settling in like an old hand, and after the first half-hour the Scottish fans were shown more than a glimpse of the precision football that shattered the Italians.
      Edwards looked the ideal centre-forward all through the second-half, dove-tailing perfectly with energetic, go-ahead Atyeo, who once again proved his outstanding ability in a smooth-working line.
This pair gave big Baillie a rare old run-around, prompted always, of course, by the defence-splitting passes of Haynes and some useful work by both wingers. Towards the finish, with Edwards moving to either wing as if the roving centre-forward game had always been his strong point, England fairly waltzed around the despondent Scots. It was truly a great exhibition and a grand example of a fight back after early difficulties.
This Young England is certainly going places.