Despite spending some three months of the season out with a muscle injury,[59] the 1952–53 campaign proved Smith's words to be accurate, as a 38-year-old Matthews won an FA Cup winners medal in a match which was, despite Mortensen's hat-trick, subsequently dubbed the "Matthews Final".[60] Bolton were leading 3–1 with 35 minutes to go, but Matthews had "the game of his life" in "the greatest ever FA Cup final" and spurred his team on to a last gasp 4–3 victory.[60] He always credited the team and especially Mortensen for the victory, and never accepted the nickname of the "Matthews Final".[60]