ENGLAND, THE WORLD SOCCER CHAMPIONS, BEGAN THEIR DEFENCE OF THEIR BRITISH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP YESTERDAY BY BEATING NORTHERN IRELAND 3-1 IN BELFAST. BUT ENGLAND, WHO LEAVE LATER THIS MONTH FOR A SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR, OFTEN STRUGGLED AGAINST THE LIVELY IRISH TEAM, WHOSE ATTACKS WERE MASTER-MINDED BY MANCHESTER UNITED STAR GEORGE BEST.

ENGLAND SURVIVED AN ANXIOUS OPENING PERIOD TO TAKE THE LEAD AFTER 38 MINUTES WHEN MARTIN HEADED IN A FREE KICK FROM FRANCES LEE. NORTHERN IRELAND EQUALISED IN THE 63RD MINUTE THROUGH ALEX MCMORDIE, BUT ENGLAND REGAINED THE LAID WITHIN A MINUTE WITH A GOAL BY LEE.

A LATE PENALTY GOAL BY GEOFF HURST LEFT ENGLAND WITN A FLATTERING 3-1 SCORELINE.

NORTHERN IRELAND, WHO HAVE NOT BEATEN ENGLAND ON THEIR OWN HOME GROUND IN POST-WAR MATCHES, PLAYED WITH FIRE AND SKILL BUT FAILED TO TAKE THEIR SCORING CHANCES. BEST AND CENTRE-FORWARD DEREK DOUGAN RUFFLED THE EDGES OF THE FAMED ENGLAND DEFENCE, BUT GOAL-KEEPER GORDON BANKS SHOWED THE FORM WHICH MADE HIM A STAR OF ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP WIN.

WITH GEOFF HURST AND BOBBY CHARLTON UNABLE TO BREAK OUT OF THEIR CURRENT PERIOD OF POOR FORM, ENGLAND'S ATTACK SHOWED ONLY OCCASIONAL GLIMPSES OF DEFENCE-DESTROYING POWER. ONLY FRANCIS LEE SHOWED THE SPEED AND DETERMINATION OF A TOP-CLASS FORWARD AND HIS DASHING RUNS WERE A CONSTANT MENACE TO THE IRISH DEFENCE.

HALF-TIME SCORE: ENGLAND 1, NORTHERN IRELAND 0.

FULL-TIME SCORE: ENGLAND 3, NORTHERN IRELAND 1.