ENGLAND,  desperately searching for a win, brought in four new caps for the visit of Northern Ireland in the Home Championship. Only three victories in their previous 16 matches was testament to the depressing spell that the side was going through. Not since before the Munich air crash had the England team looked to be mounting a serious challenge to world football and this side did not look likely to improve things.

This game began slowly before ending with a flourish but there was some hope for the England selectors with the form of centre-forward, Joe Baker. At last England seem to have found a number-nine of real quality and despite the fact that he played for Hibernian in the Scottish League and spoke with a broad Scottish accent. Baker gave a performance which suggested that he would serve England well. His skill and speed were a joy to watch and this, couple with his intelligent running, was a real handful for his marker, Cunningham for the whole 90 minutes.

Baker quickly adapted to his new surroundings and early on he set up chances for both Johnny Haynes and Ray Parry. Both shots were cleared from the line but on 16 minutes Baker himself got into the act with a superb opening strike.

Tony Allen took a free-kick which Baker cleverly allowed to run and after one bounce a flashing right-foot shot found the top corner. It was a stunning goal and the number-nine had already won over the crowd.

Unfortunately the rest of the game did not match up to Baker's contribution and for a long spell the play became as tedious and intricate as a chess game with both sides drawing long-winded patterns in  midfield. For Ireland, the workload fell heavily on Blanchflower and McIlroy, whereas England looked to Haynes and Parry for inspiration.

It was all very negative stuff, although the Irish should have been level at half-time. McIlroy set off on an effortless run which took him past three England defenders. It all ended abruptly, though, when he was sandwiched between Ken Brown and Don Howe. The referee saw it was a foul and awarded Ireland a penalty.

McIlroy himself took the spot-kick but stroked it all too gently towards the corner of the goal, enabling Ron Springett to anticipate well and save at full stretch. Ironically, McIlroy had missed a penalty against Scotland earlier this season after having previously gone three years without failure. The save by Springett was one of several very confident moments for England's new goalkeeper, who gave an excellent display throughout.

The second half began with the Irish surging forward, and in one incredible attack four shots by McParland, McIlroy, twice, and Cush were all blocked by a wall of English defenders. As the pace of the game increased then so did the number of goalmouth incidents. A lovely run by John Connelly left McMichael sprawling before a cross from the by-line was headed inches wide by the diving Baker. Then, at the other end, McParland and Cush both shot only just off target before Baker came roaring in to shoot wide from a good position as England retaliated. He really should have scored from that one.

All of a sudden, with the day darkening and the match into the last two minutes, there was pandemonium. McParland, always a threat when he pulled on that green shirt, made a good run down the left before hitting over a low centre to the near post. Springett's dive appeared to have done enough but before the ball could roll out for a corner, Bingham nipped in to hook it back and into the net. Needless to say, his colleagues swarmed round the diminutive winger with their congratulations.

Alas, their joy was premature as within seconds of the end England came back to snatch victory with a dramatic winner. Gregg had already saved brilliantly from Connelly when England regained possession through Edwin Holliday. He fed Baker a good pass and the centre-forward moved to the left-hand by-line before sending a diagonal pass into the path of Parry. The Bolton player calmly stroked the ball wide of Gregg and England had won the match.
 

Joe Baker, the Englishman from Hibernian with the broad Scottish accent, and Bolton's Ray Parry were two of nine new caps tried in three matches. Baker gave England the lead with a brilliantly worked goal which was equalised with three minutes to go by Billy Bingham. The match was into its final seconds when Parry snatched the winner. West Ham centre-half Ken Brown gave a solid performance  in the middle of the England defence, but was quickly dumped as the selectors continued their hunt for a successor to Billy Wright. Ron Springett marked his impressive first game in the England goal with a first-half save from a Jimmy Mcllroy penalty.
 

They had shared the British Championship between them for the past two years but England were aiming for a record ninth successive title. The Irish were now unbeatable in three meetings with England, including their 1957 win on their previous visit. They had started their British Championship campaign disastrously, however, with a 4-0 thrashing by Scotland at Windsor Park and needed, at least, a point to stay in contention. England had drawn 1-1 with Wales at Ninian Park.
From Allen's free-kick, Joe Baker eluded Cunningham's challenge and turned to shoot England in front.
The Irish ought to have equalised on the stroke of half-time when Bingham's pass put McIlroy through to beat three men before being fouled, jointly, by Howe and Brown. But the penalty taken by McIlroy, was brilliantly saved by Springett. The Irish did equalise two minutes before time when McParland raced away down the wing, cut inside and shot inside the near post. Springett managed to block it, but Billy Bingham pounced on the rebound. But England snatched victory in the very last minute. Baker crossed and Ray Parry slotted in the winner to deprive Northern Ireland of their interest in the Championship.
England secured a share of the British Championship by drawing 1-1 with Scotland at Hampden Park. Northern Ireland finished bottom, without a point, after losing 3-2 to Wales at the Racecourse Ground.
 

Five changes were made by England: Springett was in goal; Brown at centre-half; Baker at centre-forward; Haynes and Parry at inside-forward. With the exception of the 8-1 win in Los Angeles this was England's first success in eight games. It was a near thing, however, for with but two minutes left England's early goal, scored by newcomer Joe Baker, was equalised: McParland made one of his special wing dashes, cut along the by-line, fired in a shot from a narrow angle and just as the ball appeared to spin out of play Bingham sent it into the net. England's victory was snatched in the dying seconds: Baker, moving out to the left flank, crossed the ball to Parry who stroked it over the goal-line. For England, Baker pleased with his qualities of leadership, enthusiasm and dash; Springett was confident in goal and looked a good prospect; Parry and Haynes at inside-forward played well in spasms; while Brown at centre-half was not unduly troubled.