SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.
ASSOCIATION RULES.
THE LEAGUE.

ASTON VILLA V. BOLTON WANDERERS.

The Aston Villa played their return league fixture with the Bolton Wanderers at Perry Barr, before about 10,000 persons.

Both teams were fully represented, and, although the ground was slippery and the weather very boisterous, a capital game was witnessed.

Winning the toss the Villa chose to play towards the Wellington Road goal, and had thus the advantage of the strong wind.

Cassidy kicked off, and the Villa at once attacked. Their forwards played splendidly, and kept the ball continually in the vicinity of the Bolton goal.

Owing, however, to the clever defence of Jones, Sommerville, and Sutcliffe, twenty minutes elapsed before the Villa scored. Then Campbell placed the ball prettily to Hodgetts, who centred with his usual accuracy, and Brown, being well up, beat Sutcliffe with a grand shot.

This success encouraged the Villa to persevere, and the forwards played up with beautiful combination, and literally bombarded the visitors' goal.

A good shot by A. Brown hit the goal-post, and two or three others were well saved by Sutcliffe.

Then, however, Hodgetts centred once more; and J. Brown ran in and scored goal number two with a low swift shot.

The Villa pressed incessantly during the remainder of the half, but the strong wind spoiled accurate shooting, and they were not again successful, so that at half-time they were leading by 2 goals.

By many of their supporters this lead was not considered sufficient to win the match, and the start gave rise to considerable anxiety, as the Wanderers, aided by the wind, at once came to the attack. They kept at it hammer and tongs for about ten minutes, but their forwards played in a slipshod fashion, and the Villa backs and half-backs were thus enabled to drive them out. Several shots were sent into goal, but Warner easily saved them.

A good combined run by the Villa forwards relieved the pressure, and compelled the Wanderers' defence to make strenuous efforts to prevent further disaster.

Cowan banged the ball in after it had been finely centred by Hodgetts, but Sutcliffe saved well, and the game was once more fought out at the bottom end.

Thanks, however, to the good defence, the Villa goal was not carried.

After about ten minutes defending, the home team once more took up the attack, and Dickson had a straight shot for goal but Sutcliffe punched the ball out.

The Wanderers had continually the best of the play until ten minutes before time, when the Villa forwards once more asserted themselves, and Campbell scored a third point out of a scrimmage.

Then Hodgetts made a grand run, and scored what appeared to be the best goal of the day, but the referee disallowed the point.

As there remained but four minutes to play it seemed likely that the final score would be 3 to 0, but Hodgetts, annoyed at the decision, played like a demon, and once more dashed up the field. His centre came right across the front of goal and Dickson scored for the fourth time, whilst a minute before time Albert Brown added another, and the match was won by 5 goals to 0.