ASTON VILLA V. SUNDERLAND

These teams met at Perry Barr, in the presence of about seven thousand spectators.

The appearance of the northern team was looked upon with great interest in local football circles, and the exposition they gave of a passing game reflected a considerable credit upon them. An accident which occurred about midway through the second half robbed the visitors of some of their attacking force.

Smith had the misfortune, in kicking the ball, to strain some of the muscles of his right leg, and was unable to take any further part in the game.

The visitors in the first half played from the Wellington Road goal, and were very quickly near the Villa, goal.

Smith and Harvey, on the right wing were responsible for a lot of good work, and they were admirably supported by the backs.

A few minutes’ play, however, proved that the ground was in a bad condition for the players, being very slippery, although the greater portion of the snow had been removed.

Many good chances in the early part of the game were lost, mainly on account of the state of the field and the Villa forwards were particularly noticeable for their mistakes.

Although the visitors did not have matters all their own way, they did most of the pressing. The forwards passed with wonderful neatness, and being well-fed by the backs they were enabled to make, stubborn attacks.

One feature was, however, plainly observable-in front of goal their kicking generally was weak.

The slippery ground was responsible for many fouls, some of them being in an unpleasant closeness to goal.

Warner proved himself a good custodian on more than one occasion, and frequently, accomplished what might have been expected of the backs.

Albert Brown made one of the best runs of the match but the final shot, though well aimed, passed on the wrong side of the post.

Devey put in a lot of good work, and Cox more than once relieved the pressure when it was most threatening.

The visitors showed decidedly the better combination up to half- time, and for the most part played an aggressive game but weakness immediately in front of goal marred the beat efforts of the forwards.

When the interval was reached no score, had been made.

On restarting the visitors led off with a brisk attack, and for some time Warner and the backs were busily engaged in defending their goal.

At last Cox relieved the pressure, and Brown getting possession, passed across to McKnight, who in turn a passed to Hodgetts. In this order a, capital run was made, but Hodgetts lost the ball by slipping as he was about to make a return to McKnight.

The visitors again made an attack on Warner's charge, and for fully five minutes the fortune of the Villa seemed in great peril.

The ball was at length got away, and Hodgetts once more attempted, with the aid of McKnight, to score.

The effort was fruitless, and a thick mist gradually increasing rendered the latter part of the game far from interesting, so that when the whistle sounded the end without either side suffering a defeat, the partisans of either team were not displeased.

To sum up, it must be confessed that in passing the visiting forwards showed themselves superior to their opponents and had played a thoroughly sound game.