ASTON VILLA v. PRESTON NORTH END.

These teams met at Perry Barr, yesterday, to play off their second League match.

It will be in the memory of all that the match should have been decided four weeks ago, but the frost rendered the ground unfit for play, and both teams agreed to leave the League-match to some future date.

There was a large attendance at Perry Barr yesterday, considering that it was Monday; and the improved form: recently displayed by the Villa gave their supporters every hope of victory.

A capital team was placed in the field, and the visitors were also well represented.

It was noticeable, however, that N. J. Ross, who has of late been playing forward, was again sent back, and the wisdom of the change was apparent from start to finish.

Playing with a strong wind behind them in the first half the Villa did nearly all the attacking, and, except for a few runs by the visitors' forwards, the game was a continual struggle between the Villa's attack and the North End defence.

Thanks, however, to the fine play of N. Rose, Holmes, and Trainor the goal was kept inviolate.

The display of the Preston goalkeeper was magnificent, and a better display has never been seen on the ground. He stopped shots which seemed almost impossible for him to stop, and was again and again cheered by the crowd.

A minute a before the interval it seemed likely that he would be beaten by McKnight, but he punched the ball away, although it is very questionable whether it did not first cross the line.

The referee, however, decided otherwise. and so the game at the interval was in the same state as at the commencement.

The Villa had now to face the wind, and their defeat was looked upon as very probable.

In the first few moments, however, they were very aggressive, and Trainor was speedily in difficulties, but he again prevailed.

The North End forwards afterwards had a spell of attacking, and within ten minutes McKenna scored the first goal of the match.

The game afterwards was at evenly contested, but the Villa could not equalise, and thus lost by the narrow majority of 1 goal to 0.