SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL.
THE LEAGUE.
ASTON VILLA V. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS.

The return League match between the Villa and the Wolverhampton Wanderers was played at Perry Barr.

This was the second occasion on which the Villa had met the Wanderers in the space of a fortnight, and the decisive victory they then gained no doubt interfered somewhat with the attendance, which was not nearly so large as at the previous match.

The Villa team was practically the same as that which gained the victory before referred to, the only alteration being the substitution of Athersmith for Brown on the extreme right wing.

The Wanderers, however, were stronger than before; the inclusion of Topham amongst the forwards being a source of great strength to the front division. The match was better contested than was the other, for although the home team won by the substantial majority of six goals to two, there were periods of the game when victory was by no means assured, and defeat was not improbable.

The forwards of the Wanderers, ably led by Topham, played equally as well as did those of the home team, and during the first ten minutes neither side had any advantage worth speaking of.

Both goal-keepers were once or twice troubled, and it was just a toss up as to which side would first meet with success.

Luck was, however with the Villa, for McKnight scored from a centre by L. Campbell. The Villa centre's effort was a very fine one, and was loudly applauded as he shot after once slipping down and missing his chance.

The Villa were not suffered to remain in possession of the lead for any length of time.

Put on their mettle by the reverse, the Wanderers' forwards played splendidly, and after some really capital passing Topham equalised with a swift low shot, which beat Warner.

Nor were the Wanderers content to remain satisfied, for they continued their efforts, and in a very few minutes Topham finished a brilliant run by a shot equally worthy, and cheers announced that the Villa goal had fallen for a second time.

The Villa now rallied themselves, and the game could be truthfully described as a fiercely-contested one, inasmuch as rough play was indulged in by both sides.

The defenders of the Wanderers were hotly pressed, and after a stout resistance were broken up, and their fortress was captured a second time by Dickson, who was materially aided by Cowan and Hodgetts.

The attack was continued, and the ball was put through once more, but the point was disallowed, and then the other end became the scene of the fight.

Bowdler centred to Thomson, who had a beautiful opening, but dallied over the shot, and gave Evans time to dash up and throw himself bodily on the ball.

The chance was thus lost, and another never came, so that when the interval arrived each side stood with two goals to its credit.

After changing ends the game was continued in much the same manner as before.

For at least ten minutes there was little to choose between the play of either side. Warner had just as many shots to stop as Rose, and the prospect of a close and exciting finish was very great.

But the unexpected soon happened.

The Villa forwards ran well up, and Dickson passed the ball prettily to Athersmith, who dashed passed Mason, and with a fine oblique shot placed the Villa ahead.

The success of his first endeavour inspired the young Villa player with confidence, and soon afterwards, receiving the ball from McKnight, he tried another shot, and was again successful, the ball striking the inside of the post and going through.

Like the first, the shot was taken at full speed, and Athersmith would do well always to shoot thus, for his shots are much more deadly when he follows this plan.

The Villa forwards now played irresistibly and Dickson soon added a fifth goal, and the score was further increased by Athersmith before the whistle blew; the Villa thus winning by 6 goals to 2, as the Wanderers, try as hard as they might, could not again succeed in forcing the Villa's defence.