7-0

ASTON VILLA v. DARWEN.

There were about 8,000 persons present at this League match, which took place at Perry Barr. The attendance would no doubt have been larger but for the wretched weather that prevailed. Rain fell continuously throughout the progress of the game, and the ground, cut up by the previous frost; was a perfect quagmire.

The Villa were fully represented, with two exceptions. These were Baird and H. Davey, who respectively filled the places of Cox and J. Brown. With regard to the first change there can be little doubt that it is one for the better, as Cox is at present a little out of form, whilst Baird, on the other hand, is playing remarkably well.

From the commencement the Villa plainly demonstrated that they were the better team, for although playing up-hill and against the wind they more than held their own against the visitors.

For a quarter of an hour no score was made, although both goals were several times endangered, but the defence on each side was very strong.

L. Campbell and Hodgetts were responsible for some fine runs, and their play was, indeed, just as good as it had been bad the previous week.

On one occasion they centred well to Devey, and he seemed almost certain to score, but his shot, a very fine one, was caught and thrown out of danger by McOwen.

A second shot by the same player was just as finely saved, and then the Darwen forwards were responsible for a good attack, but they shot wildly and from positions whence scoring was well nigh impossible.

At length L. Campbell and Hodgetts raced up the field, and some very skilful passing between the pair enabled Hodgetts to shoot the ball past the Darwen custodian. The crowd hailed the Villa’s success with loud cheers, and the game was during the next few minutes hotly contested by each side.

Darwen made several good attempts to score, but their own wild shooting aided the Villa defence in keeping the goal inviolate.

Darwen then unfortunately lost the services of Nightingale, who was indisposed, and had to play ten men during the remainder of the game.

They played very pluckily, but were unable to stand against the Villa, for whom Hodgetts scored again before half-time from a clever centre by Athersmith.

Having scored two goals with the wind and rain in their faces, the Villa's chances of making a big total seemed very good.

They at once began to press their opponents, but the latter at first managed to resist the assaults. For fifteen minutes they kept the Villa back, but the goal was then captured at the fourth attempt by Louis Campbell.

This proved to be the first of a series of goals, for the Darwen began to be overplayed at every point.

The Villa forwards, pleased with their own successes, played an earnest but restrained game, and their passing was a treat to witness.

They simply made rings around their opponents and four more goals were added before the call of time.

Athersmith scored the fourth, Devey the fifth, Hodgetts the sixth and L. Campbell the seventh.

The Villa would undoubtedly have put on a dozen goals but for the grand goalkeeping of McOwen. The crowd cheered him, again and again during the play, and he met with a perfect ovation on leaving the field.

The Villa thus won the match by 7 goals to 0.