ASTON VILLA v. DARWEN
AN EASY WIN FOR THE VILLA.

There was a large muster at Perry Barr to see Aston Villa score what was supposed be an easy victory over Darwen, whose form of late has not been of that character which inspires confidence when pitted against an organisation of the undoubted merit of Aston Villa.

The wind blew obliquely across the ground and Darwen winning the toss set Aston Villa to play up the hill with the wind against them. Darwen were the first show, Entwistle shooting over.

At length the Villa got away, and Campbell gained a corner. Darwen cleared and was then busily engaged and the Villa gave a corner, which availed their opponents nothing.

Devey, Athersmith and Campbell showed conspicuously and then Alexander at the other end put in some good work for the visitors. M’Owen saved good shots at the top end. and then the venue was again changed, not for long, however, as the Villa got away again and soon began to press in earnest and gained shot after shot in upon the goalkeeper, but M'Owen was equal to the emergency, and played magnificently, stopping shots in brilliant style. Devey fouled the ball, and the Darwen lines were cleared.

Back came the Villa to the charge, and some grand play by Campbell was loudly cheered. Then Devey dashed through tho visitors’ defence and scored the first goal for Aston Villa, who led at half time one goal to none.

Upon restarting the visitors ran up into the Villa quarters, but the ball was returned and backwards and forwards it went for a time, the wind spoiling the game. Darwen looked very dangerous once, but Coulton cleared. M’Owen afterwards stopped two grand shots from Athersmith and threw out from other members of the Villa front string. Hodgetts proving too much for the Darwener and the second goal was thus scored for Aston Villa.

This reverse seemed to take much of the sting out of the visitors’ attack and the game lapsed into a give and take order again.

Darwen however struggled hard right up to the call of “Time!” but the luck was against them, and the game ended in an easy victory for Aston Villa by two goals to none.