ASTON VILLA v. ACCRINGTON.

Played in sharp, cold weather, with bright sunshine, at Perry Barr, before a large gate. It was an ideal football day, crowds wending their way to the enclosure, anxious to see the form exhibited by the Villa.

Accrington, punctually to time, losing the toss, kicked off, Irvine setting the bell in motion. Villa elected to play up-hill. A quick, dashing run and adroit pass by Devey gave Hodgetts a chance, that player banging through before the game was one minute old.

Again the Villa swarmed up, and two narrow misses put the Accrington supporters’ hearts their mouths.

The visitors bore down, Kirkham causing Warner to fist out. The Villa dashed up, Dickson shooting over.

Irvine, Whitehead, and Rirkham executed a pretty passing run. and getting well down to the Villa goal, Irvine passed Whitehead, who shot splendidly. Warner repelled the attack, but Haworth immediately returned into goal, and short run by the Villa string was promptly nipped in the bud by McLennan.

Elliott got down, but shot over the line, and once more the home team bombarded the Accrington fortress, literally raining in shot after shot, but they could not score.

Grand passing was effected between Hodgetts and Devey, and the former player touched through for the second time.

Some even play followed, and then one of the Villa’s characteristic rushes took place, Devey banged through with lightning speed.

From the kick-off Villa gained a barren corner, soon followed by a second, which Campbell met, heading over the line.

Accrington now settled down and passed prettily, Elliot twice shooting so dangerously that he once hit the cross-bar.

The Villa gradually pressed them back and recommenced the bombardment.

Campbell and Athersmith worked up, passing broadly from wing to wing, completely nonplussing the Accrington backs, but Dickson headed over at a critical point, still keeping the upper hand.

The Villa could not break through the visitors’ defence, Hay playing grandly. Warner soon after fetched down house by as brilliant a bit of goalkeeping as has been seen on the Villa ground, dodging through and beating all the five forwards.

Devey headed the fourth goal from corner, and a fifth directly afterward.

Half-time—Villa 5, Accrington 0.

Changing ends the Villa had the advantage of the slope, and rushing down, Dickson was not long finding an opening, banging through with a force that shook the net enough to fetch it down.

From the re-start the Villa rushed downhill, but Thomson tackled and raced up cleverly, eluding Cox. Then passing sharply across, Whitehead met and turned it through, Irvine making sure rushing it into the net, this making the first goal for Accrington, who for some time played gamely.

Athersmith next showed up, dodging and dribbling down, but McLennan centring and Whitehead snapping up, the ball rattled off from the right wing. Baird was successfully outwitted, but meeting Cox, Whitehead came a cropper, and the ball travelled harmlessly down the field again.

Even midfield play ensued, and long duelling took place between opposing backs, but this did not last long.

The home team swarmed down, shooting with resistless force. Athersmith and Devey trickily passed all the opposition, and the former putting across, Dickson failed to meet, but Campbell rushing up banged through.

Directly afterwards this feat was accomplished for the second time in precisely similar manner, making the score Villa 8. Accrington 1.

The visitors now seemed thoroughly beaten, and played with poor spirit.

Meanwhile Hay had a particularly busy time of it, repelling shots from Hodgetts, Dickson, Campbell, Cowan, and Athersmith.

Kirkham relieved the pressure with a short, but barren run. Cox smartly dispossessed him of the leather when he got close up.

Hodgetts had to step playing for a time, having hurt his foot. Kirkham got on the ball, beating Cox, and centring beautifully. Evans half saved but Thompson rushing up settled the matter by banging through.

Directly after the Villa responded, Campbell putting through point nine, and Dickson the tenth, Devey eleven, and Dickson twelfth. Result— Villa 12. Accrington 2.