THE LEAGUE.
FIRST DIVISION.

ASTON VILLA V. NOTTS FOREST.

Ten thousand persons witnessed this League match which took place at Perry Barr.

The Villa team underwent a rearrangement in from inasmuch as L. Campbell was left out in favour of Logan, the new Scotch centre forward. Hodgetts took Campbell’s place on the extreme left wing and John Devey was sent to partner him.

Dowds made his reappearance as half back, and Baird was played instead of Stokes, whose shoulder was hurt in the match against Stoke on Monday last.

The Forest were well represented.

Great interest was felt in the match, and the Villa supporters must have felt relieved when the end came. It was an exciting game from start to finish and the victory of the Villa was not assumed until the referee blew is whistle.

In the first half the home team, who, were playing towards the Wellington Road goal, had the balance of play and certainly deserved to lead by the goal with which they were credited when they crossed over.

In the second half, however, the Forest did the bulk of the pressing, and were rather unfortunate in not equalising.

From the kick-off the game promised plenty of excitement. Flying visits were paid by each side to the opposing goal, and some very smart passing was exhibited by the forwards.

Devey and Hodgetts made a capital pair, and Logan in the centre at times passed with great judgement but played with scarcely as much dash as he might have done.

However, it must be remembered that he is strange to his companions, and when he has settled down may improve in that respect.

Soon after starting Devey shot the ball into the Forest net, and to many persons it appeared to be several inches under the bar when the goalkeeper caught it and threw it away. The referee decided, however, that the ball bad not passed through.

The Villa were not to be denied and several skilful attacks at length resulted in Brown heading the ball through from a centre by Hodgetts. The score was hailed with cheers.

The game now was more fiercely contested than ever, and the ball was taken from end to the of the field with marvellous rapidity.

A splendid centre from Hodgetts was just headed out by Athersmith, and a shot by Albert Brown was met with no better success.

The Forest then made a pretty run. and Mclnnes, passing Evans, appeared to have a clear course for goal but Baird came with a timely rush and kicked out of danger.

Then Logan made a fine shot, but Brown saved it.

The game continued to be of a ding dong description and the corner kicks at end were a frequent occurrence.

Thanks however to the splendid defensive play, not further scoring took place and the Villa cross over with one goal to their credit.

In the second half the Forest played much better than their opponents who seemed to be fatigued and were not seen to such great advantage as in the first portion of the game.

Time after time the Reds came to the attack with a persistency which seemed certain to give them success ; but the defence was magnificent, and Dunning played brilliantly in goal.

On one occasion the Forest were within an ace of equalising. Evans kicked the ball very hard, but it struck a Notts player who was dashing up, and rebounded back again. It took the direction of goal, but, was a few inches too high, and just cleared the bar.

At length the Villa, aroused by the cries of the crowd, made a dash for the visitors' goal. Some capital passing took the forwards close in, and Logan made a grand shot, which was cleverly saved by Brown, who fell full length, and just managed to touch the ball away. It went to Athersmith, but he shot wide.

The Forest once more pressed, and obtained three free kicks for fouls close into goal. Twice.the ball was splendidly got away, but at the third try it was scrimmaged through. Without the slightest hesitation, the referee refused to give the point, as some of the Reds in their anxiety to equalise had transgressed the off-side rule.

The game became a most anxious one for the Villa supporters, for the Forest attacked with much determination, but they were met by a steady defence, and when the referee blew his whistle had failed to score. The Villa therefore won by 1 goal to niL