ASTON VILLA v. BOLTON WANDERERS.

The return League match between these teams was played at Perry Barr before 5,000 spectators. The visitors were well represented, but the Villa were without Cowan and Evans, who had been injured in a match the previous week. H. Devey and Baird filled the vacant positions. The ground was very hard and made play rather dangerous. Kicking downhill the Villa were the first to score, but the visitors soon equalised, and each side changed over with a goal to its credit, The second half was well contested, but there can be no denying the fact that the Bolton Wanderers were the better team, and but for their bad shooting would have won the match.

The Villa kicked off towards the Wellington Road goal, and Logan was at once cheered for a remarkably smart run. Near goal, however, he was too heavily pressed, and unfortunately put the ball outside. From the goal. kick the Wanderers attacked, and gained a free-kick near the Villa goal but Jones shot over the bar. A moment later they formulated a second attack, but fortunately Baird came to the rescue, and forced the visitors to put the leather out.

The Villa forwards changed the scene of play, and Hare tried a shot which was, however, too high. The same player was cheered for a smart run directly afterwards, but he failed to centre into goal. Cox at the one end and Jones at the other were responsible for some good tackling, and then Bolton again became dangerous, but Dickenson shot wide.

Hare and Athersmith next made a very pretty run, and the former, passing to Logan, gave that player a chance from a very difficult position. To his credit he made a splendid shot, which was only a few inches too wide.

A moment later a most exciting tussle ensued in the visitors' goal mouth, but Sutcliffe twice saved in brilliant style. At the other end Baird came to the rescue at a critical juncture, and despite the precarious footing afforded by the frozen ground the game continued to be most exciting.

The visitors fouled the ball near their own goal, but H. Devey kicked wildly over the bar, and a good opportunity was thus lost.

The Wanderers now took up the attack, but were no more successful than the Villa, for they twice shot the ball out.

A third try by Cassidy was no better aimed, and then the Villa pressed, but Sutcliffe preserved his goal inviolate, although J. Davey sent in a splendid shot.

Again the Villa came with a fine burst of speed, but the defence was impenetrable and the attack was beaten off.

Not for long, however, for Hare, having received a fine pass, put the ball right across the front of goal, and Hodgetts touched it to J. Devey, who scored amidst a round of cheers.

This took place thirty minutes from the start. Bolton retaliated, and three minutes later McNee scored a capital point.

The game went slightly in favour of the visitors, and the Villa’s defence was at times hardly pressed, but Baird played a very safe game, and kept his opponents from increasing their score.

Logan was cheered for a fine bit of dribbling, but Hare, who received the ball, passed it too squarely, and it was lost.

The next moment the whistle was blown, and the teams crossed over each with a goal to its credit.

On recommencing the Villa ran the ball up the field, but could not get through, and then the Wanderers came down with a wet sail, but Dickenson shot just over the bar.

The game gave every promise of being very fast from the way in which it had been reopened, and the promise was fulfilled, for both teams played desperately hard. The Villa quickly forced a corner-kick, but they could not turn it to any advantage, and Bolton's reply was, no more successful.

A shot by Athersmith cleared the bar, and another attack resulted in an abortive corner-kick. Baird twice stopped rushes by the visitors, who were playing most pluckily. A splendid attack was ended by a very weak shot by Willocks, who was in a beautiful position. Then a fine run by the Villa was terminated by some weak play in front of goal, and following closely on this J. Brown shot yards too high.

A pretty centre by Dickenson gave Cassidy a grand chance, but he missed his kick, and the ball was removed out of danger. It was carried to the other end of the field, but was quickly returned, and Cox saved just in time.

From a throw-in, Cassidy shot, but Dunning caught the ball and threw it away. Bolton continued to press, and were conceded a corner-kick, but they failed to improve upon it.

The Wanderers for the last ten minutes had had distinctly the best of the game, and, but for their indifferent shooting, would undoubtedly have taken the lead.

Then the Villa improved, and Athersmith gave Sutcliffe a hot shot,, which he saved beautifully. During the remaining few minutes, both sides strove desperately to score, but failed, and the match thus ended in a draw of one goal each.