YESTERDAY'S FOOTBALL
THE LEAGUE-DIVISION I.

ASTON VILLA V. BURNLEY

The return League match between Aston Villa and Burnley was played at Perry Barr, before about 8,000 persons. Burnley brought a strong team, and the Villa, were well represented. Their display, coming after that of Monday, was very disappointing. They played a loose and scrambling game, and thoroughly deserved the beating they received.

Burnley, on the other hand played capitally but at times were very rough, and their players were frequently penalised.

The Villa won the toss, and elected to play towards the Wellington Road goal. Turnbull started the game, which for the first few minutes was of an interesting character, being entirely devoid of any of those little touches that make football pretty to look at.

But at length Will Devey got possession, and finished a fine run by an accurate centre, which brought Hillman away from his goal. He punched the ball out, and it was quickly transferred to the other end, where Dunning had to stop a nasty shot from Brady.

The next moment the Villa were attacking, but a corner kick that was given to them was not improved upon.

The next few minutes saw Burnley pressing but they failed to pierce the Villa defence, and then Woolley executed a couple of brilliant runs. On the first occasion he shot over the bar, but on the second the ball flashed right across the front of goal and passed outside ere Hodgetts could get up.

The Villa so far had not played nearly so well as on the previous day, their passing being very inaccurate and iIl-judged. The result was that Burnley, if there was anything to choose had slightly the balance of the attack, and Dunning had a couple of long shots to stop.

The crowd did not appreciate the Villa’s exhibition, and cries of “Play up Villa " became general. The men responded to the appeal, and commenced a series of assaults on the Burnley goal. It was splendidly defended, however, and Lang in particular distinguished himself by his accurate kicking.

Woolley and Hodgetts were now conspicuous for some pretty passing, and the latter centred across goal. W. Devey ran for the ball, but HiIlman was there before him, and threw it out of danger.

The Villa kept on the offensive, and after W. Devey had shot over, Woolley made a shot which Hillman fisted out. The corner that followed was not improved upon. The crowd hooted Nicol for badly tripping Woolley, and then cheered Hillman for saving brilliantly twice in succession from John Devey.

The Villa made another desperate attempt to break through the Burnley defence, but failed, and then in turn were, attacked. A corner kick was conceded by Baird, but was abortive. W. Devey was cheered for a capital run but he delayed passing, and was robbed of the ball by Lang. Burnley raced up the field, and Buchanan shot into Dunning's hands. A moment later he was applauded for saving a low shot from Turnbull. There was no denying the fact that just now Burnley were having the best of play, but they could not make any impression on the Villa defence, and at length Hodgetts and Woolley broke away. The latter receiving the ball from his partner had a clear run down and centred right in front. Hodgetts and .Devey both shot, but Hillman punched away. On the second occasion, however, the ball came to John Devey, who promptly rushed it through.

Nothing more transpired and at the interval the Villa thus led by 1 goal to 0.

On restarting the Villa pressed, and John Devey made a beautiful shot, which Hillman saved. Then Burnley became aggressive, but Dunning prevented any score. After Burnley had twice been penalised for foul play the Villa attacked, and Hodgetts shot over the bar.

Then Burnley came with a rush, and playing well in front of goal succeeded in equalising the score.

After the centre kick Burnley made another rush, but this time Evans checked their career and kicked up the field. Some long kicking was indulged in by the backs on each side, and Burnley again pressed. They seemed certain to score, but Evans fell and covered the ball, which was got away temporarily. It was returned, and Espie put in a long shot, which Dunning could not hold, and the ball rolled into the net.

The Villa now attacked, and Woolley shot in just as he was grassed by Nicol. The shot was kicked out, and the corner-kick was not utilised. The Villa combination was conspicuous for its absence, and they were now having distinctly the worst of the game.

Burnley made another attack, and a shot from Bowes struck the post and rebounded through, thus giving the visitors a further lead. The Villa played better, and from a centre by John Devey, Hodgetts headed over.

Burnley retaliated; but the ball was shot outside, and then the Villa got well up the field, but made no use of their chance.

Woolley made a grand shot, which Hillman fisted out and the corner-kick yielded another. This was taken by Woolley, and Baird made a long shot, which Lang kicked out. The third corner was unproductive.

The Villa returned to the attack, and a struggle between Brown and Lang resulted in a fourth cornet-kick, but Burnley got the ball away, and changed the scene of the contest. They failed to score, and as the whistle was blown a minute or so afterwards, were left the winners by 3 goals to 1.