EVERTON v. ASTON VILLA. Played on the Goodison Road Ground, Liverpool, in splendid weather, before a gate of fully 20,000 spectator. Everton left out Holt. Chadwick, and Milward. The visitors early on looked dangerous, but they failed to take the chance, Hodgetts muffing badly. Dunning then had some difficulty negotiate shots bu Southworth and Stewart. Hawarth spoiled a splendid chance for the Villa, and then Bell, a after splendid run, scored. Southworth and Elliott were again soon conspicuous, but it remained for the ex-Rover put on the second goal, and haIf-tune arrived with the home side leading three goals to none, Southworth having put the last one. Everton forced the play in the second half, and Woolley scored for Aston Villa after fifteen minutes play. The play alternated from end to end, and Walker and Athersmith scoring for their respective sides, the game ended Everton, four; Aston Villa, two. --- *The Birmingham Daily Post* Monday 18 September 1893 NOTES ON SPORT. What is the quality that makes football teams win, and how can football form be gauged, are at the present moment two very knotty questions. Look, for instance, at the result of a few matches in the First League competition. A fortnight ago Aston Villa defeated West Bromwich by three goals to two, whilst on Saturday week Derby County thrashed Everton by seven goals to three. Therefore, summing it up on paper, the Villa ought to have been some few goals in front of Everton; something like six better in fact. But what is the real state of affairs? Aston Villa visited Everton, and were beaten by four goals to two. Curious, isn’t it? It is interesting to note that the attendances at the matches were well maintained, the aggregate number of persons present on Saturday being estimated at about sixty-four thousand. Nearly a third of that number were present at Goodison Park, to witness the contest between Everton and Aston Villa, the fine performance of the latter club at Sunderland having not a little to do with the large attendance. The result of the match, whilst highly satisfactory to the Liverpool crowd, came as a great disappointment to the supporters of the Villa, who were led by the recent performances of the team to expect a more favourable issue. However, there can be no denying the fact that the Perry Barr players were fairly and squarely beaten, and that on the day’s play Everton were their superiors. Their forwards combined better than did those of the Villa, whose attacks were spasmodic, and came principally from one wing at a time. The difference in the method of attack was most marked, and the shooting of the Villa forwards compared most unfavourably with that of their opponents. The Everton shots came mostly from the centre forward and the two inside men, an example that the Villa would do well to follow, for there is no doubt that in this respect the forward play could be improved. John Devey was the best forward on the Villa side, but Woolley also played well. Athersmith was not nearly so brilliant as against Sunderland, a result due to the fine judgement of Howarth. The Everton forwards all played exceedingly well, and Elliott and McMillan, who took the place of Chadwick and Millward, made a splendid left wing. The Everton defence was very sound, but the Villa’s was not nearly so safe as on the previous Saturday, and neither Chatt nor Reynolds played as well. Whilst two of the goals scored by Everton were exceedingly lucky, there is no doubt that on the day’s play they deserved to win. The teams meet again on Saturday at Perry Barr, and it will be interesting to see how they will then perform. The Villa will no doubt strain every nerve to turn the tables on their opponents.