YESTERDAY’S FOOTBALL MATCHES. THE LEAGUE-DIVISION I. SHEFFIELD UNITED v ASTON VILLA. The Meeting of the United and Aston Villa had long been looked forward to in Sheffield, and the victory, scored yesterday over the Birmingham team has roused the supporters of the Bramall Lane club to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. Some 7,000 spectators assembled yesterday to witness the encounter, and though the day was somewhat cloudy a better game has seldom been witnessed in Sheffield. Both clubs put on their beet available teams as follows :- United : Howlett, goal; W. Hill and Cain, backs; Howell, Hendry, and Needham, half-backs; Drummond, Hammond. R. Hill, Fleming, and Gallocher, forwards. Villa:. Dunning, goal ; Baird and Welford, backs ; Reynolds. Cowan, and Chatt, half-backs; W. Devey, J. Devey, Groves, Hodgetts, and Woolley. forwards. Mr. Fitzroy Norris officiated as referee. The game opened in brilliant fashion, the United spurting off, and at once taking a decided lead. Twice In the first couple of minutes Dunning handled shots from the right and left, and a minute later R Hill cleverly beat Welford and appeared to have the goal at his mercy. Again, however, the visiting custodian saved grandly, and cleared almost on his knees. For the first ten minutes the home team had matters all their own way, but, though they simply swarmed round Dunning, their most strenuous efforts were unavailing. A cooler and more judicious exhibition of goalkeeping has seldom been witnessed on the United ground. Now and again the Villa broke away, and once Howlett had to fist out, but the splendid tackling of the home halves completely broke up the attack, and soon transferred the play into the visitors’ lines. Shot after shot rained into Dunning, but he was not to be beaten, and after a remarkably clever save, was heartily cheered by the crowd. Half an hour passed and still no score, but five minutes later a corner-kick was splendidly placed. Dunning literally scooped the ball out of the corner of the net. A second and a third time was it returned, and the fourth proved too much for the custodian, the leather funding from the cross-bar and shooting between the posts. The goal was thoroughly well deserved. Immediately on the resumption the visitors made a determined effort to equalise, the forwards breaking through the defence and being pulled up only a few yard from goal. Their effort, however, was not sustained, and soon the United were again attacking. Half time arrived without any change, the score standing - United 1, Villa 0. On resuming the United went off with a rush, and Gallacher forced a fruitless corner. The Villa pluckily responded, and by sheer weight forced the play down on Howlett’s charge. For a time the ball hovered around the goal mouth, but play was at length transferred, and corner followed corner until, twelve minutes from the restart, the efforts of the United were rewarded with a second goal, this time from the foot of Hammond. A few minutes later the Villa secured their first corner, and caused Howlett to handle for the, second time in the game. Play did not long remain in home quarters, for the United forwards ware soon again at work, and Fleming scored with a long low shot, which completely baffled Dunning. At brief intervals the Villa suited their opponents’ goal, but their efforts were very weak, and seldom threatened danger. As time approached the home team slackened their efforts, and a bit of fancy play all but resulted In the downfall of Howlett’s charge. They soon, however, recovered, and when the whistle went were again attacking the Villa goal, the result being United 3, Aston Villa 0.