NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FOREST V. ASTON VILLA.
DEFEAT OF THE REDS.

There was an enormous attendance on the Town Ground Nottingham on Saturday afternoon to witness the meeting of these clubs. Goose Fair was being celebrated and holiday-makers flocked to the scene of the contest their thousands. Roughly speaking, there would be about 14,000 spectators present. Forest left out Shaw and played Higgins, whilst Horace Pike partnered M’Innes on the left wing.

The Villains had their full strength, and were seen, especially in the second half, to the best advantage, their combined passing and determined attacks in front goal being the theme of admiration.

The weather, fortunately. was beautifully fine, and there was little or no wind to interfere with the progress the game. Forest kicked off and had certainly the best of the opening exchanges. Collins forcing their first corner off Dunning on the right. From the kick off the Villa goal keeper was called upon to fist out, and in the course of the scrimmage which followed, Stewart shot over the bar.

About half-way through the visitors began to show the ascendancy, but although brilliant work was done by Reynolds and Cowan at half-back and Groves, Hodgetts, Woolley, and Devey, forwards, the whistle was sounded without either team having registered a point.

Six minutes succeeding the crossover, Devey, kicked a fine goal, and a quarter of an hour before ceasing a second was contributed by Groves from the centre.

M'lcnnes went in cent e for Forest, and once struck the right post violently, the ball from the rebound passing into the hands of the Villa goalkeeper, who forced it forward in a marvellous manner.

The visitors constantly attacked, but were unable to get through Allsop. Three minutes before time the local forwards broke through. and M’lnnes and M'Cullum succeeded in registering a goal. Previously M’lnnes. with Higgins, had beaten Dunning, but the point was ruled off-side. Finally the visitors left the field the winners by two goals to one.
---
*The Birmingham Daily Post*
Monday 09 October 1893

SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATION RULES.

THE LEAGUE - DIVISION I

NOTTS FOREST v. ASTON VILLA

Twelve thousand spectators witnessed this match on the Town Ground at Nottingham. The visitors played superior football throughout, but the home defence was splendid in the first half, and try as they would Aston could not score.

M’Innes once scored for the home team, but as he was palpably off-side the point was disallowed, and at the interval neither side had scored.

On resuming, the visitors had a little more luck, and as the result of a grand exhibition of football they put on a couple of points. The Forest made desperate attempts to equalise, but they could only manage 1 goal, and retired defeated - by 2 goals to 1.
---
*The Birmingham Daily Post*
Monday 09 October 1893

NOTES ON SPORT.

The Villa were in fine form at Nottingham and thoroughly deserved their victory. They were the better team at all points, and the score of two goals to one scarcely represents the difference between the two elevens. Even the Nottingham spectators said that the better side had won, and many declared that the Villa on the play were three or four goals superior to their opponents.

Had the shooting been equal to the play In the field the Villa would have won handsomely.

At times the forward play reminded one forcibly of the North End at their best, whilst the half-backs worked magnificently and supported the front rank in a manner that left nothing to be desired. It is to be hoped that the improvement in this respect will be maintained. The backs were very safe, whilst Dunning did what he had to do admirably.

The Forest whilst scarcely so good as the Villa in front, were distinctly inferior in the half-back line, and in the second half this fault was most manifest. The three half-backs were always playing right on the backs. and consequently the rushes of their forwards were not supported and were easily stopped by the Villa defenders. The Forest half-backs were, in fact, stamped with the fault that has been too frequently seen in the Villa players occupying the same positions.

There was little to choose between the Villa forwards, for they all worked splendidly. Hare, who took Athersmith’s position on the extreme right, was very useful to his side.

Hodgetts played in quite his old form, whilst the same remark applies to John Devey. Groves was a brilliant centre, and Woolley played a dashing game on the wing. Reynolds, perhaps, was the most brilliant of the three half-backs, though it is questionable if he was of more real service to his side than Cowan, who played with his usual skill and determination. Gillan made a successful reappearance in the team, and is entitled to his position on Saturday’s play. Baird kicked and tackled faultlessly, while Welford was in great form.

The Forest backs Ritchie and Scott were nearly as safe as those of the Villa, and the latter was cheered time after time for his well-timed kicking. McInnes and Higgins were the pick of the Forest forwards, and they both worked desperately hard to retrieve the fortunes of their side.

The Villa victory is all the more pleasing in view of their two previous performances, and if the same form is maintained they should have no difficulty in taking two points out of Darwen on Saturday.