Darwen v. Aston Villa.

Played at Darwen, before 3,000 spectators. Groves kicked off for the Villa against the breeze, and Wade immediately forced corner. Darwen shaped badly, and the Villa got well into position, shots were made by Groves and Woolley. The Villa pressed, and Leach relieved, and Wade made a good shot, which was intercepted by Reynolds.

The Villa had one or two chances, but their forward play was by no means brilliant, and all round the game was uninteresting.

Dunning had a lively time, but managed to get clear, and then Jack Devey, with a clear field, sent a long, low shot, Kenyon having no chance.

The visitors continued to press, but nothing more was done to the interval, when the Villa, who had the best the play, and the lead by goal to nothing.

The Darwen men were seen to considerable advantage in the second part of the game, and only one nice piece of work was done the Villa, who were spoiled by Fish. Darwen were often on the attack. Dunning was very lucky in saving several shots, particularly one from M'Kennie, who tipped the ball in from the corner. A minutes before the finish Bob Smith equalised the score for the home side amid tremendous cheering. Both sides worked hard afterwards, but nothing of interest transpired. Final Score : Darwen 1 Aston Villa 1
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*The Birmingham Daily Post*
Monday 16 October 1893 *

NOTES ON SPORT.

Aston Villa can hardly have visited Barley Bank, Darwen, with light hearts, for it was there that their hopes of winning the English Cup last season were destroyed.

Darwen were not then in the League first division - a fact which made the defeat all the more bitter to Aston Villa, and the desire for revenge on Saturday all the more keen.

But the revenge was of a very qualified kind after all, being limited to a draw, and an equal distribution of honours.

The fact is that, though Darwen are at the bottom of the League table, they are not there justly so. They have been the victims of a strange run of ill luck, and may be relied upon yet to do themselves credit.

As to the game, not much can be said in its praise, but it may be admitted that the result fairly reflects the play.

On neither side was the combination of the class looked for in such a match. Doubtless this was largely attributable to the greasy condition of the turf.

In the first half the visitors had decidedly the advantage, and when the half-time whistle went with the score at 1-0 in their favour it looked, in sporting parlance, “odds on” their winning. But in the second portion of the game Darwen displayed a remarkable access of dash, Wade and Smith, on the left wing, being especially noticeable, and they fully deserved the draw they achieved.

Dunning played a fine game in goal, but for the rest there was nothing in the Villa play which stood out prominently. Since 1881 the teams have now met eleven times, the Villa having won six, lost two. and a drawn three games.