ASTON VILLA v. BURNLEY.

There was a crowd numbering some 8,000 people to witness the game between Aston Villa and Burnley, at Perry Barr, Birmingham.

The visitors brought their best team, but the Villa lacked the services of Woolley. Playing with the wind behind them, the Villa had all the best of matters in the opening half, and before 25 minutes elapsed Hare and Devey each scored for the home side.

However, in the latter portion of the half the Burnley men, though still severely pressed, defended stubbornly, and though the Villa had several free kicks awarded them near the Burnley goal they failed to obtain any farther point before the interval, the sides crossing over with the score at 2 goals to 0 in favour of Aston Villa.

For some little time after the game had been restarted Burnley pressed, but could not make any impression on the Villa defence. Towards the close the Villa asserted a decided supremacy, and Athersmith kicked a third goal from a centre by Smith, while subsequently a smart pass by the latter player enabled Devey to add a fourth point, the game ending : — Aston Villa 4 goals. Burnley 0 goals.
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*The Birmingham Daily Post*
Monday 30 October 1893

NOTES ON SPORT.

The game at Perry Barr was not a great one, but it was full of exciting incidents, and would have been most enjoyable but for the shady tricks to which one or two of the Burnley players occasionally stooped in the second half. Nor must the Villa, or at least some of the team, be held entirely guiltless in this respect, but it can be urged in their excuse that they were not the first to offend. The referee, Mr. Strawson, was fortunately very firm, and pulled the players up whenever they forgot themselves. The wind was of course responsible for the lack of that pretty passing so noticeable in, Monday’s match against Sunderland, for it sadly hampered the players, whether facing it or playing with it in their favour. It blew what nautical men would describe as half a gale all through the game, and when at half-time the Villa, who had Had its assistance, had scored but a couple of goals, a feeling of considerable uneasiness prevailed.

It was felt that the lead was not sufficiently commanding to ensure victory, and everyone quite expected to see Burnley rush a goal or two. They commenced in a most business-like manner, but they found the defence impregnable, the three half-backs, the two backs, and Dunning in goal working grandly. Nor did the forwards stand idly by. They went to their comrades’ assistance, and Hare in particular is deserving of much praise for his untiring effort at a most critical period of the match. Burnley failed to get through, and then the Villa for more than twenty minutes played in fine style, and despite the strong wind which was blowing against them, they had the greater share of the attack. Smith, playing in place of Woolley, who was suffering from a severe cold, did yeoman service, and two fine centres, of the type that Geddes of the Albion delights in, resulted in Athersmith and John Devey each scoring, and the result was placed beyond doubt.

That the better team won no one can deny. The first half was a continual attack on the Burnley goal, whilst the Villa more than held their own against the wind. All the forwards were in capital form, and Smith made a most promising debut in a First League match. He is plucky, cool, unselfish, and centres with remarkable accuracy, being a most worthy substitute for Woolley. Indeed on Saturday’s form he is a rival to, that clever little player, and the Villa committee are most fortunate in possessing two such wing players, who have the additional merit of being local men. Hodgetts again treated the spectators to some fine football; whilst John Devey was a splendid centre forward, and never once showed the tendency to go back with the ball, a fault that has stamped many of his previous exhibitions, Hare and Athersmith were a fine wing, and no man on the field worked harder and did his side more real service than Hare. The half-backs were a grand trio, whilst Welford and Baird were a pair of thoroughly reliable backs, and Dunning in goal saved several shots in a most wonderful fashion.

Burnley suffered by comparison with their opponents, but Hillman deserves praise for his clever goal-keeping; whilst Crabtree and McLintock defended splendidly. The half-backs worked hard, but were not brilliant; whilst the forwards were not a great string, and trusted rather to rushing than to combination.