YESTERDAY’S FOOTBALL.
THE LEAGUE. - DIVISION I.

ASTON VILLA V. SHEFFIELD UNITED

The meeting of Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Perry Barr created an unusual amount of interest, inasmuch as they held first and second positions respectively in the League table.

A victory for Sheffield would have give them a splendid lead, but just at present the Perry Barr players are in magnificent form, as the visitors found to their cost, for they were beaten by 4 goals to 0, after having distinctly the worse of the game.

In fact, to use a sporting phrase, they were never in it, and the Villa wiped out the disgrace of their defeat at Sheffield.

Needless to say, the spectators, who must have been quite 10,000 strong, were delighted, and frequently cheered their favourites.

The Villa were represented by the same eleven that defeated Burnley on Saturday, whilst the United brought a strong team. They were fortunate in winning the toss, for they were enabled to place their opponent facing the sun, which was shining brilliantly.

Despite this disadvantage, the Villa players were manifestly cleverer than their visitors, and outplayed them at all points.

There was no comparison, indeed, between the elevens, and it is difficult to understand judging from their form of yesterday, how the United have won the second position in the League.

It must be admitted, however, that they were unlucky in finding the Villa in such trim, and doubtless no team in the League could beat the Villa at Perry Barr at the present moment.

Still, the United played in a most disappointing manner, and in the second half particularly were lamentably weak in front of goal.

Play during the first ten minutes was fairly even, Howlett and Dunning, at either end, being called upon to stop some well-aimed shots, but the Villa gradually assumed the upper hand, and Smith and Hodgetts were cheered for some clever and tricky passing.

A perfect understanding existed between them, and the smaller man being given the opportunity centred across the front of the Sheffield goal. The ball beat the backs and Hare dashed in and scored with a shot which cannoned off the underside of the cross-bar into the net.

The United, who are a plucky and determined set of players, made a beautiful attack from the centre-kick, and Drummond tried hard to equalise, but unfortunately for the United the ball struck the cross-bar, and re-bounded into play.

The other goal was then attacked, and Hare shot through again from a free-kick, but was palpably off-side when he did so.

Following upon this the United forwards made a dashing attack, and Dunning tipped a shot from Hill over the bar, thus giving the first corner-kick to the visitors. Nothing resulted, and once more the Sheffield goal was subjected to a hot assault, which it failed to withstand, being captured by a shot from Reynolds.

The Villa, who were playing much better football than their opponents, were not long before they scored a third goal, which was the result of excellent combination.

Hodgetts first obtained the ball, and when in difficulties he passed to John Devey. He made some ground, and then touched it to Athersmith, who re-passed it to the centre. Devey failing to see an opening kicked the ball to Hare, who promptly shot it into the net. This was the last goal scored during the half, but the United made a couple of pretty attacks, and Needham tried a long shot, which struck the side of the net.

During the second half the Villa were much the better team and had a greater share of the attack than they did in the first, but the shooting was not nearly so good, and consequently only one goal was scored.

At the commencement Smith, who is a really fine wing player gave, Howlett a very difficult shot, which the goal-keeper a only saved by giving a corner. This was well placed, but the visitors’ backs got the ball away successfully. It was brought back, however, and Athersmith hit the cross bar.

The Villa were not to be denied, and Smith screwed the ball into goal from the corner flag. Howlett punched the ball, which twisted and dropped only a few yards from the goal mouth, and a rush by Hare landed it into the net amidst loud applause.

This early success seemed to point to a greatly increased score, but, although the Villa made many fine attacks, they did not get through again.

Athersmith had many shots, but the majority of them were aimed badly. In this respect the speedy right-winger was a flagrant offender, for his partner Hare, who was playing a really great game, gave him chances innumerable.

Towards the finish the United made several determined attempts to score; but Dunning was in good form, and preserved his goal inviolate. The Villa thus won by 4 goals to 0.

The winners played splendidly all round, Welford and Baird tackling and kicking with great judgement, whilst the half-backs again treated the spectators to some beautiful play, Groves in particular doing some very clever things, whilst all the forwards were good.

Hare and Smith deserve special mention, and there is no more improved player in the team than the first-named. Always plucky and fast, he has now acquired the knack of keeping cool, and yesterday he passed the ball with great judgement.

Smith, it should be mentioned, owes a great deal to Hodgetts, who plays most unselfishly to his little partner and gives him no end of chances to distinguish himself. The beet men in the Sheffield team were the two backs, Cain and Lilley, who played a grand defensive game, and Needham, who was rarely at fault. The United, however,. were manifestly outclassed by the Villa.