Aston Villa v. Newton Heath.

In pleasant weather this League game was played at Perry Barr, but after the great game of the previous week there was not a very large attendance. Winning the toss the Manchester men played down the slope, but the wind, which was very strong, favoured neither side, blowing clean across the ground. For time the game was well contested, although the Villa had somewhat the best of the game, Woolley and Athersmith making a series of fine runs, while Parker was often conspicuous for the visitors.

The Newton Heath goal had narrow escapes, Devey missing one excellent chance of scoring. At length, from a fine centre by Athersmith, Devey scored the first goal for the Villa, while Hodgetts cleverly headed a second from a corner by Athersmith. Devey scored a third.

Half-time score Aston Villa, three : Newton Heath, nil.

Commencing the second half the Villa, with the hill their favour, had a great deal the best the game, but the defence of Douglas and the backs was all that could desired, and try as they would the home forwards could not score.

The Newton Heath men, however, did not allow them to have all the game to themselves, and Donaldson and his companions did excellent work. From a well-placed free kick Mathieson scored a goal for Newton Heath, but directly after this Reynolds and Devey both put the ball past Douglas, thus bringing the Villa total up to five.

From this point to the finish the game was well fought out, the Newton Heath forwards playing with commendable pluck. Nothing more was done.

Final score : Aston Villa 5 Newton Heath 1
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*The Birmingham Daily Post*
Monday 05 February 1894
NOTES ON SPORT.

The visit of Newton Heath to Perry Barr on Saturday did not attract very much attention, for the result was looked upon as a foregone conclusion. And so it proved, the Villa always having the measure of their opponents, and winning comfortably by five goals to one.

In every respect they were the superior combination, and, had they exerted themselves, could probably have materially increased their score.

The players were unchanged from the previous week, Elliott being still kept as Baird’s partner - a position which he is justly entitled to hold on recent performances. On Saturday he again acquitted himself well, whilst his companion played as powerfully and cleverly as ever.

The three half-backs held a complete mastery over the visitors’ front rank, Groves, in particular, working with great effect.

The forwards were a splendid combination, Wooley and Hodgetts on the one wing, and Chatt and Athersmith on the other, playing at times with great skill, whilst the last-named centred with deadly precision.

Just now the Villa sprinter is in great form and should give the Sunderland half-backs no end of trouble on Saturday. His partner Chatt, is settling down into a really good forward. He is fast, fearless, and shoots well, and shows improvement from week to week in his passing. Like Hare, he is an excellent player around goal.

John Devey performed wonderfully well in the centre, whilst Dunning in goal did what little he had to do in a neat and effective manner.

lt should be mentioned that the visitors were not fully represented, Peden, their extreme left wing player, being the most notable absentee. With one or two exceptions, they compared very unfavourably with the home team. Douglas in goal proved himself a custodian of no mean ability, and Errentz was a really capable back. Stewart was the pick of the half-backs, and Donaldson and McNaught the best of a moderate string of forwards.