Aston Villa v. Bolton Wanderers.

At Perry Barr, in glorious weather, and before some 8,000 spectators.

The enforced absence of Devey, Hodgetts, and Reynolds—the Association refusing to released them from playing in Saturday's International match—greatly weakened the home team, Bolton, the other hand, being strongly represented.

The Villa lost the toss, and kicked off up the meadow.

Some pressing by the Villa was repulsed, and then Bolton got up and shot, Cowan, in trying bead, turning the leather through his own goal.

Not to be beaten, the Villa pressed heavily, and the forwards getting well up, Chatt, by a pretty shot, equalised the score amid enthusiastic cheers.

Interval: Villa, one goal; Bolton Wanderers, one.

On resuming, Chatt scored a second goal for the Villa, Bolton being pressed severely for long time.

The home side, however, could not pet through, and presently the Wanderers earned a corner, but failed to take advantage of it.

A misunderstanding between Cassidy and Dickinson lost chance, but directly afterwards the last-named took a nice pass from centre, and equalised. Then Cassidy gave the Wanderers the lead, and amid great excitement they won. Final Score : Bolton Wanderers 3 Aston Villa 2
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*The Birmingham Daily Post*
Monday 05 March 1894
NOTES ON SPORT.

As was generally foreseen, the protest laid by the Aston Villa against Sheffield Wednesday proved futile, and for this season at least all hopes of gaining the English Cup are gone.

Although there can be no doubt that the Villa were most unlucky in losing at Sheffield, and that a goal, which it is claimed was not a legitimate point, was given against them, there was no hope from the first of obtaining a favourable decision from the Football Association.

To ensure the good conduct of it’s matches and the continued prosperity of the game, there must be a referee, and though the best man who can be chosen is only fallible, it is on the whole preferable that his decisions shall be final.

At the same time we think that in a great cup tie, where so much is at stake, and where the other two officials are as neutral as he is, he might on receiving a strong appeal by the players, with advantage consult his fellow officials if any doubt exists in his mind.

Mr. Hughes did not see the foul at Sheffield - it is said that the linesmen did, and a word with them would have prevented what the Aston Villa felt to be a great injustice.

In the Cup tie on Saturday between the two Nottingham clubs this course was pursued by the referee, and it is very probable that in future the example will be followed. The suggestion that in important cup ties there should he an official stationed on each goal line certainly seems worthy of some consideration. Many a goal has been scored when the ball has previously been out, and scores of goals have been given where the player, whose back has been towards the referee at the time, has knocked the ball down with his hand before shooting it through goal.

A linesman stationed between corner flag and corner flag on the goal line would be able to detect these infringements of the rules, and could render valuable assistance to the referee.

Now that the English Cop competition has practically lost its interest in the district, attention has again been turned to the League Cup, the winning of which is the highest honour that an Association football club can gain.

There is little to wonder at, therefore, that much dissatisfaction was felt in Birmingham when it became known than the [England international] council had given the three Villa players - Devey, Hodgetts and Reynolds - the option of going to Ireland on Saturday or being punished.

Although much against their inclination, to Ireland they had to go, and the Aston Villa were forced to meet the Bolton Wanderers minus their services; whilst Dunning and Woolley were also unfit to take part in the contest.

The Villa supporters consequently viewed the match with some amount of dread, and their gloomy forebodings were realised, for the team suffered defeat - although they ought to have won on the play - by three goals to two.

Considering the disadvantages under which they laboured, and the way in which the team had to be rearranged to fill up the gaps caused by the absence of their three internationals, the Villa made a grand fight against Bolton at Perry Barr on Saturday, and on the day’s play certainly deserved success.

Against the wind they more than held their own with “”the Trotters”” and with the wind in their favour practically monopolised the play. But they failed to take advantage of all their chances, and only scored twice, whilst their visitors, who had few real opportunities, made the most of them, and, scoring three times, won a creditable though lucky victory.

On the day’s play Villa were superior to their opponents.

Groves and Smith made a very effective wing, and the ex Celt treated the eight thousand spectators to a finished exhibition of dribbling and passing.

In the centre W. Devey was very unequal, playing at times in a manner which raised the hopes that he was going to regain his form of some seasons back, when he fairly laid claim to being one of the finest centre forwards in the district. At other times, however, he was very wild, and spoilt a lot of good work by his bad habit of doubling back with the ball.

Chatt was in grand form, passing with excellent judgement and shooting with deadly precision, one shot, which unfortunately struck the crossbar, being one of the finest efforts from a long range that we have ever seen.

Athersmith’s display was rather disappointing, and, whilst the half-backs kicked and tackled splendidly, towards the end of the game they wandered too far down the field, thus affording the visitors the opportunity of making sudden and dangerous rushes, two of which gained them goals.

Baird was a magnificent back, whilst Frank Coulton did not play at all badly in goal, and kicked away some really dangerous shots.

The Bolton forwards are not a very polished set, but, once they get away, are extremely dangerous, and their shooting is very deadly. The second goal, scored by Dickenson, was the result of a brilliant shot. The half-backs are resolute tacklers, but the real strength of the Wanderers is their defence, which is irreproachable. On Saturday both Jones and Somerville worked grandly whilst Sutcliffe in goal was as safe as custodian could possibly be.