3-1

NOTES ON SPORT.

The Aston Villa concluded their League fixtures on Saturday with a capital victory over Notts Forest.

Although nothing depended upon the result - the Villa’s position at the top being unassailable - there was a very fair attendance at Perry Barr, and the success of the League champions was enthusiastically received.

The third goal, which gave them the splendid average of two to one for the whole of their matches, was anxiously awaited, and when at last it was scored by John Devey a great cheer went up from the crowd.

There can be no denying that the Villa’s record in the League is an excellent one. Of the thirty matches played, nineteen have been won, six drawn and only five have been lost, whilst eighty four goals have been scored as against forty two.

The Forest made a very plucky flight against the Villa at Perry Barr on Saturday.

At half time they led by a goal to nothing, but it must not be imagined that they were the better team prior to the interval, for they were oftener pressed than pressing.

Their defence, however, had been very sound, whilst the Villa forwards, although playing much below their usual form, had very bad luck on several occasions.

In the second half an improvement was noticeable in the forward play, and the champions were rewarded with three goals, Athersmith scoring the first, Chatt the second and Devey the third.

No one can deny that the better team won, but still, taken as a whole, the Villa were not seen at their best.

Of the forwards Chatt, although he worked very hard, was not so serviceable as he usually is, whilst J. Devey was not himself until the last ten minutes of the match. Prior to that time he was indeed rather weak in the centre and committed several mistakes.

Hodgetts, too, did not do himself justice, but Smith and Athersmith played capitally on the extreme position of either wing. The former was the best forward on the field. He always made ground with the ball, dodged well, and generally placed his genres with precision, He also worked untiringly, and the spectators frequently showed by cheers their appreciation of his clever play.

Athersmith, especially in the second half, made many dashing runs, and rarely missed centring into goal.

The half backs were all good, but Reynolds kicked rather wildly at times. Of the three men in that position, Cowan was perhaps the best, and he has rarely given a finer exhibition than he did in the second half.

Baird and Elliott were a splendid pair of backs whilst Dunning was a reliable goalkeeper, and could not be blamed for the point scored against him.