BLACKBURN ROVERS v. ASTON VILLA.

These teams played at Ewood Park, Blackburn, before a gate of 6,000 in fairly good weather and on a capital pitch.

The referee, Mr. Fox. of Sheffield. did not turn up. and the game was ten minutes late, Mr. Thomas, of Bly, a League referee, wielding the whistle.

The Vila started and early on ought to have scored, but Devey was weak.

Then Wilkes saved finely from Whitehead.

Mr. Fox then made his appearance amid cheers from the spectators.

Ogilvie had a busy five minutes at the instance of Devey, Chatt, and Hodgetts.

A sudden change enabled Chippendale to bang the ball in, and Stuart scored a rattling goal.

Ogilvie had again to hear the brunt of the battle, and when Brindon had given a corner Smith headed the ball into the net, and at half time the score was one all.

The Rovers threw away a couple of chances early on after the interval, and then Wilkes cleared in a hurricane of cheers, but soon after this Smith beat Ogilvie for the second time with a fine screw shot.

Thy Rovers rendered Wilkes’ post no sinecure for a quarter of an hour after this, but he and the Birmingham backs were playing safe game. Once or twice the Rovers all but scored, but it was quite evident that the pace was too hot for them. and they fell back.

The ball was cross and recrossed in front of Ogilvie, and at length Smith finished the matter again with third goal.

The Rovers essayed a rally, but could not manage it, and the game ended— Villa, three; Rovers, one.