ASTON VILLA V. STOKE.

The return League match between these teams was played at Perry Barr, before at crowd of about twelve thousand spectators. Both elevens were thoroughly representative, but the visitors proved no match for Aston Villa, who ran out easy winners by 6 goals to 0.

For the first twenty minutes the game was evenly contested, the Villa goal being quite as hotly attacked as was that of the Stoke team. Then, however, the Villa players began to show their superiority, and a well-judged pass to Athersmith enabled that player to run right up to the goal. His shot struck an opposing player and went outside, but the corner kick was not improved upon.

The Villa, however, again put on the pressure, and Athersmith receiving the ball from Smith, sent in a successful shot.

The Villa once more attacked, and Hodgetts directed in a grand shot, which Clawley saved very, smartly.

Stoke after-wards made a hot assault upon the Villa goal, but were ultimately driven out unsuccessful, and just before the interval the Villa were awarded a penalty kick, from which Reynolds put on the second point.

This was the state of the game at half-time.

In the second half the Perry Barr men had matters all their own way, outplaying their opponents at every point. The forwards and half-backs shot grandly, bu Clawley gave a brilliant exposition of custodianship, and it was fully a quarter of - an hour after the interval before the Villa scored again.

Spencer, the back, who played soundly, placed the ball nicely in front of goal, and Chatt headed through.

Still keeping up the pressure, the Villa soon got a fourth point, Chatt again scoring ; and subsequently Athersmith burst through the opposing defence and scored a couple of goals unaided.

As we said before, the superiority of the Villa was most marked. Their forwards combined beautifully, and shot well, and, but for the exceptionally fine goal-keeping of Clawley, the score would undoubtedly have been much heavier than it was.

Hodgetts and Smith were a fine left wing, Devey was a capital centre, playing with great dash, and feeding his wings judiciously and well ; whilst Chatt and Athersmith performed well on the right. The latter, indeed, was the most brilliant forward on the field, making many runs, and centring with deadly accuracy.