NORTH END V. ASTON VILLA.
THE NORTH END CENTRE HAS A FIT.

The present leaders of the League paid a visit to Deepdale, Preston, on Saturday, to play off their return League game, and were fortunate in securing a second victory over the Prestonians, a feat which no other League team has succeeded in performing so far this season.

The frost had rendered the ground ice-bound, but it had been covered with sand and a foothold was easily obtainable.

Both sides ware well represented though the North End rearranged their front rank, playing Drummond on the left and Henderson on the right.

The Villans started the game up the hill and against the wind, and almost from the kick-off Dunn gave them accidental corner. Hodgetts placed this perfectly, and Devey, getting his head to the ball, placed it through the goal well out of Trainer’s reach.

North End now played up a lot better, and Dunning saved shots almost innumerable from the whole of the North End forwards, while at the other end Trainer was doing his best to keep his blood circulating.

Athersmith, in making a grand run. slipped and cut his head, but not seriously.

Half-time came to round with the Villa leading one goal to nil.

In the second moiety the home side was again attacking in the very first minute, and Dunning was exceedingly lucky to save thrice in rapid succession. Trainer had one from Hodgetts to deal with, and then Beeton, Henderson, Smith, and Drummond each put in shots which would have scored with any goalkeeper in an ordinary mood, but Dunning was playing a marvellous game.

In the closing stages of the match, when North End were almost continually pressing, the Villa kicked out repeatedly and Villa won by one goal to nil.

As the teams went into the dressing-tent, Smith, the North End centre, who had played a desperately hard game, fell over in a fit, which lasted for half an hour.

He came round, and was little, if any, the worse for his struggle.