Everton v. Aston Villa.

This postponed League fixture was played at Everton. At one time fears were entertained that the match would again have to be postponed owing to the exceedingly wet weather, but the officials had laid themselves out to prepare the ground for the contest, and their efforts proved fairly successful.

Heavy showers of rain fell during the morning, and though the weather continued dull and hazy, the rain fortunately ceased shortly before the game began. Special trains were run from Birmingham and various football centres in Lancashire, but these were not well patronised they would have been under more favourable climatic conditions.

Nevertheless, about 600 or 700 spectators came by excursion trains from Birmingham, and they did not forget let their presence be known when their favourites made their appearance.

Quite 15,000 were present when the ball was get motion.

The game was a remarkably fast one. Everton especially playing splendid game. Milward, from a corner, scored in the first minute, and the same player added a second with a magnificent shot. Everton continued to play a splendid game, the Villa goal having numberless narrow shaves, and Milward scored another.

Half time score : Everton. three goals: Villa, nil.

Just as the game was resumed a very heavy shower rain made things unpleasant for players and spectators alike. Everton continued to force the play, and quite early Dunning was called upon to negotiate a shot from M'lnnes. The ground was now getting ploughed up and frequently the best laid schemes of both sides went to nought, less from the fault of the players than from the state the ground.

Still the game undoubtedly went strongly to favour Everton, the visitors shining far more in defence than attack.

At length a tricky bit of play Geary ended in his passing to Milward. The latter centred the ball, and though Chadwick missed it. Bell, with supreme effort, just managed reach it and sent it past Dunning for the fourth time.

Aroused by this reverse, the Villa forwards became more dangerous than they had been at any previous part of the game, and a kind bombardment was for some minutes maintained upon the Everton goal.

Williams covered himself with glory by a number magnificent saves, whilst Kelso and Parry repeatedly effected clearances but, try as they would, Everton could not get the ball away for long and eventually the persistent efforts of the Villa were rewarded with a well-deserved goal, Dorrell doing the trick.

The passing of the Villa forwards at this period was superb, and their supporters did not forget to cheer them. Several times the Everton goal was in imminent jeopardy, but the defenders stuck to their work gamely, and at length the visitors were repulsed.

Only for a moment, however, for Smith, getting a pass within shooting range, sent a grand shot which beat Williams, and thus further reduced the margin in Everton’s favour.

Then Everton dashed off, and just as M’Innes had narrowly escaped scoring the whistle blew, Everton having won a brilliant game.