ASTON VILLA v. SHEFFIELD UNITED.

A strangely unfamiliar team took to the field on Saturday to do service for the Aston Villa, no fewer than five players being absent from the ranks.

Campbell, Smith, Wilkes, Athersmith, and Reynolds all were unable to do service owing to illness.

The Blades were short of Wakon, who was suddenly taken ill, and no or else being available. George Waller, the old player, had to turnout.

The game was played in a perfect hurricane of wind, and rain fell at intervals, whilst the gate was the smallest that has been seen a League match for a long time.

The home team lost the toss and had to face the wind. The Villa goal was immediately attacked and the ball was sent into the net from a corner kick, but as no one had touched it no point was allowed.

Needham ended a good run shooting into the hands of Harris, and Draper rushed both into the net. The Villa custodian was badly hurt, but resumed later.

The visitors continued to press, and Waller scored a point for the Blades.

After this Devey put Chatt in goal, and Harris went off the field for a time, being apparent that was not in a fit condition to keep goal.

The Sheffielders held the master hand right up to the interval, but the homesters, playing a grand defensive game kept them at bay, and at the interval no further point had been obtained.

On restarting, the Villa began attacking in desperate fashion, and ere the game was a minute old Foulkes had saved twice.

The game now resolved itself into bombardment of the visitors’ goal. John Cowan scoring amidst a roar of excitement.

This spurred the Villa to greater efforts, but the wind upset all calculations, and the much desired goal was long in coming,

Chatt at length was successful, and put the scores on an equality.

The Villa now played like demons to put on the winning point, but every attack was frustrated, and the visitors tactics kept the homesters from scoring. An exciting game ended in draw—two goals each.