ASTON VILLA V. BOLTON WANDERERS.

These teams met at Perry Barr on Saturday before a large number of spectators.

The weather was most gloomy, and rain commenced to fall before the game started. The ground was wet and slippery, whilst the game was far from a first-class exhibition.

The absentee from the Villa ranks was John Cowan, whilst the Wanderers played their full strength. During the first half the visitors had the advantage of the slope, and for a considerable time gave the home defence plenty to do, and narrowly missing scoring twice in quick succession.

Devey and Athersmith put some excellent runs on the right, and although the ball on many occasions was put right across the mouth of goal, the remaining forwards failed to get home.

Both Campbell and Smith badly missed scoring, but be it said Sutcliffe never seemed much inconvenienced when the ball was at hand.

Towards the close of the first half two corners were obtained by the homesters, but neither proved to be any substantial gain.

When the whistle sounded the interval no point had been registered by either side.

On the restart the Villa, with the slight sloop in their favour, went away with a rush. Sutcliffe left his goal, and one of the Villa men tried a long shot, but, fortunately for the Wanderers, the ball went wide of its mark.

Athersmith and Devey were undoubtedly the champion pair of the afternoon. Time after time they tan through the defence, but at the critical moment either failed, owing to the slippery ground, or through the able fashion in which the Bolton custodian repelled every attack.

After some very smart work, during which Somerville and Jones had plenty to do, the ball was passed back to Welford, who sent in a long shot which the backs missed, and Sutcliffe misjudged, whilst the ball rolled quietly into net, thus was obtained the first advantage by the Villa.

Most of the play was now in the visitors’ territory, but the defence was most stubborn. Campbell put in a remarkable shot from a difficult position, which shot into the net, Sutcliffe having no chance to save.

Although the game was well fought out by either side it was far from interesting owing to the straggling play. Very few passing runs were seen during the afternoon, individual effort being a marked characteristic of the game. Before the close of play, both goals were attacked, but no further goal was registered, and the came ended—Aston Villa, two goals; Bolton Wanderers, 0.