STOKE v. ASTON VILLA.

The first match of the season between these teams took place on the Victoria Ground, Stoke, on Saturday, and in consequence the recent performances of the elevens a lot of interest was attached and 10,000 spectators assembled.

The teams were not by any means, representative, but Stoke suffered most in this direction. The home side at once took the lead in the matter of play, but they could not circumvent the tactics of the Villa halves, while Spencer, Wilford, and Wilkes were all there when the Potters did get into closer quarters.

The home forwards lacked the sting which they generally show, and Dickson and the ex-Guardsman Hyslop, usually both such dead shots, missed chances of scoring.

At the other end the Villa vanguard were led on by the ex-Celt Campbell, and Clare, Eccles, and Clawley gave a grand exposition.

The game was fast approaching the Interval when Campbell determined to take the law into his own hand, on account of misses made by his comrades, rushed right through and wound up with one of the best goals seen on the Stoke ground for some time.

This encouraged the Villans, and they swarmed round the home citadel, and the result of a long scrummage was a second goal for the Villa, who thus led at the interval two goals to none.

In the second half the game was remarkably well contested. The Potters had the advantages with them, but they were some time before they could get at the Villa’s defence. Schofield time after time made rattling runs and shots, and Hyslop time after time called upon Wilkes, but for a long time he heId out.

At length the crowd were cheered with a goal, and the remainder of the match was fought out with determination. Clawley had a hard time on several occasions, but was equal to them, and the game ended without further scoring. Result: Villa, two; Stoke, one.