2-2

DERBY COUNTY v. ASTON VILLA.
A DRAWN GAME.

The Baseball Ground at Darby was once more the venue of excitement, the supposed two premier clubs of England being engaged in a game that a reckons deal just now in the League contest.

The home side was identical with the one that did duty for the Rams a week ago, but the Brums through various reasons decided to give a trial to two new men. Crabtree was indisposed, so that and Spencer Welford were partners in the back division, and Reynolds, the clever International, was drafted into the half-back position. The Brums, as was the case a week ago, had several specials from the hardware town, and at the start nearly 10,000 were present.

The first noticeable bit of play was a grand individual effort by Athersmith, who sent to Robinson, who had to be on alert in the first minute.

Shortly after this Kinsey was floored unceremoniously, and a foul was conceded Derby, but nothing came of the kick, whilst John Goodall was conspicuous by neat a piece of work, in which he beat Burton.

Fine play by Bloomer, in which he shot a terrific one, was just staved off by the intervention of one of the backs, whilst John Goodall just got in a scorcher, which Cowan cleared in the nick time.

Shots by McQueen Stevenson were capitally staved off by Wilkes, who at this juncture was performing marvellously. At length a fine attack by the whole van let in Miller, who sent past the Villa keeper twenty minutes from the start.

The game at this juncture was conspicuous for brilliant work by the Derby front rank. Goodall shot on the wrong side, and Bloomer scored a goal that was given off side. Despite this decision the County kept up the pressure, and Stevenson, after some lucky work by his colleagues’ front, fairly nonplussed Wilkes, and put on a second goal for his side.

The game had arrived at half a minute from cross-over, when the Villa scored. Exceptionally fine work by the defence on both sides came for well merited applause, but the Villa came towards the close, and were successful in gaining an equaliser.

Desperate play ensued to the whistle going, when a splendid match ended in a tie of two goals each.

The game was equal to the one a week ago in every respect, but the home men did not make as much of the chances as they ought, or the game must have been theirs easily. There was not a bad player on either side, and to sum play in few words, it was great game, and worthy of the teams competing.