ASTON VILLA v. BLACKBURN ROVERS.

These old keen league and Cup tie rivals met on the ground of the latter club Blackburn, on Saturday, to play their first match of the season, and the result was a downright surprise for the Lancastrians. It should, however, be stated that the team had Ogilvie, Tierney, and Wilke away, a misfortune which necessitated the rearrangement of their whole team.

The Villa, on the other hand, had their best eleven out, and gave the spectators a treat in football.

There were some 6,000 spectators present, and when the Rovers had the wind their favour in the first half, Whitehouse and the backs, Spencer and Evans, had a fair share of the work for some time.

At length, after several glorious bits of brilliant passing the Villans got down by one of Athersmith’s speedy runs, and after Devey had once brought Joy to the ground with a shot, the Villa captain sent in again awkward angle, and the trick was done.

The Rovers had several chances of scoring, but they failed lo utilise them, and the interval sounded with the score—Villa, one; Rovers, nil.

The Rovers for the second portion tried a rearrangement of their menu Killean going half back and Houlker centre. But it did not work any better. Right from the start Wilmington got Whitehouse on his knees to save, and it only required a touch to score, but no one was up.

Then after Joy had got rid of several teasers he was again beaten. Campbell sent the ball straight at him, and bundled him through the goal with the ball in his hands.

This downfall was the signal for fresh disasters.

The third point came from a partial clearance by Joy, who did some good work, after which Athersmith scored.

Smith put on a fourth goal.

Then the Rovers scored their only goal from a free kick, and the Villa after this fairy ran round their opponents. They only managed to put on one goal, however, and finally won by five goals to one.