ASTON VILLA v. NOTTS FOREST
VILLA HEAD THE LEAGUE.

The League champions had a visit from the Notts Forest on Saturday, at Perry Barr. The weather was decidedly wintry, the ground being very hard, and only a moderate crowd of spectators assembled. A slight breeze favoured the Villa in the first half, and the Forest started the game. The homesters were the first aggressors and were awarded a foul after a few seconds play. The ball was well placed, and Athersmith had an opportunity of getting away, but missed his stride. Smith got possession and looked like getting right into the home quarters, but he was smartly tackled, and then Forman made a wide shot at the home goal.

The homesters now made the running, and were going very strongly. Crabtree eventually shooting over the bar. Villa were quickly to the front again, but were rather random in their final attempts. After some smart attacks, however, Reynolds sent in a stinger which the Notts custodian had no earthly chance of manipulating, and thus the Villa drew first blood.

This early success of the homesters placed the Forest on their mettle and they went to work in a most determined manner, forcing the games into the home lines. A scramble took place right in front of goal and Capes netted the ball and equalised within two minutes.

From the re-start the spectators witnessed a superb display by the Villa forwards.

Crabtree and Devey getting in some clever shots but the Forest custodian kept his posts clear until a foul was awarded the homesters in a good position, and Evans placed thy ball so well that Devey was enabled to head through and again give the Villa the lead when the game was only fifteen minutes old.

From this point until the interval the game was wonderfully well-contested, each team being conspicuous in turn for some particular item of brilliant play. The visitors were going very strong within a few minutes of half time, but were unable to equalise the score, which at the interval read—Villa, two: Forest, one.

Upon resuming play the Forest made things hum a bit in the home quarters for a time, but the Villa were not content to go long on the defence, and Smith getting away in good style looked dangerous, but nothing happened. Athersmith was next conspicuous with a clever dribble, and, after being beaten beaten, he returned, and dodged through and netted the ball with a side shot.

Forest shortly got away, and forced a corner, which was so well taken that it rolled into the net without touching anyone, and, of course, the point was not allowed.

After some smart attacks by the homesters, the Forest forwards get away with a rush, and obtained comer, from which Frank Forman scored a second goal for the visitors. Whitehouse making no attempt to save being under the impression that Forest had fouled, but the point was allowed, and the game ended—Aston Villa, three; Notts Forest, two.