ASTON VILLA v. SUNDERLAND.

The meeting of Aston Villa and Sunderland at Perry Barr, Birmingham, proved a great attraction, the spectators numbering about 12,000, the encounter having additional interest from the fact that the previous Saturday Sunderland, on their own ground, had beaten the Villa.

Devey and Reynolds were again seen in the Villa team, and Wilkes kept goal for Whitehouse, while in the Sunderland ranks Campbell and Hamilton appeared in the places of Hannah and Harvey.

The Villa had the best of matters in the first half, but Doig was fine in goal for Sunderland, and never failed to do what was required of him.

Athersmith made some splendid centres, but the home forwards did not succeed in turning any of them to account, and at half-time neither side had scored.

Directly on re-starting the Villa forwards took the ball down, and Devey put in a shot that Doig stopped, but before he could clear Wheldon dashed up and rushed the ball through.

Following this success the Villa pressed strongly, but the visitors defended capitally, Doig in goal being particularly good. Sunderland played with great determination, and from a free kick Gillespie managed to equalise. The game was now more exciting than ever, and at length the Villa rushed another goal from a scrimmage. Right to the end the keen struggle continued, but there was no more scoring, and Aston Villa won. Result.— ASTON VILLA 2 goals. SUNDERLAND 1 goal.