SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL MATCHES ASSOCIATION RULES. ENGLISH CUP TIES. ASTON VILLA V WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS Never in the history of local football has any match excited so much interest as has the one between these famous Midland clubs. Never before have two clubs been better matched, and never before have so many games had to be placed ere and issue could be come to. It scarcely needs recording, for every true lover of sport knows, that on three occasions have these clubs met in the third round of the National Cup without either being able to assert its superiority. The nearest approach to this “record” was in 1882, when, after two drawn games, the Aston Villa defeated Notts County, at Perry Barr, in an English Cup tie. Enthusiasm then ran very high, but was nothing as compared with that shown in the present match. During the past week amongst footballers the match has been the one topic of conversation; and the Villa committee, anticipating a great “gate” made every preparation. An extra stand was erected at the top end of the field. whilst additional entrances were also made. And they were wanted, too, for old footballers declare that the assembly at Perry Barr was the greatest ever seen at the Wellington Road ground. Long before the time announced for the commencement the crowd began to pour into the ground, and at a quarter to three about 12,000 persons were presents and others were still coming. The scene from the press wagon, which by then was was not exclusively confined to member of the press, almost defies description. A solid wall of people twelve and fourteen deep lined the ground. The grand stands were full of people, whilst down one side of the field were ranged breaks and ‘buses covered with spectators. Some adventurous ones had climbed some neighbouring trees where they sat perched throughout the game, whilst others had scaled tramway sheds. Punctually both teams put in an appearance upon the field, which was in excellent condition and were well received by their respective supporters. But a start was not made until twenty minutes after the time fixed, through the non-arrival of the referee, Mr MacIntyre, of Manchester who was delayed through the late arrival of his train. The excitement of those present could not brook such a delay, and in a few minutes angry cries of “play” were being heard from all sides of the field, when an incident occurred which again put the crowd into the best of humours. The tram people, not liking the use to which their sheds had been put, suddenly turned a jet of water upon the men on the shed, who, before they could escape were well drenched. At length shouts of “Here he comes” announced the arrival of the referee; and that individual shortly afterwards stepped on the field, and the game was quickly commenced, and after a tough fight ended in a win for the Villa, who will now have to play Horncastle in the first round of the second series, having drawn a bye in the fourth round. This is the first time the Villa have ever passed the fourth round, which has several times been the rock on which the Villa have been wrecked. The draw for the sixth round, of the second round of the second series, takes place tonight, and football will doubtless await the result with much interest. Victory over the Horncastle is regarded as almost certain, and if the Villa are only favoured with a little good luck there is no reason why they should not play into the semi-final, or even final of the National Cup. Archie Hunter, having won the toss, decided to play down hill with the breeze at this back. The men speedily took up their positions, and, amid intense excitement, Brodie kicked off. H. Wood rushed away, but Yates checked his run, and placed the ball well down the field to Albert Brown, who made a shot for the Wanderers’ goal. The ball was stopped by Brodie, who at once dashed away in the direction of his opponents goal. He kept the ball a little too long, however, and Coulton took it from him and sent it spinning down the field, where Archie Hunter pounced upon it, and shot it over the bar. After the goal kick the ball was again returned into the Wanderers’ quarter, and a corner fell to the home team. The kick was taken, but was of no avail. At this moment Brodie retired hurt. A pretty bit of passing between Vaughton and Hodgetts enabled the latter to centre accurately, and Albert Brown sent in a good shot, which Griffiths punched out. Dawson, however, got the ball, and steadying himself, put in a swift shot, and tremendous cheering announced that the Wanderers’ goal had fallen. After the kick-off the two Woods tried to break away, but Yates, who was playing a fine half-back game, proved too good for them, and placed the ball nicely in front of the visitors’ goal, where Howard Vaughton had a try to score, but sent the ball wide of its mark. A centre by Hodgetts gave Brown an opportunity, and he headed the ball well into the goal, but Griffiths saved splendidly. Knight essayed a run and managed to pass Simmonds, but he kicked wildly, and Coulton lifted the leather to the Villa forwards. A splendid bit of combination took place, and Davis tried to lower the visitors’ colour again, but Mason met the ball and kicked it out of danger. The Wanderers’ left then made a raid into the Villa’s territory, but a foul was given against them, and from the kick the Villa again tired to score, but without success. Brodie, having been absent for about ten minutes, now returned to the delight of the visitors and their supporters. Led by Brodie, the Wanderers compelled the home team to fall back, and a miss kick by Simmonds almost let Brodie in, but Coulton took the ball from his feet just as he was about to shoot. Lowder returned the ball, but Yates headed back, and the Villa vanguard swarmed round the visitors’ goal, which looked as if it would be captured, but Hodgetts kicked the ball outside amidst a prolonged “Oh”. From the goal kick the Wanderers tried to break away, but one of their forwards fouled the ball. The kick was taken by Burton, and Vaughton put in a beautiful shot, but Griffiths met the ball with his first - only for it to be returned by Davis. Again Griffiths punched it out, and again was it returned, the excitement being intense; but Griffiths cleared his goal splendidly, and the spectators’ excitement found vent in loud cheers. A moment afterwards Hodgetts had the ball passed to him by Hunter, and had the visitors’ goal at his mercy; but he lost his head, and sent the leather high over the cross-bar. The Wanderers’ forwards relieved the pressure, and appeared very dangerous, but, to the great disgust of his fellows, Knight shot high over the bar. Another fine combined run by the Villa forwards followed, and the Villa captain put in a fine shot, which struck the cross bar and went over. Despite all the visitors’ efforts they could not keep the Villa forwards out of their goal mouth, and at length Hunter with a swift low shot sent the ball past Griffiths for the second time, the most unbounded enthusiasm prevailing. Again and again did the Villa make assaults on the Wanderers’ goal, but they were successfully repulsed, and half-time found the score unchanged. On recommencing, the Villa again assumed the aggressive, and a corner speedily fell to them, but nothing came of it. The Wanderers now began to play up much better than in the first portion of the game, whilst the Villa forwards for a time tired down. A run by Brodie caused the Villa partisans some apprehension, but Simmonds took the ball from the famous centre forward. A few seconds later, however, Brodie again got near the Villa goal, sending in a fine shot which Warner knocked out. Attack followed attack in quick succession, and Warner, Simmonds, and Coulton had all they could do to keep their goal from being carried, the Villa at this point having decidedly the worst of the game. A corner was given to the Wanderers, and the kick was splendidly taken striking one of the goal posts and rebounding into play. Yates, however, relieved the pressure with a timely kick, and the Villa right wing carried the ball into the Wanderers’ half. But Mason stopped the Villa’s run, and the Wanderers again rushed for the Villa citadel, Knight shooting the wrong side of the posts. The excitement was intense when a few seconds later the whole of the Wanderers’ forwards were scrambling in front of the Villa goal trying to force the ball through; but Warner saved his charge very cleverly, and the ball was carried to the other end of the field, the Wanderers’ goal being imperilled, but kept safe. The next noticeable feature was a single combat for the ball between Simmonds and Brodie, and after a protracted struggle the agile back of the Villa was successful, and kicked the ball to Vaughton. He and Hodgetts took the ball well up the wing but lost it. The Wanderers’ forwards now tired down, whilst the home forwards, who seemed to have fully recovered from their fatigue, played up with renewed vigour. A run by Albert Brown and Rich. Davis placed the Wanderers’ goal in jeopardy; but when Brown was about to shoot Mason fell across the ball. As he touched it with his hands a foul was given, and Dawson kicked the ball straight for goal, Griffiths allowing it to pass through his legs. Try as hard as they could the Villa could not add to their score, and when the whistle blew the game ended in a win for them by 2 goals to nil. Immediately on the conclusion of the game the spectators surround the Villa and cheered them lustily. Some considerable time elapsed before the crowd could get out the ground, but this was accomplished without any disturbances taking place, and the services of the large force of policemen who had been provided in case of a row were happily not required. The following were the teams :- Villa; Warner (goal); Coulton and Simmonds (backs); Yates, Dawson and Burton (half-backs); Brown and Davies (right); Archie Hunter (centre), Hodgetts and Vaughton (left) forwards. Wanderers; Griffiths (goal); Baugh and Mason (backs); Pearson, Allen and Lowder (half-backs); Hunter and Knight (right); Brodie (centre), H Wood and A Wood (left) forwards. Umpires: Messrs. Dallard and Macgregor Referee: Mr MacIntyre