ASTON VILLA v. EVERTON.

More miserable weather could not be imagined than that which prevailed in Birmingham, Saturday, rain falling in pitiless drizzle all the morning, it was still coming down heavily at the start of the match. Everton was looked upon as best gate drawing club that visits the Midlands, and the miserable atmospheric conditions had a marked effect upon the attendance. All things considered, the crowd of 14,000 must be pronounced as satisfactory.

The Villa placed their most powerful eleven on field, while the strangers again brought Barker, J. Bell, and Cameron into their team.

Losing the toss. the Villa faced the wind and rain in the first half, Wheldon at once attacking the Everton goal, which was saved mainly through some dashing work by Storrier.

Williams and Taylor broke away, and a combined attack by the Liverpool front one was terminated by the ball whizzing over tho cross-bar.

In an attack on the strangers’ citadel J. Sharp was accidentally kicked on the ankle by Storrier, and left the field.

With only ten men opposed them, Everton put on pressure, J. Bell missing an open goal, with nobody to beat.

Devey and Athersmith led the homesters to the other end, and the former beating Muir, Storrier rushed and punched the ball out with his fist. The referee gave a penalty, and from this Wheldon scored amid applause.

The Villa were now fairly on the go. and when Freddy Wheldon netted the second goal, the excitement was intense.

The play of the champions at this point was very fine, and their success was all the more remarkable, as only ten men were on the field when both points were registered.

J. Sharp shortly afterwards returned, amid a rousing cheer.

The game was very even until the interval, when the score stood — Aston Villa, two goals ; Everton, nil.

The visitors attacked on the restart. until Evans gave them the right about, and in a twinkling Barker cleared at the other end. Everton became dangerous, and weak play by Chatt all but let them through, Crabtree clearing when all seemed over.

Even play followed until fifteen minutes from the restart, when J. Sharp put the issue practically out of doubt scoring the Villa’s third goal with shot, which Muir made a plucky attempt to stop.

Everton played with great dash. Bell doing any amount of hard work, but they could not beat the home defence.

The Villa forwards pressed hard towards the finish, but nothing further was registered, the result being - Aston Villa, three goals; Everton, nil.