NEWCASTLE UNITED V. ASTON VILLA,
ANOTHER DRAW BY NEWCASTLE.

Newcastle United, on Saturday, at St. James’s Park Ground, played their third draw in the League, their game with Aston Villa finishing a goal each. United played a strong bustling game, and showed greatly improved combination all round than in former games. In general play the Villa were much the smarter, but rather weak at close quarters, several good chances being by missed wild shooting and miskicking.

The weather was beautifully fine, and there would fully 25,000 spectators. United started the game up hill, and the Villa immediately attacked, Wheldon sending in a good but unsuccessful shot, and then at the other end Higgins shot past.

Following a sharp attack by the visitors, Peddie got away finely, and, passing right across to the other wing, Rogers scored for United nine minutes from the start with a fine shot, which George had no earthly chance of stopping.

Following this the Villa had the bulk of the play for some time, but they were well held in check by a strong and bustling defence. A free kick and later a corner to the visitors looked dangerous, but both were cleared in good time. Rogers next got clear away, but he was outpaced by Evans, and then United had a rather long spell at defensive work.

Once Devey with grand opening miskicked, and the next instant Smith shot yards too high.

United now attacked strongly, and a smart defence was necessary to keep them at bay. Higgins got an opening, but George easily stopped the shot, and then with some fine passing the Villa again and again attacked, but Kingsley was rarely tested, the weakest work of the visitors so far having been at close quarters.

From a free kick Wheldon sent in a good shot which Kingsley got away for Athersmith, with an easy chance of equalising, to bang over the bar.

Grand combined play by the home side gained them good positions innumerable, but they were too well watched by Bowman and Evans, who played a masterly defensive game, to have much chance of increasing their lead, the nearest approach to their doing being a shot by Higgins.

The interval arrived with Newcastle United leading by a goal nothing.

The opening stages of the second half saw some even play, the first noticeable incident being some tricky play by Rogers, who placed across to Aitken, but this player sent in a wide shot.

The next minute at the other end Wheldon just missed with a stinging shot, and then Johnson running past all opposition ranged in, but Kingsley stopped it cleverly.

However, a minute so later, after some fine play by the forwards Devey shot in. and Kingsley just got it away for the same player to kick the ball on to Stott, off whom it rebounded into the net, the score thus being equalised ten minutes after restarting the game.


Both teams tried hard to gain the winning point, but United scarcely put as much dash in their work, Niblo especially appearing completely done. From a pass right across the goal mouth Rogers shot in too wide, and the a sharp attack by the Villa ended in Gaudie sending past Higgles a few minutes later putting a wide shot at the low end.

Athersmith once raced up the field grandly, and passed across to Johnson, who struck the cross-bar, and from the rebound this player had one of the best chances of the afternoon, but he sent wide.

The remaining stages were most exciting. United making strenuous efforts to gain the lead. George just managed to stop a lengthy ground shit by Peddie and following a couple of corners, Rogers placed into the goal mouth for Peddie to just miss scoring, an exciting and bustling game thus ending in a draw of a goal each.