ASTON VILLA v. PRESTON NORTH END.
ANOTHER TRIUMPH FOR THE VILLA.

Brilliant weather prevailed Birmingham Saturday, and a large crowd turned out Aston Lower Grounds to view this contest, there being fully 20,000 spectators present. North End only made one change in the eleven which performed so creditably against Notts Forest. Pratt standing out of the forward line on account of injuries, his place being taken by Brown. The home eleven was rearranged, Aston being tried at right back, while Bowman was pushed forward to the half-back division. Both teams were warmly received by the onlookers, and having won the toss the Deepdale men at once commenced to attack. Aston relieved, and Athersmith soon changed the venue, although he was too well shadowed by Tail to do anything dangerous.

Halsall tested George with a beauty, and at this point the Deepdale forwards were playing with a marked precision, the home defence for a time sorely taxed. Murray and Halsall dribbled down the field beautifully, and swinging across to M’Intyre, the last named scored the first goal for Preston.

This roused the homesters, and they soon visited M‘Bride, the Preston custodian conceding a comer from a well-directed shot by Athersmith. Johnson and Wheldon made hard attempts to equalise, but Tait and Dunn between them eventually got the ball away.

North End were soon pestering George, and Evans gave a corner, which, however, proved of little service to the strangers.

Smith was now conspicuous with an end-to-end run, which fairly roused the enthusiasm of the onlookers. His final effort lacked sting, and the visiting backs had no difficulty in screening their goal.

Good half back play enabled the home forwards to assume a dangerous attitude, and following a siege, in which all the front rank took part, Devey equalised, amid tumultuous cheering.

The contest proceeded on fast and even lines, the half-back play of Russell, on the one side, and Bowman, on the other, bring very effective just at this point. The Villa once more attacked, but found M’Bride at the very top of his form, the ex-Rentonian saving all sorts of shots.

Smith shivered the upright with a hard shot, and in the next minute Wheldon skimmed the cross bar with a scorching shot.

The game was now confined to the visitors’ quarters, and when Devey scored the second goal for the Villa the spectators cheered in lusty fashion and North End played up in praiseworthy style. Murray and Blessington testing George without effect.

James Cowan now took M‘Bride by surprise, for from long range he softly scored a third goal. The strangers played up well towards halftime and Brown headed the ball past George.

At the interval the score stood:—Aston Villa, three goals; Preston North End, two goals.

At the very outset of the second half the Birmingham men attacked, M’Bride clearing from Athersmith after the Villa had forced a corner. In turn the Preston men attacked and Russell sent in a well-directed shot which just sailed over the bar, George fisting out in the next minute from Halsall.

Quiet play was now the order, the Villa half backs breaking successfully any attempts at combination by the Preston forwards, while the visitors’ backs were also playing in good style. A mishap to Russell compelled him to leave the field, but fortunately, he was soon able to resume.

The Preston left wing men now attacked and George kicked the ball away last when the visitors looked like getting on terms, and Johnson treated the onlookers to a fine piece of play, for getting the ball in midfield he ran clean through the strangers’ defence, and scored a grand goal.

The Preston defence was now sorely taxed. Athersmith, Wheldon, and Smith all testing M’Bride, and it speaks volumes for the strangers’ goalkeeper that he managed to avert further disaster.

In the closing moments the strangers played with desperation, but they failed to penetrate the home defence.

Result:—Aston Villa, four goals: Preston North End, two goals.