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SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY v. ASTON VILLA.
PLAY STOPPED THROUGH DARKNESS.

The weather at Sheffield during the early hours of Saturday afternoon was of the most unpromising character, a slight drizzle falling, which augured badly for the success of this match at Olive Grove Grounds.

However, the dreary outlook did not have such a deterrent influence on the attendance as had been imagined, as the first visit of the season of the Villans to Sheffield created so much interest that anywhere from 15,000 to 18,000 spectators were present.

The Wednesday team was the strongest the executive could place in the field. Wright, late of the Bolton Wanderers, made his first appearance for Wednesday, he partnering Spikesley at inside left wing forward. Perrier was absent from the Wednesday team, this bringing in Jamieson, who played left half-back, Ruddlesdin crossing over from right to left. Johnson was absent from the Villa eleven, his place at centre forward being filled by Bedingfield, whilst Smith, who has been absent from the team for several weeks, made his reappearance.

A rather stiff breeze blew straight down the grounds, and on Earp winning the toss he elected that Wednesday should kick towards Healey, with the wind.

Owing to the late arrival of the referee, Mr. Scraggs. of Crewe, the start was not until 2.37, seven minutes after the advertised time. 2.30. As Mr. Scraggs was not present then, Mr. Fred Bye, of Sheffield, took the field as referee, a position he held throughout the first half, Mr. Scraggs refereeing the second half so far it was played.

The Villa were the first to show up prominently, Devey and Wheldon both shooting wide, whilst a little later Devey sent in very fast shot, the ball striking the goal post.

At the Aston end Crawshaw shot over, and then Wright passed to Hemingfield, whose final effort was a yard wide of the goal. When Spikesley ran down the left wing he was pulled up by Evans, who kicked out.

Shortly afterwards free kick accrued to Wednesday, and this was taken by Earp, who sent to Crawshaw, who shot in, the ball glancing off one of the Villa players into goal, thus scoring the first point for Wednesday, after about twenty-one minutes play.

Straight from the kick-off the ball was run along the Villa left wing, and with a splendid shot Smith equalised for the Villa. The next ten minutes play was fairly equal, but then another free kick was accorded Wednesday, and Jamieson directed the ball to Dryburgh, who shot it past George, the Villa custodian, thus placing Wednesday with the lead two to one.

George repulsed from Spikesley and Massey beat away from Wheldon, and the interval arrived with the scores Wednesday, two goals; Aston Villa, one goal.

Play was no sooner restarted than Wednesday were hovering about the Villa goal, and two corners accrued in quick succession. The first was resultless, but from the second, directed by Dryburgh. Hemmzfield managed to head the ball past George, this giving Wednesday lead of three goals to one.

A visit of the Villans to the Wednesday end saw both Smith and Athersmith shoot over. For several minutes the Villa goal was hotly besieged, George beating away two good shots, the onslaught finally ending by Crawshaw shooting over.

Dryburgh gave George a red hot one to stop, and then Smith made a fine run, and eluded the Wednesday, had only Massey to beat: he got flurried, and shot wide.

Devey and Bowman each gave Massey shots to stop, and hereabouts the Villa obtained their first and only corner of the match. This proved abortive, and the light; which had been very bad, developed into such semi-darkness that it was almost impossible to follow the course the ball.

Ten minutes still remained for play, but at this juncture the referee called the two linesmen together, and, after short consultation, ordered that further play was impossible, and the game came to an abrupt and unsatisfactory termination with the scores - Sheffield Wednesday, three goals; Aston Villa, one goal.