THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
THE VILLA NOT SETTLED YET.
THE BRUMS AT TOP AGAIN
DIVISION 1.

BLACKBURN ROVERS V. ASTON VILLA.

These old-time rivals, keen rivals before the formation of the League, a decade ago, met at Blackburn on Saturday, before a crowd of 12,000 spectators, on perfect ground, in grand weather. The only drawback was a choppy wind which blew across the field.

The Rovers had to face this in the first half.and the Villans were not long in coming in to close quarters. Athersmith, Wheldon, and Johnson all putting in shots, which, however, scarcely resembled what one usually expects from the Villans. Time, and again the Rovers broke loose and romped up the field, but they found Crabtree, Spencer, and Aston a hard lot to beat, while the last line in George proved equally difficult to negotiate.

Once the Rovers netted the ball from free kick, but as no second player had touched it, the point did not count.

Up to half-time the game fluctuated a lot but when half-way been reached there no score.

With wind behind them on the resumption, it was generally anticipated that the Rovers would make matters even. They went off at a great speed, and twice, in double-quick time, George did well to get rid of shots from Blackburn and Hulse.

Then Jimmy Cowan was to the fore with a beautiful bit of passing and tackling, but Garraty made a terrible bungle when in a nice position. The Rovers’ defence, however, never gave their opponents time to settle or steady themselves, their halves being exceedingly vigorous all through.

Play ranged from end to end, and once, after Athersmith had hit the uprights at the base, the Rovers citadel had a narrow escape, for the ball had scarcely crawled over the line before Smith had got to it. Had he been a yard faster Thompson, the home custodian, could not possibly have saved.

The game went much more in favour of the Rovers as the end approached. There was some foul play. The referee walked to both linesmen and the result of his consultation was that a penalty was given. This was taken twice by Booth, as on the first occasion George ran off his mark, but the chance was missed both times. In the scrummage the Villa escaped with a corner. Just on time the Rovers took a corner, and before the whistles blew the Villa goal had another narrow escape.