EVERTON V. ASTON VILLA

This game in the Goodison Park enclosure, Liverpool, on Saturday attracted a gate 20,000. Everton started in great style, and Oldham getting clean through had hard lines in not scoring, his fine effort missing by inches only. Athersmith was penalised for fouling Taylor, but the free kick, admirably placed by Molyneux, was headed past by Wolstenholme.

Wheldon and Smith were putting on capital work, but they found more than they could manage in Turner and Wolstenholme, Muir in consequence not being troubled.

Cowan, by beautiful play, worked himself a nice position, his final shot just missing Muir’s charge.

Play was in Everton’s favour, Chadwick and Oldham shooting over. Villa now obliged with one of their old time passing movements, but the finishing touches were weak. Garraty shooting wide when nicely placed. During another attack upon the Everton citadel a score appeared certain, but they found a stumbling block in Muir, the manner in which he disposed of several shots from Garraty and Wheldon being brilliant in the extreme.

Everton pressed, but their play lacked finish, George not being troubled, and when half time came round nothing had been scored.

Everton re-started in promising style, and Taylor quickly called upon George to dispose of a long shot, the Villa keeper doing his work very cleverly.

Villa pressed strongly, but in front of goal they were very erratic, many good chances from this cause being allowed to go a begging. Two corners to the Villa in quick succession looked promising from a Villa standpoint and from the second Smith banged the ball past Muir. Gee ran down, Oldham equalising from a centre by Gee. Up to the end the game was hard fought, and though the Villa had the best of the attacking, they shot badly, and failed to record a goal.

Result: Everton, one; Villa, one.