THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE. DIVISION 1. ASTON VILLA V. WEST BROMWICH ALBION. SIGNAL TRIUMPH OF THE VILLA. Miserable weather prevailed in Birmingham throughout the greater part of yesterday but the rain fortunately ceased about an hour previous to the time fixed for the kick-off, and the attendance of spectators was highly satisfactory, fully 15,000 being present when the teams appeared. The Villa eleven was exactly the same had beaten Notts County in such pronounced style, but the Throstles team was of a patched character. It was 5.30 when the game started, the home men having the assistance of slight breeze at the outset. The opening passages were decidedly in favour of the strangers. Nock and Bassett both having nice dribbling runs which terminated in George being called upon. Wheldon and Smith beat both Hadley and Cave, and the Villa were awarded a free kick about twenty yards from Reader's charge. The ball was fiddled about for a little, until Bowman from long range completely beat the Albion custodian just ten minutes from the start, the point being received with a strong outburst of cheering. Smith initiated a lovely piece of combined play, in which the entire front line of the Villa took part, Wheldon winding up breasting a second goal for the local Iads. Athersmith outwitted Adams, and passing to Devey, the last named gave Garraty the ball, and, with no one to beat but the visitors’ goalkeeper, the home centre banged through the Villa’s third goal. Perry and Bassett made powerful efforts to improve the visitors’ position, and a corner for the Throstles was cleared by Spencer and Evans. A brief break away by the strangers was followed by a series of hot attacks by the home forwards. Garraty, Devey and Wheldon all sending in real trimmers, which Reader managed clear. At the interval play was of a quiet order, the score standing:— Aston Villa, three goals, West Bromwich Albion, nil. The Albion opened the closing half in promising style, but Athersmith sprinted to the other end and both Wheldon and Devey had pops at Reader. Then from a foul against Crabtree the Albion scored their first (and only) goal, Perry assisting the ball past George. The excitement was now intense. Athersmith swung the ball to the centre, and goal No. 4 was scrimmaged past Reader. The tackling was of a very close character, and fouls were a frequent occurrence. For fully ten minutes the Aston team found Reader plenty of work, but he was in his very best form. The Throstles at length forced their way to the home goal, and, from a couple of corners, George cleared with difficulty. In the succeeding play the Albion had a bigger share in the proceedings than hitherto, but in front of goal the Throstles lacked dash. The Aston men forced a corner, and from this Garraty banged through a fifth goal, and, from another corner, forced by Athersmith, the Villa brought out the half dozen, amid tremendous cheering. The visitors retaliated, but Crabtree drove them back, and when Garraty scored again the excitement was intense. Result - Aston Villa, seven goals; West Bromwich Albion, one goal.