SUNDERLAND V. ASTON VILLA.

The opening of the season had been eagerly looked forward to at Sunderland, and despite threatening weather then the above mentioned match commenced there were over 20,000 spectators.

The weather cleared up as the time approached, and then hostilities commenced was highly favourable to spectators, but the sun and wind were likely to interfere with play from the east end of the ground.

Both clubs put their greatest available strength on the field. The Villa team was the same which represented the club at the end of last season, and the home team had only one change, Ferguson taking the place of Hugh Wilson, who has come South.

M’Neil won the toss, and of course took the first advantage of wind and sun. The Villa from the kick off rushed away, their forwards being very smart, especially the right wing, but they were repulsed without getting a shot in and for the most of the first half Sunderland had the best of the play.

They, however, did not take advantage of their opportunities, finessing with the ball too much in front of goal instead of banging it in.

Still, they got some shots in and forced two or three corners. Most of the shots, however, were well dealt with by the big George, he getting one away from M’Latchie which no smaller goalkeeper could have dealt with.

In spite of the play ruling fast, Villa seldom got a fair look in, and it was twenty minutes after the start before Doig had to make his first save. Shortly afterwards Ferguson miraculously got between him and Garraty, when the latter appeared to have an open goal and got the ball away.

The the Villa were forced back and kept in their own half for over ten minutes, just breaking away before half time, when Doig saved a beauty from Athersmith.

Another two shots made a total of four he had to deal with in the first half, which finished with the score nil.

The second half commenced rather fast, but soon slowed down. The Villa, with the wind and score in their favour, for a bit more of the game, but the advantage they got from their fortuitous circumstances did not seem so decided as that of Sunderland got in the first period.

As the game slowed, it opened out, and soon consisted merely of long kicks in the middle of the field. Play became monotonous and remained so till five minutes before full time, then the principal incident of the game arrived: Athersmith drove the ball across to Smith, who headed into Doig’s hands. This player did not get it far enough away, and Garraty, meeting it with his cranium, sent in into the net, and thus Aston Villa won their first League victory over Sunderland by one goal to nil.