ASTON VILLA V. BURY.

Chiefly from the fact that Bury always put up a stubborn battle when opposed to the League champions a particular amount interest was taken in this contest on Saturday, the attendance numbering fully 20,000.

The Villa were without Evans, Crabtree, and Devey and the visitors met with a series misfortunes on their way to Birmingham, their trainer and Thompson, the goalkeeper, missing the connection at Manchester, while the basket containing the entire outfit of the players, was also lost.

On arrival at Birmingham a hasty rush was made to a local athletic outfitters, where boots, knickers, and shirts had to be purchased for every man in the team.

The strangers out with only ten men, Davidson playing in goal, pending the arrival of Thompson.

The Villa won the toss. Bury facing a slight breeze at the outset, Johnson early calling upon Davidson. An attack by the ‘‘Shakers” was repulsed by Spencer, and following some spirited play, the champions all but scored. Johnson sending in a very accurate shot, which Davidson did well to turn aside, while immediately after Wheldon hit the cross bar, and from the rebound Garraty, with an open goal, shot past.

The homesters did all the pressing, but twenty minutes from the start matters were equalised numerically, the missing Thomason now tripping on the field.

Bury pressed, and M'Luckie scored a magnificent goal.

For a time the strangers had more of the game than their rivals, but eventually Smith and Wheldon changed the venue.

At half-time the score stood—Bury, one goal; Aston Villa, nothing.

Aided by some really good half-back work on the part of Bowman and Cowan, the home forwards had a look in until Darroch drove them back, and at the other end Plant skimmed the cross bar.

There lack of sting in the play of the Villa forwards during the first half, but the home men were now putting more fire into their work, and Wheldon had the satisfaction of scoring the equaliser, the point being received with deafening cheers.

Playing with great dash, twice through Smith and Athersmith, the Villa all but secured the lead.

Keeping hard at it, Johnson eventually beat Thompson for the second time.

The strangers strove hard to get on terms, but the Villa defence proved equal to the occasion.

Result Aston Villa, two goals; Bury, one goal.