ASTON VILLA V. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS.

Played at Aston Lower Grounds, on Saturday, in very stormy weather, the attendance numbering 15,000, the drawings amounting to £339 11s. 6d.

The Wanderers were without Beats, while the Villa had to do without Crabtree, Spencer, Athersmith and Cowan.

The Villa won the toss, and set the visitors to face a stiff breeze which was blowing direct from goal to goal. At once the Wolves’ citadel was attacked, and Wheldon netted the ball, but he was ruled off side.

A straggling rush by the Wanderers was repulsed, and then the champions pressed with vigour. Three times the ball was sent skimming over the bat, and once from a corner Garraty all but burst through, Blackett relieved, and Platt raced to the other end, but a free kick for the Villa arrested the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ progress.

The Wolves played with any amount of determination, and following a bad miss by Aston, George had to save a long, raking shot from Owen.

A foul against Evans close in looked rather black from a home point of view, but Wheldon adroitly tipped the ball up the field, and the danger was cleared.

Urged on by the shouts of their admirers, who were present in strong force, the Molineux men made matters exceedingly lively for their opponents, Evans conceding a corner which was cleared with difficulty.

The wind had not fallen considerably, and the game was fought out on more even lines, each goal in turn being assailed.

Gradually the Villa asserted themselves, and from a corner a hot scrimmage took place right on the Wolverhampton goal line, Baddeley scooping out the ball when all seemed over.

Twice the referee raised the danger of the crowd by simply giving a goal kick when the Villa appeared entitled to a corner, and the linesman was also in favour of kicks from the corner flag.

The Villa had all the best of the game, but the Wanderers packed their goal splendidly, and between the posts the ball could not be forced.

Twice Baddeley cleared regular teasers, one from Wheldon being a brilliant effort, which really deserved a goal.

At half time there was a clean sheet, neither team having scored.

The wind had increased to almost half a gale when hostilities were resumed, and with this to face matters looked none too bright for the Champions. Templeton was early dangerous with some really tricky work, but Blackett just managed to clear when the homesters seemed likely to break through.

Playing in combined style the Villa forwards fairly puzzled the visiting defence, and the Aston men seemed capable doing almost anything but score, their luck deserting them in front of goal.

Waking up. Platt and Harper raced to the other end, where George cleared powerfully, and soon again the struggles was being waged in hot style right in front of the Wolverhampton goal.

It seemed any odds-on the Villa scoring, but twice Garraty and Templeton missed the mark by inches. Davies relieved, and with a surprise shot from long range the Wanderers came within an ace of breaking through.

The game proceeded on exceptionally fast lines, and the Villa seemed to be lasting the pace a shade better than the visitors.

Templeton was injured in a collision with Blackett, and the Villa player left the field, but even with two me only the Champions held the upper hand.

From a foul the strangers netted the ball, but the point did not county, the ball being untouched on its progress to the net.

Miller had a touch line tun, which was finely stopped by Evans, and Jack Devey made considerable headway, but there was no one up to accept his pass, and a likely chance went begging.

A ridiculous piece of work by Aston who kicked back to George when Owen was almost on top of the goalkeeper, very nearly proved fatal to the homesters.

At the other end the Wolves’ goal suffered a marvellous escape, while Templeton, who had now reappeared, raised the enthusiasm to a high pitch with a brilliant end to end run, Baddeley clearing.

The game ended in a draw - no scoring.