BLACKBURN ROVERS v. ASTON VILLA.
A PLAYER SENT OFF THE FIELD.
THE VILLA COME IN AT A GALLOP.

The visits of Aston Villa to Lancashire and particularly to Blackburn, are always looked forward to with pleasure, and on Saturday the attracted a gate of fully 10,000. The biggest feature in regard the teams was that Hurst reappeared for the Rovers, and that Crabtree was played with the Villa, after all the reports as to his suspension, but in the strange role of a forward.

The Villa began the play, and it is not going outside strict accuracy to say that the play on both sides such could have been equal by Second Divisioners. Both lots were equally to blame, and the results of poor and uninteresting play was that at halftime nothing had been scored.

The second half was not very old, however, before it was apparent that the Villa meant winning. They simply got the measure of their opponents and went through them.

At the end of ten minutes Athersmith rushed through all opposition, banged the ball in for Garraty, and he did the trick.

Hulse soon afterwards forced corner, which Hurst, to the disgust of the crowd, put behind. Howarth sent in a long shot, which found its way to George. The custodian, in running out, lost the ball, but even with an empty goal in front of him Hurst failed to shoot straight.

Garraty tried a shot, which was wide.

Briercliffe, at the other end, tossed in, but George fisted away.

Athersmith again came to close quarters, and centred off the line, after being charged by Crompton. The ball then came across to Garratty, who was in front of goal, and sent in a low shot which passed into the net off Brandon’s leg.

The Villa goal was the object of assault, which Dewhurst ended by shooting wide.

A little later a temporary stoppage was caused through Smith being hurt, but no sooner had the game been restarted than the visitors’ forwards burst off at top speed. Athersmith got in one of his famous centres. The ball was received by Crabtree, who twisted the leather in front of goal for Smith to send into the net. The Rovers were thus three behind at the end of half hour’s play.

The Blue and Whites next forced their way into their opponents’ territory, and Briarcliffe gave George a high shot, the custodian responding with a mighty punt. A few seconds later Crompton misjudged his kick, and the ball flew over his head. Crabtree thereupon pounced on the ball, and passing to Athersmith the latter finished scoring a fourth point.

The Villa now toyed with their opponents.

Just on the close Garratty was knocked down and kicked by M'Clure, the Rovers’ half-back. The men come to blows, and M’Clure was ordered off the field.

Time came directly afterwards. Result: Villa four; Blackburn Rovers, nil.