ASTON VILLA v. BRISTOL CITY.
THE VILLA WIN COMFORTABLY.

Bitterly cold weather prevailed in Birmingham on Saturday, but fully 13,000 spectators put in an appearance at Aston Lower Grounds to witness this encounter, quite a crowd coming specially from Bristol.

The Villa played their usual eleven, but tho strangers were without Crawford—suffering from a strain—his place being taken by Langhorn. The ground, although the snow had been swept from the surface, and sand plentifully sprinkled about, was on the hard aide, while a stiff breeze blew from goal to goal.

The Villa won the toss, and the strangers played against the wind at the outset. The opening was of a sensational character, for after a breakaway by Potter and Downie had been repulsed, Smith and Wheldon broke through, the first-named giving Monteith a warm one to negotiate. The visitors' custodian only partially cleared, and dashing up, Garraty sent the ball whizzing into the net, amid great cheering.

Bristol retaliated powerfully.

Blessington being repeatedly dangerous, and for a time the struggle proceeded on fast and even lines.

Twelve minutes from the start Devey again beat Monteith, the same player scoring third goal about five minutes later.

The Bristol men woke up considerably after this reverse, and their efforts were at last rewarded. Jones beating George.

At the interval the score was—Aston Villa, three goals; Bristol City, one.

Straight through the second half the homesters had the whip hand of their rivals, and although the Bristol men played pluckily, they lacked the polish of the Villa men.

Three minutes after the resumption the veteran, Devey, banged through a fourth goal, while the same player again beat Monteith ten minutes later.

The homesters took matters a trifle easy towards close, but Bristol failed to augment their score.

Result Aston Villa, five goals; Bristol City, one.