SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL MATCHES
LEAGUE MATCHES.
ASTON VILLA v. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

These clubs met at the Wanderers’ ground, Wolverhampton, in fine weather and before about three thousand spectators.

The game was a fast one all through, and very even, the result being in doubt up to the call of time.

Playing down hill in the first half, and with the sun at their backs, though the wind was against them, the home team forced the play for the first few minutes, and Warner had soon to fist the ball out from a combined rush.

The Villa were kept after this on the defensive, till at length Brown and Green getting the ball away the latter had a feeble try at the Wanderers’ goal, which Baynton easily averted.

The next point worthy of notice was a fine run down the centre of the field by Andersen, who gave the ball to Cannon, and the latter but for the timely intervention of Cox would have scored a certain goal.

Anderson a few minutes later returned to the charge, and caused Warner to fist the ball out. The Wanderers at this point were having the best of the play, and a shot from Anderson’s foot caused the ball to strike the goalpost and rebound out of play.

The Villa, now wakened up, and for a while the Wanderers could not get beyond midfield, the Birmingham backs checking all their advances.

Garvey dribbled the ball right through the Wanderers’ back up to the goal, and Baynton, by a brilliant display of goalkeeping, cleared his position; Brown, who returned to the charge, sending the ball over the goal.

Dawson next tried two long shots the first good, the second wild.

A minute after Hodgetts centred the ball right in front of goal, but again Baynton was ready for it and got it away.

It was now the Wanderers turn at offensive play, and Cooper shot over the Villa lines with a good opening, while Cox met a well-meant shot by White, and sent the ball to the right wing. Cooper pounced on it, and centred right across the Villa goal.

White headed it into goal, and in the loose scrimmage which followed it struck Cox’s body and went through the goal, making the first point for the Wanderers half an hour from the start.

This success seemed to enliven the home team, and they pressed the Villa desperately but Cox and Coulton kept them out.

As half-time drew near Brown, Garvey, and Green broke away, and Garvey again dribbling well into goal, shot. Green was in the way, but the ball came out to Brown, who passed it in the centre, and Green getting it on the side of his foot sent it against the goal post, and it glided through the Wanderers’ goal, making the score equal.

In the second half the play on both aides lost much of its vigour, though at the beginning the Villa had the best of it till the Wanderers’ goal was reached, when the forwards fell away.

Later on Cooper had a couple of splendid long shots which Warner saved well, and a minute from time the Wanderers all but scored, the ball glancing past just on the wrong side of the post.

Time was then called with the score 1 goal each.

Aston Villa : Warner, goal; Cox and Coulton, backs ; Yates, Devey, and Dawson, half-hacks ; Brown and Green (right), Allen (centre), Garvey and Hodgetts (left) forwards.

Wanderers : Baynton, goal; Mason and Bough, hacks; Fletcher, Allen, and Lowder, half-backs ; White and Cannon (left,), Anderson (centre), Cooper end Hunter (right) forwards.