SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL.
LEAGUE MATCHES.

ASTON VILLA V-. PRESTON NORTH END, These rivals for League championship honours met on the Deepdale enclosure, Preston, before 10,000 spectators. Both sides have acquitted themselves so well in the struggle so far that the utmost interest was manifested in the result, not only in Birmingham and Preston but throughout the country.

The North End had the greatest reputation, but on all hands it was expected that the Villa would run them close; and the Brums are, indeed, to be congratulated on their performance. So far in the League competition both teams had played nine games, the Prestonians having only failed to win one match, which was left drawn; while the Villans had lost one and drawn two of their engagements. In the matter of goals scored the North End had run up a total of 37 to their opponents’ 7, while the Villa had 31 to their credit to 13 by their opponents.

Hunter won the toss, and Goodall started the game up the incline, with the wind blowing obliquely across the ground, but, if anything, in favour of the Villa. At the start North End rushed off, and Thomson had a chance, but allowed the ball to pass harmlessly by the posts. On the kick from goal Hodgetts and Howarth had a tussle, the North Ender coming off best. From a throw-in in mid-field Robertson got the ball, to the centre, and Goodall drew first blood at the end of two minutes, Warner’s sight being blocked by one of his own backs.

For a few minutes after this the Villa were in North End, territory, and when Johnny Goodall was dribbling nicely forward his brother robbed him neatly. Within a yard of the same spot Archie was himself robbed a few minutes, later, but the middle by Edward was spoiled by Coulton when standing just in front of his own goal. North End by degrees forced their opponents back. The attack was not productive of anything substantial, and the Villa got the ball over the North End lines, but were never really dangerous.

North End next shone in front of Warner, but Coulton got at the ball before Thomson, and cleared. At the other end matters were looking serious for North End, but when within a few yards of goal Hodgetts dallied with the ball until Howarth got up and cleared. Again North End were attacking but the final effort by Thomson was about a foot inside of the goal, the ball passing out off one of the visiting backs. The corner was of no avail. Open play followed for some time, and then, when the home side were looking dangerous, Dewhurst over-ran the ball. Soon afterwards the Villa centre and inside right wing men were getting forward by a grand bit of passing but Holmes battled Green and sent the ball well up the field. After the ball had again been near goal, the visiting right got away, Brown putting in a shot which Trainor met just on the side post and afterwards fisted away.

Still the Villa kept in Trainor’s domain, but were rather loose in front of goal. From a long return by Coulton, Green had a chance of shooting at goal, but his attempt was futile. At the other end Edwards put in a well-meant attempt at scoring, but, Cox’s head intervened. The attack was not, however to be so easily repulsed, but the final effort, again made by Edwards, was useless, the ball skimming along the bar and then going out. North End forwards were next conspicuous for a nice passing run, but Devey was successful in getting the ball away. The Villa forwards, who were playing the long passing game, several times puzzled the half-backs, and once a couple of extreme wing passes looked dangerous for North End, but Hodgetts, who had a grand opening, shot past the posts.

The North End right pair were next conspicuous, but Edwards’ shot went harmlessly by. The game for some time after this progressed about the middle of the field, neither side being able to gain any advantage. The interval arrived with the game North End 1, Aston Villa 0.

On resuming the Villa got in close proximity to the North End goal. North End quickly rushed down the field, and at the end of the first minute Warner effected a wonderful save from Ross. Again, a minute later, the same player sent in another stinger, which was saved just as efficiently as its predecessor. Brown and his partner were next conspicuous for the visitors, effecting a neat passing run, and then the former of the pair shot, and Holmes conceded a corner. This turned out futile, but the attack was not to be repulsed so easily. The left pair returned to the attack, and from a grand cross by Hodgetts Brown shot well for goal. Hunter was close in, and when in the act of heading for goal was charged off by Graham, and the best bit of attack shown by the Villa so far was got rid of.

North End’s right got near, but were stopped, and in the next minute Goodall made a wretched attempt at scoring when he had no one to face him. The Villa were playing considerably better than in the first half, while the North End were if anything trying to work the ball too much, North End got a free kick in their opponents’ quarters for Green handling the leather, but Dewhurst headed-high over the bar.

The Villans by a combined forward rush came dangerously near equalising. Trainor once kicked away a shot by Brown, but Goodall, getting on the leather, returned by a long shot. Trainor fisted out, but the ball striking one of his own backs he rushed up and cleared with a grand kick. At the other end Goodall headed past the post, and again the Villa were dangerous, but Graham fooled Green when just in the act of shooting. Both sides paid their opponents’ goal a visit, but could not gain any advantage. Archie Hunter was twice conspicuous for good play, an excellent bit of passing by him in the first place being nullified by Allen, and his second being within an ace of scoring, the ball just gliding past the corner of the goal.

North End pressed for a time, and a grand shot by Robertson looked dangerous, but Coulton cleared, Again North End came near scoring, Warner holding the ball against the post. Hodgetts was next conspicuous for the Villa by a grand run, but Howarth baffled him until Holmes rushed up and cleared. Again the Villa got off at full swing, but Russell pulled them up summarily, and Edwards made a great mistake when on the goal-line in passing back to Ross instead of centring.

The Villa again looked remarkably dangerous. After Haworth had once cleared, Archie Goodall put in a grand dropping centre, and Green equalised the score with only two minutes to play. Green was hurt in the scrimmage in front of the goal, but remained on the field. On the restart both teams-were very determined, but neither goal was threatened, and the game ended in a draw - 1 goal each.

The Villa thoroughly earned the honour of making a draw with their opponents, for throughout the second half they had certainly as much of the play as their opponents. In the first half, when they had the wind in their favour, their forwards lost much of their usual effectiveness by adopting long-passing tactics. This more certainly had the benefit of puzzling their opponents, but whatever advantage was gained thereby was thrown away in consequence of the men not being able to judge the ball with their usual precision.

The feature of the game was, without a doubt, the excellent play of the backs and half-backs of both sides, In these departments the Villa, were quite as good as their opponents; in fact it would be showing a biased spirit were anyone to assert that, taken altogether, one side was not as good as the other. Dennis Hodgetts was a long way from the Dennis of old, but his partner, Allen, on several occasions made amends for his companion’s shortcomings. Hunter, in the centre, showed all his renowned skill as a general, feeding his wings with perfection. Brown and Green were certainly the best pair in the side, Devey was the pick of the halves; Goodall and Yates coming next, in the order named, Coulton and Cox were simply perfect in their defence after the first few minutes, while after his one disaster Warner was as safe as the Bank of England.

The North End’s great fault was that they were slow on-the ball, Ross being the only forward to play anything like a North End game, but he was too well watched to do very much. Russell was the pick of the halves, and both Holmes and Howarth played well. Trainor had not so much to do as Warner; in fact, the science of the North End stood them in good stead, for had they had to rely-upon tactics and precision on Saturday they would certainly have come off second best.

Villa.: Warner, goal ; Cox and. Coulton, backs ; Yates, Devey, and Goodall, half-backs ; Brown and Green, right wing ; Hunter, centre , Allen and Hodgetts. left wing.

North End :Trainor, goal ; Howarth and Holmes, backs;, Robertson, Russell, and Graham, half-backs ; Edwards and Ross, right wing ; Goodall, Centre; Dewhurst and Thomson, left wing.

Referee, Mr. M. P. Betts (Old Harrovians), London.