SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.
LEAGUE MATCHES.
Aston Villa v. Notts County

There was a very large crowd at Perry Barr, and they waited patiently for upwards of half an hour the arrival of the visiting team. There was also a little further delay whilst the Villa changed their colours. They came on to the ground in white; but the Notts men have this season adopted the same colour, and the Villa had return to the old chocolate-and-blue.

Dickson had so far recovered as to be able to take his place for the first time at home. The Notts County have been strengthened by tho introduction of several famous Scotch players, amongst whom may be mentioned James Oswald, Scotland's finest centre forward, John, his brother, who also played in the 3rd Lanarkshire eleven together with Calderhead, Ferguson, and McMillan.

The visitors won the toss, and Archie Hunter kicked off towards the Wellington Road end.

Hodgetts at once made off and centred well, but none of the others were up. An attack was made upon the home goal from the visitors' left wing, and Coulton, in trying to save, gave a couple of corners. Nothing came of them, however, and the ball was taken down the field, and rush made for the Notts goal, but the ball just passed close along the wrong side of the post.

The game now became very fast, and some capital play was witnessed. Oswald was prominent, and the County forwards, passing finely, came very near scoring the first point.

But the scene was soon changed as Albert Brown took the leather down the hill, he was followed by the rest of the team to the front of the Notts goal, Toone handing the ball clear as he lay on the ground.

After twenty-five minutes' play the visitors scored the first goal out a scrimmage. A free kick was afterwards awarded the Villa right in the mouth of their adversaries' goal, but the ball passed between the uprights without being touched by any of the players.

Then Oswald put the leather through a second time on behalf of the Notts, but an infringement of the rule relating to off side caused the point to be nullified.

A good deal of pressing followed on both sides, but when half-time was called the position had not been altered, the score being—Notts 1, Villa nil.

On restarting and with change of ends, the Villa made the best of their way to the Notts goal, and Brown tried a long shot, McLean giving a couple corners when very hard pressed.

The Villa had some very hard luck, and once or twice sent the ball close on to the cross-bar. As the game went on the visitors showed signs of fatigue, but the Villa appeared to gain strength by their exertions, and it was only by extraordinary exertions on the part of their opponents that they did not score heavily.

The Notts men were acting on the defensive, but after repeated attacks the line was broken through, and within a few minutes of the call of time, and amidst loud cheering, the Villa scored, the game thus ending in a draw- Villa 1, Notts 1.

It was a very different game from that of the previous Saturday, and it may now be safely reckoned that the Villa will able to look well after their own interests throughout the season; for the Notts County is undoubtedly one of the most important teams in the country, possessing as it does some of the very pick of the Scotch imports.

No fewer than six Scots are now in the team, and nearly all of them the best sort. It was therefore, well known that the Villa were in for a hard tussle, and the football public turned up in full force. Nor were they disappointed, for it was one of the cleverest and fastest games that has been played at Perry Barr for Years; and though from the merits of the game it would only have been fair for the home team to have won outright, it was desperately close to the call of time when they managed to tie with their celebrated opponents, and make an honourable draw.

Throughout the hour and a half the result was always in doubt, now one goal and then the other being attacked in the most determined fashion, and alternate hope and fear kept the onlookers in a state of pent-up excitement that was almost painful in its intensity.

Notts scored their goal in the early part of the first half —a somewhat doubtful decision, Oswald looked clearly off-side when he received the ball—and try hard as they would the Villa could not succeed in levelling the score for a long time.

The first half was played at a terrific pace, and the play was remarkably even and good, the home team making many strong attacks on the visitors' goal, while Notts delighted the spectators by their pretty passing, their quickness on the ball, and their clean and accurate shooting—very few attempts on either side going outside the posts—though the Villa were the most pronounced sinners in this respect.

Well into the second portion of the game the Perry Barr players very plainly asserted their superiority so far as carrying the ball to their opponents' goal was concerned; but getting it through was another matter, for what with the adroitness and the wonderful luck of Toone and the bad shooting of one or two of the Villa forwards, when less than five minutes remained Notts were still a goal in front.

Then a long swift shot by Devey from the right was knocked away from under the bar, and Hodgetts, coming through the opposing backs like a whirlwind, caught the ball on the rebound, and carried the ball, the keeper, and himself through the goal amidst a storm of cheering.

The Villa were within an ace of scoring again, but the end came with a draw of one goal each.

The County will probably be one of the best clubs of the season when the men have settled into one another's style of play. Here and there we may have noticed a suspicion of reprehensible practices, but there is plenty of talent without having recourse to that, and it won’t pay in the long run.

H. B. Daft, the only amateur in the team, played a powerful and a plucky game, as, indeed, did all the forwards, and the two Oswalds are very valuable acquisitions. They are strong and skilful in defence; and if Saturday's form is usual with Toone, and he is always blessed with the same amount of luck, he is a keeper of surpassing value.

The Villa will do; Dickson, who played for the first time at Perry Barr, is worthy of his place; Cowan, Clarkson, and Devey kept their reputation; and the backs were sound and capable, Aldridge having developed a good deal of his old form, while Coulton is fearless, as accurate, and as strong as ever.

One cannot say so much in favour of at least two of the forwards. Hunter was slow, and missed at least three good chances; Allen was quick enough, but his shooting was wretched ; Brown is improving, but wants some more polish; and Hodgetts was the best and cleverest forward on the field. Preston North End are coming next Saturday, and this will put the Villa fairly on their mettle.