SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.
LEAGUE MATCHES.

ASTON VILLA v. EVERTON.

The crack Liverpool team paid their first visit of this season to Perry Barr. They brought with them their full strength, and the Aston Villa also placed their strongest men in the field.

After the beating Everton received at the hands of the Preston North End the previous week the supporters of the Villa naturally felt great confidence in the result of the match, and must therefore have been very much disappointed at the display of the Perry Barr team.

The forwards, without exception, played a slow and halting game. In front of goal in the first half they were very weak, and missed several fine chances. Their play contrasted very poorly with that of the Everton forwards, who exhibited great dash and determination throughout.

There was no hesitancy about their tactics, for whenever they obtained the ball they did their very utmost score, and but for the brilliant keeping of Warner, who kept out a great many fine shots, and the reliable play of Aldridge and Cox, Everton would have run up a heavy total.

Cox, in particular, played brilliantly, but was guilty of one mistake, which, events proved, lost the Villa the match. He missed a kick, and before he could recover himself Geary had pounced upon the ball and banged it through goal.

The old Notts Rangers man was in particularly fine form, and was repeatedly applauded for some brilliant dashes. Latta, too, a splendid forward, was too good for Burton.

Devey was not seen at his best but Cowan, as usual, played a sterling game.

The Villa, having lost the toss, kicked off towards the Wellington Road. The ball was kicked about between the opposing half-backs for a few minutes, but was then seized by the Everton forwards, who raced off headlong towards the Villa goal. Latta was entrusted with the shot, and truly aimed the ball, but Warner fisted away.

The Villa forwards then attacked, and Dickson missed a fine chance of scoring.

A few moments later the visitors became dangerous, but Chadwick shot outside.

The goal kick was taken, and the Villa forwards ran the ball into the goal mouth, only to be checked by Hannah, who kicked out. The throw enabled the Villa to keep up the attack, and Allen secured an opening, but shot wide of the mark.

Hunter then tried his skill, but, like Allen, missed his mark, and the Villa goal became the scene of the contest. Chadwick tried to score, but Warner, by a splendid piece goal-keeping, saved his charge, and Geary, when about to shoot, fouled the ball.

The free kick enabled Allen a fine run, but neutralised his efforts centring badly.

The Everton men then made another headlong assault on the Villa goal, and Chadwick sent in the ball. Warner punched it away, but Geary dashed and, amidst some applause, scored the first point for the visitors.

This reverse nettled the Villa men, who played in improved form until they neared the Everton goal, when they fell to pieces and missed many chances, to the disgust of the spectators.

Two corner-kicks were not put to any use; and after Everton had paid a flying visit to the Villa goal, which Warner saved from downfall by stopping a grand shot from Geary, the home team once more missed an easy chance of scoring.

Everton then pressed, and Warner was loudly cheered for saving some splendid shots.

The game continued to be hotly contested for a time, and after missing further chances the Villa at last equalised.

Brown, who received the ball from Allen, shooting it past Smalley.

Half-time found the game equal.

On restarting the Villa went off with a dash, but were stopped, and then Everton assumed the upper hand.

Cox missed his kick, and Geary, running in, scored a second goal.

The Everton men encouraged by their success played splendidly, fairly outpacing the Villa. Their attacks came with great frequency, and but for the sound defence of the Villa backs and Warner the score would have been large one.

The display of the Villa forwards was very poor. They were much too slow for their nimble opponents, and did not play with their usual combination. They got in several times, however, but missed scoring through their hesitancy.

The exhibition of the Everton men was very fine. Latta kept making some grand runs on the right-wing, and his shooting was equally good, but Warner was impassable. One try for goal worthy to be mentioned was made by Milward just before the end. Latta centred, and Milward threw himself at the ball. Had he reached a goal was inevitable, for Warner was powerless, but the Everton man just missed.

Towards the close the Villa played hard and almost succeeded in equalising, the ball only passing a few inches to the wrong side of the posts.

Neither side scored again, however, and the match ended in a win for Everton by 2 goals to 1.