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FOOTBALL.
LEAGUE MATCHES.
ASTON VILLA v. ACCRINGTON.

This match was played at Perry Barr yesterday before about 8,000 spectators.

The Villa was represented by the same team that was beaten by the North End the previous day, with the exception that Burton was included in the eleven, whilst Aldridge was left out.

The visitors were well represented, and a close and exciting game was witnessed.

The Villa, although beaten 2 goals to 1, had quite as much of the play as did their opponents, but were not nearly as smart in front of goal.

They played well enough in the field, but their final shots were wild. Garvey missed two very good chances, and thus set a bad example, which Brown subsequently imitated.

The latter however, beyond these mistakes played magnificently, some of his runs and centres being a treat to witness.

Dickson and Cowan did very well, but Cox was not seen at his best, and the kicking of Coulton was very weak.

The Accrington men played a very fine game, and were much quicker to the ball than the home team.

The visitors won the toss, and chose to defend the Wellington Road goal.

Hodgetts kicked off, and Accrington at once ran the ball over the lines.

The Villa right wing went away at goad pace, but had to be content with a corner kick, which came to nothing.

The forwards played with splendid combination, and the ball was directed into goal three times in as many minutes, but was successfully removed by the backs and the goalkeeper.

The visitors' right wing men then became very dangerous, but Burton, by a tricky piece of play, forced the ball out off one of the "reds”. They returned luckily to the attack, however, and obtained a corner kick. The ball was nicely placed, and was headed through by Barbour.

The first, goal thus fell to Accrington after eight, minutes' play.

The Villa forwards worked very hard, and obtained another corner kick but the visitors kicked clear, and Barbour passing to Entwistle, that player dodged Burton, and crossed beautifully. Prendergast rushed in and shot, but Warner saved well.

The ball was then taken to the other end without result, and the visitors again attacked, but Entwistle shot over the bar.

The play was very fast, and the ball travelled from goal to goal with great rapidity.

The home team had a very good chance, but Stevenson kicked the ball off Dickson's foot as he was about to shoot, and the Villa goal was again the scene of the fight.

A corner kick was given by Devey, and the goal after a moment of dire peril was cleared by Burton.

Just afterwards Warner was cheered for repelling a fine shot from Barbour, and then Lindsay had a few anxious moments but he saved his charge from downfall.

The Villa forwards, who were playing a very fast game, travelled up to the visitors' goal once more, and Garvey, amidst, a prolonged "Oh," missed an easy chance of scoring from a centre by Brown.

Accrington, not to be outdone, infused great energy into their play, and a foul a few yards out of goal looked highly dangerous; but thanks to Cowan, the intentions of the visitors were defeated, and the Villa left, fed by Hodgetts, once more ran up the field.

They were stopped by McLennan, who, however, fouled the ball. It was placed into goal, but was returned, and Cox was ironically cheered for handling it, he for the moment evidently believing that, the game was under the Rugby rules. The free kick enabled the visitors to make a strong assault, but they shot the ball over the bar.

Dickson then became noticeable for a splendid run. He dribbled past the backs, but kicked a little too wide, and Lindsay, running out, reached the ball first, and with a high kick sent it to his forwards. They were checked by Coulton, and again the Villa pressed, but Lindsay knocked out a good shot from Garvey.

A corner given by Cox, who was not playing so well as he usually does, was not taken to the advantage of the visitors, and the Villa became the aggressors.

Their play in front of goal was rather loose, however, and nothing resulted.

The Villa's turn seemed to have arrived when, after some clever passing, Hodgetts was left with a clear run for goal, but he was tripped up.

Nothing daunted, the home team swarmed round the opposing goal, and a scrimmage ensued under the crossbar, but the luck was against the Perry Barr players and the ball went outside.

At length, after a series of exciting tussles in the visitors' goal-mouth, Dickson centred nicely, and Garvey, dashing up, banged the ball past Lindsay. An appeal for offside was made, but was disallowed.

Half-time was called a moment later, with the game standing equal.

On resuming, the Villa made a couple of dangerous rushes without result.

The Accrington men retaliated, and were conceded a corner. The kick was well taken, and a rare tussle ensued, Warner twice repelling the ball. The struggle continued, but got offside, and the excitement of the moment was ended.

Down the field came the Villa, and, after some long passing Dickson breasted the ball into Lindsay's hands. The Villa forward tried to rush the custodian through, but was cleverly eluded, and the attack came to nought.

The Villa were now having decidedly the best of the play, but were kept at bay by the fine defence of the Accrington backs.

The visitors' forwards at length broke away, and Coulton, missing his kick, let Barbour in, and he, with a magnificent shot, once more placed his side in the majority.

The Villa forwards then missed a very easy chance of scoring.

Hodgetts ran past the backs and centred to Brown, who had only to kick the ball through, but in his excitement he directed it the wrong side of the posts.

The forwards came again directly afterwards, but Brown once more shot outside.

The visitors retaliated, but failed to get through.

Towards the close the Villa made desperate efforts to equalise, but failed, and when the whistle blew the visitors had won by 2 goals to 1.