DERBY COUNTY V. ASTON VILLA.

This return League match was played on the County Ground, Derby, this (Saturday) afternoon, in favourable football weather, and before about 6,000 spectators. The County were still without John Goodall, Higgins taking his place, and Lees playing the wing.

The Villa came without Dickson, and played with ten men for half an hour.

Archie Goodall won the toss, and the Villa kicked off at 2.36 towards the Racecourse.

The County at once pressed, Bakewell shooting over from close quarters.

Lees, with a shot, caused Warner to fist away, and Milarvie shot just into the Villa custodian’s fort, who only just kicked away.

Twice the Villa broke away, but Latham cleared, and Allen got offside on the second occasion.

Roulstone shot over, and then a foul against Holmes relieved the attack on the Villa goal.

The visitors’ right went with a rush to the other end, where Allen was again offside, and spoilt the chance.

The Derby right then transferred play to the other end, where Aldridge gave a corner.

Much excitement ensued, the ball twice being almost through, when Coulton just cleared, and eventually it passed just outside.

Hodgetts, breaking away, shot into Bromage’s hands, but he cleared, and play was soon at the other end, Milarvie sending in a splendid centre, but Coulton kicked out.

From the throw in “Fergy” put the ball in to Bakewell, who, with a grand shot, just shaved the post on the wrong side.

In a second attack Coulton fouled the ball when Holmes was just going shoot.

Two corners followed, Williamson, with a swift shot, putting the ball out of play.

From another attack the County were more successful, from a good centre of Milarvie’s, Lees gave the ball to Higgins, who, amidst load applause, shot it through just the top corner out of the goalkeeper's reach.

Immediately afterwards, from a corner, Lees sent in a grand shot which struck the crossbar, and Higgins shot over.

The Villa then had a turn, and Brown caused Bromage to punch away, Archie clearing.

However, after 35 minutes’ play, Garvey, the Villa eleventh man, arrived.

The Villa right pressed, Moore beating Ferguson and shooting outside, Bakewell doing the same at the other end.

The ball went to each end rapidly, but the visitors never beat the Derby backs, whilst at the other end Cox put in some grand defensive work, and also put a long shot outside, and then half-time arrived with the County leading one to none.

On resuming the Villa right called upon Bromage to handle, and he had to give a corner, which was placed over, and then the County broke away, Archie sending in splendid shot, which Warner just fisted away, and the Villa went off with a rush.

A very anxious moment was caused by the ball dancing about the front of the Derby goal, but Cox, coming up with a rush, kicked over.

A rush to the other end was finished with a grand shot by Milarvie, which just went outside, and immediately after Holmes shot over with a skyer.

A breakaway by the Villa was spoilt by the off side rule being infringed, and then Goodall and Bakewell cleared, the latter sending in a grand centre, bat Milarvie and Higgins made a muddle of it, and missed a grand opening.

The next attack of the Comity was attended with more success, and after getting the ball from Bakewell, Higgins, who appeared to muff it at first, popped it through amidst great applause.

The Villa then attacked vigorously, but Goodall and Latham defended splendidly, and though Devey got in long shot, it went on the wrong side, and Moore sent in similar ineffective shot.

At the other end Bakewell put in good centre, from which Archie Goodall shot over.

Aldridge fouled the ball close up, but danger was averted, play being taken to the other end, when Cowan shot over with a wretched attempt.

Breaking again the County pressed, but Cowan cleared.

Roulstone, however, got hold, and with a well-judged long shot, put the ball Into Warner’s hands, and before he had time, clear, Higgins rushed him through, making the County three goals against nothing.

After the Villa had caused the Derby halves some trouble, Goodall got hold, and sent in grand long shot, which Warner only saved at the expense corner, from which Higgins headed another goal for the County, and Milarvie nearly scored a minute later, sending in grand shot, which Warner only just saved, but the downfall the Villa fortress was effected a fifth time by Higgins heading through from good middle by Milarvie.

Towards the close the Villa pressed, and one shot from Hodgetts struck the cross-bar, but nothing farther done, and the final score was Derby County 5 Aston Villa 0.

We question very much whether the County have ever played a better game during their existence as a club.