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SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.
LEAGUE MATCHES.

BOLTON WANDERERS v. ASTON VILLA

This match was played at Perry Barr.

The weather was very miserable, but about 3,000 persons were present when the game commenced, having probably been attracted to the ground by the knowledge that the Villa team would include several of the imported Scotchmen.

As a matter of fact three of them played on Saturday namely, Campbell, Graham, and Connor.

The two former, who formed the left wing of the forward division, worked well together, and when they have appeared a few more times will doubtless prove valuable acquisitions to the Villa.

Campbell centres splendidly, whilst Graham occasionally treated the spectators to some very clever dodging.

Connor, who played half-back, was not nearly so successful; but it is scarcely fair to criticise him severely, for he was apparently very nervous, and may do better when he becomes accustomed to playing with the team.

The Villa were not fully represented, the weakness being in the forwards, the left wing was all right, but Allen as centre forward and Hodgetts as a right winger were failures.

Playing with the wind in the first half the Villa ought to have made five or six goals if they had taken the chances presented, but most of the men appeared to be averse to shooting, and dillydallied with the ball until they lost it.

Allen, in particular, played far below his usual form, and his shooting was both weak and inaccurate.

After several easy chances had been lost Brown ran the ball in, and with a grand shot scored the first goal for the Villa, the ball touching the upright low down, and then going through.

For a time the play was confined to the Wanderers' half of the field, but the Villa could not score again.

Then at length Weir dodged Connor, and centred nicely into goal. Warner stopped the shot, but the ball rolled only a yard or two away, and Cassidy dashing up touched it through.

Except for occasional runs the game was all in favour of the Villa, who pressed severely, but did not score again, and half-time found each side with a goal to its credit.

It was thought that the Wanderers with the wind in their favour would make an example of the Villa, and it appeared as though such would be the case when Weir scored again for Bolton, ten minutes after the interval.

To the surprise of all, however, the Villa fairly held their own against the wind, and ran the ball up to the Wanderers' goal time after time, but failed to score.

The two left-wing men in particular played very well, and if some of Campbell's centres had been utilised the match might have been won.

The weakness was, however, in the centre, and the Villa missed their chances.

The Wanderers did not score again owing to the fine defence of Cowan, Cox, and Coulton, and thus won the match by 2 goals to 1.