SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.
ASSOCIATION RULES. THE LEAGUE.

ASTON VILLA V. EVERTON.

This important fixture was played at Perry Barr, and about twelve thousand persons were present to witness the performance of the unbeaten Liverpool team. They were rewarded by seeing one of the finest matches ever played on the ground, for the home eleven, strengthened by Paton, Hodgetts, and Brown, played in splendid form, and were quite a match for their powerful opponents.

The game was intensely exciting, and the result - a draw- fairly represents the character of the play, although it must be admitted that during the second half the Villa on two or three occasions had very had luck in not scoring.

Their performance was a capital one, and will go a long way towards restoring public confidence in the team.

Everton won the toss, and Paton started the ball uphill, having the sun in his face.

The game was confined to the middle of the field for a few minutes, but then Dickson and Paton were cheered for a capital run. They took the ball right up to goal, but were stopped by a rush of the Everton backs.

Then Graham and Hodgetts made a beautiful run, but it came to nought.

The game was then played in the Villa half, and Geary running between the backs had no one but the goalkeeper opposed to him. Warner, however, ran out, met the centre, and beat him amidst uproarious cheering.

Hannah and Doyle checked a run by the Villa forwards, and Everton once more attacked, and Brady made a capital shot, but Warner saved beautifully.

A few moments later, however, Geary ran past Cox and beat Warner with a final shot just fifteen minutes from the start.

The Villa made another try to change the scene of play, but the Everton forwards came down in fine style, and three shots were tried at goal, but Warner saved splendidly.

A pass by Brown then gave Paton a chance, but he shot just over the corner.

After Everton had made an attempt to score a second goal, the Villa went up the field with very good combination, and Angus saved twice.

Doyle then gave a corner, and it well taken by Hodgetts, but was cleverly cleared by the visitors.

Dickson, Brown, and Paton were afterwards responsible for a capital run, which resulted in another kick. An exciting tussle ensued under the goal-line, but the Everton backs emerged from the struggle successful, and the Villa were then driven back.

Geary put in a lightning-like shot, but it went over the bar.

Hodgetts got clear away from a pass by Graham, and sent in a splendid shot which struck Angus and came out again. An appeal was made for a goal, but was not allowed.

Then Everton made several desperate attacks, but Evans and Cox played finely and prevented any addition to the score.

Then a misunderstanding between Cox and Clarkson gave Brady a chance to score, but he shot over the bar.

The Villa then played grandly, and as the result of some fine passing between the forwards Brown was enabled to centre to Paton, who equalised with a magnificent shot amidst a scene of the wildest excitement.

Encouraged by their success the Villa forwards made every effort to take the lead, whilst Everton played just as hard, and a desperate struggle was the result.

Every kick was watched with the keenest interest, and Evans was repeatedly cheered for tackling Geary finely and checking some of his finest efforts.

The Villa had three shots at goal, but two were stopped by Angus, and the other, by Cowan, was badly directed.

The Everton men were not playing so well as the Villa now, and they seemed to have lost a great deal of the combination that marked their play at the commencement. The consequence was that they were never so dangerous as at first, and the Villa were rather unlucky, so that at half-time the score was one goal each.

On re-starting the Villa at once pressed, and Paton made a grand shot, which just went wide. They continued to attack, and a foul was given them in front of goal, from which Cowan scored a second point for the Villa amidst great cheering.

Playing splendidly, they once more attacked, and Brown centring gave Hodgetts a chance, but he could not take it.

Everton tried hard to change the scene of the fight, but were beaten out again and again, and Paton tried to add a third, but Angus, although forced upon his knees by the ball, got it away.

The Everton paid a visit to the Villa goal, and Cowan gave a corner. The kick was well taken, and caused the Villa supporters some anxious moments, but the danger was removed, and the home forwards once more raced down the field. Hodgetts centred and Brown shot, but Angus saved his goal well.

Then Cox and Evans exhibited some fine tackling, and successfully prevented the Everton forwards getting through.

At length, however, the Liverpool men got up together, and Millward centred to Geary, who scored. He was, however, given off-side, and then the Villa once more became the aggressors.

Brown crossed to Hodgetts, who centred beautifully and two shots were sent in, but were splendidly saved by Angus, who just after stopped another from a corner-kick, although the Villa tried hard to rush him through.

Then Everton attacked, but Millward shot out, and soon after the Villa were again causing the visitors' backs a deal of trouble.

Brown, Paton, and Dickson got through, and Paton shot, but Angus again saved well.

The Everton forwards pulled themselves together and played with great perseverance, but the Villa half-backs and backs were in great form, and the utmost efforts of the Liverpool men were coolly and promptly checked, whilst Geary was never given a chance to shoot.

The time was now drawing to an end, and the victory of the Villa seemed assured, but when about five minutes was wanted to complete the time, the Everton forwards made one of their characteristic rushes and Brady scored.

The Villa tried to again take the lead, but failed, and the match thus ended in a draw.