SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.
ASSOCIATION RULES.
THE LEAGUE.

ASTON VILLA V. WEST BROMWICH ALBION.-

The return League match between these teams was played at West Bromwich before ten thousand persons.

The Villa won the toss, and chose to play downhill, with the sun behind them.

Woodall kicked off, and the Albion at once attacked, Nicholls putting in a fine shot, which Warner punched away. Bassett obtained the ball and tried another shot, which went wide. They continued to press, and Warner saved a couple more shots.

The Villa then transferred the play to the other end, and as the result of some capital passing Hodgetts was enabled to send in a trimmer, which Reader caught and threw out. The ball was however, returned, and J. Horton gave a corner, but the Villa were not able to make any use of it.

After the Albion had been up the field again the Villa once more pressed, and the Albion goal was hotly attacked, but Reader saved thrice in fine style.

Just afterwards C. Perry came into collision with one of the Villa forwards and was hurt, and play was stopped for a few minutes.

The Albion made a rush towards the Villa goal, Burns centred outside, and the Albion goal once more became the scene of the fight, but Graham shot out.

Then the Albion gained a corner, but Burns placed it badly, and a goal-kick followed.

The Albion, however, came to the attack most perseveringly, and a second corner was given them. It was placed well by Bassett, and Nicholls made a good try to head a goal, but failed.

Brown and Dickson afterwards made a capital run, and Powell, hard pressed, kicked out. Brown was entrusted with the corner-kick, but put it outside.

The game was now very fast, the ball travelling from goal to goal very rapidly; but the defence had so far proved superior to the attack.

At length, however, the Albion goal Iooked like falling, for Hodgetts centred, and Dickson headed the ball, but it dropped on the cross-bar. It rolled, however, into play again, but Reader knocked it away just before he was rushed through.

Then the Villa goal was endangered, but was saved, while Reader a moment later knocked out a fine shot from Hodgetts.

Then Warner saved one from Bassett, and a foul in front of the Albion's goal gave Graham a chance, but he shot over.

The Villa now began to have slightly the best of the play, and Graham centred across goal. Brown ran in and breasted the ball against the post. It rolled some distance, and was then kicked out. The Villa appealed for a goal and the referee allowed it.

The game now became slower than before, and the advantage was with the Villa.

Cowan shot outside, and Hodgetts headed the ball over.

After this the visitors had a succession of free kicks for fouls in the Albion's half, but could not make use of any, whilst the Albion, who on several occasions were dangerous, failed to score, so that the interval found the Villa with a goal to the good.

At the commencement of the second half the Albion dashed down the field, but Bassett shot outside. Their attack was not of a prolonged character for the Villa forwards played splendidly, and Reader was compelled to stop shots from Hodgetts and Dickson.

From a nice pass by Nicholls, Bassett made a fine run end centred well. Nicholls was well up, and had the Villa goal at his mercy, but, to the disgust of the Albion's supporters, he overran the ball and missed the opportunity.

The game was fiercely contested for the next few minutes, but neither side gained any advantage.

At length, however, A. Brown got the ball, and made one of the finest runs ever seen on the ground. He took the ball from his own half, dodged the backs, and, amidst tremendous cheering, scored the second goal with a beautiful shot, which completely beat Reader.

Encouraged by their success the Villa attacked fiercely, but had to be content with a corner kick which proved abortive.

The Albion were also given one, and Pearson sent in a magnificent shot which raised cries of "Goal" but Warner dropped on his knees, and turned the ball round the post. The second corner-kick was of no use.

After a few minutes of play in favour of the Albion, Cowan passed to Brown, who dodged Powell and centred beautifully to Dickson, who headed a third point amidst the cheers of the Birmingham portion of the crowd.

The Villa were now playing a much better game than the Albion, and attacked vigorously, Graham sending in a couple of fine shots, which were, however, well saved by Reader, who turned the second round the bar.

The corner-kick, although well taken, came to naught, and then Burns made a splendid run, but centred outside, and after the goal-kick had been taken the Villa pressed hotter than ever.

Shot after shot was sent into goal, but Reader did not again permit his charge to be captured, and the game ended in favour of the Villa by 3 goals to 0.