SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL MATCHES. THE LEAGUE. ASTON VILLA V. WEST BROMWICH ALBION. Since the Association game first took hold upon the football player of the Midlands, no contests have aroused more enthusiasm than those played from time to time between the Aston Villa and the West Bromwich Albion teams. Probably some of the largest gates on record have been secured when the football Greeks of West Bromwich have joined the football Greeks of Perry Barr, and, no matter which side has come victorious out of the struggle, the next meeting has been equally productive of interest. A week ago the Albion administered a severe thrashing to the famous Everton team, and on the same day the Aston Villa secured a brilliant victory over the English Cup winners. These circumstances warranted the assumption that Saturday’s meeting would be a desperate struggle for victory. The weather was of an almost tropical description, and must have been very trying to the players especially as the game for the most part was of a fast character. No division of the players in either team had an idle time of it. From first to last the scene was on of brisk action. When the back divisions were not actively neutralising the approaches of the opposing forwards, the two strings of fowards were energetically contesting for possession of the ball. Each side placed its strongest team in the field, and their appearance was cheered by over 10,000 spectators. Playing up the slope, Groves started the ball on behalf of the visitors and after getting up the field a short distance the Albion forwards met with resistance from the Villa backs. The ball was returned to midfield, but was quickly retaken possession of by Pearson. A smart attack was made on Warner’s charge, but a foul falling against the Albion, all danger was removed for the time being. Athersmith and Dickson, with valuable aid from the right wing-half back, made a clever passing run. The shot for goal by Brown, however, carried the ball outside. From the kick Groves and his fellow forwards made a dashing run, but this was stopped by Evans, and the ball travelled back towards Roberts’ goal around which some sharp work took place. From a corner kick Cowan headed the ball over the bar. With the play continuing at a fast pace Bayliss passed the ball to the left win, where it was well manoeuvred for a while by McLeod and Pearson, the latter eventually beating Warner and scoring the first goal for Albion. This result, as may readily be imagined, was hailed with loud applause from the considerable contingent of the Albion’s supporters present. Encouraged by their success, the West Bromwich forwards started off again with a fine passing run, which was spoiled by Cox and Evans, and then the Villa left wing forwards and Devey made a determined attempt to equalise the score. After getting well up to goal the ball was sent in and returned to the right wing. Athersmith and Dickson tired hard to get it through, but the former’s final kick placed the ball outside. Just after Bassett made a run on the wing, and was getting near goal when Athersmith took the ball from him, and the game once more was transferred to the visitors’ goal-quarters. Severe attempts were made to score, among them being one particularly good try by Devey, but all were fruitless. Up to half time the Villa played the more pressing game, and had not the opposing back division offered so splendid a defence the score would have doubtless been equalised. Powell and Nicholson played a grand game, and many a time relieved Roberts of considerable difficulty. During the last few minutes the Villa kept the ball near their opponents goal, and Dickson sent in a sharp, straight shot, which Roberts smartly pushed out. When half time was announced the home team were still pressing. The score stood: Albion 1, Aston Villa 0. The game restarted at a fast pace, and very quickly a couple of fouls fell to the Albion combination. From one of these a fine run was made down the left wing by McLeod and Pearson, but the final shot carried the ball over the bar. After the goal-kick, a foul fell to the Villa, and Athersmith for the ball after it had been started. He passed across the field, and very soon matters were exciting before Roberts’ goal. A short pass from Devey gave Athersmith a chance, and he scored the first goal for Villa. A ringing cheer told how largely the equalisation of the score was appreciated. When the ball was again in motion Groves and the left forwards performed a series of capital passes, with the result that the Villa backs were beaten. A sharp, hard shot by Groves was sent in, and seemed impossible of being stopped. Warner, however, saved in admirable form and Evans cleared the danger. Hislop and Hodgetts ran three-parts of the filled with the ball passing between them, and ultimately Hodgetts centred to Devey, who scored a goal with his left foot. Having obtained a lead in the score, the Villa started off with a grand run on the right wing, Athersmith and Dickson cleverly beating Bassett and Nicholls. When closely tackled Athersmith passed across to the left wing, and from the corner of the field Hodgetts re-passed across the mouth of the goal. Dickson endeavoured to put the ball through, but his kick sent it over the bar. After the ball had been again started, the place was taken into the home quarters of the Albion, and Roberts found plenty to do in keeping out the shots for goal, the right wing of the Villa giving him a good deal of trouble in that direction. From a return by Nicholson, Cowan stopped the ball and then passed it on to Dickson. The latter passed to Devey, who shot. A short return on the left wing gave Hislop a chance, and, getting past Pearson, he scored the third goal for the Villa. Only some ten minutes more remained, and from the play the success of the home team seemed assured, although the Albion forwards made one or two very smart attempts to increase their score. On the other hand the Villa forwards, being well seconded by the backs, made a dashing run, and in the conclusion, Devey, from a pass by Dickson registered the fourth goal. The ball was quickly before the Albion goal after being put in motion from the centre, and a few seconds’ quick short passing ensued. Dickson, who had been working very hard all through the game, was now rewarded by scoring the fifth goal. The interest in the game never flagged right up to the end. The Villa continued to hold the upper hand, and won by 5 goals to 1.