SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL. THE LEAGUE.- DIVISION I. ASTON VILLA V. PRESTON NORTH END. Owing to the heavy rain on Friday night and Saturday morning, the Perry Barr ground was a complete swamp, but the referee, Mr. Stacey, decided that the game should rank as a League match. Winning the toss, the Villa played down the slope and Russell started the game for the North End.. The Villa came down the field slightly, but were not able to make much headway, and a shot at the Villa goal by Beckton was the first item of real interest. Then the Villa worked their way down the field once more, and Trainor had to save, Hare getting in a couple of really fine centres. After the Prestonians had attacked, Hodgetts gained a lot of ground for the Villa, and centring splendidly, Trainer had the utmost difficulty in keeping his goal intact. Twice he saved marvellously when standing right under the bar, and Dowds had hard lines in in just getting the leather on the wrong side of the bar. A clever shot by J. Brown was just tipped over the net, but a return from Evans almost dropped the ball into the Wellington-Road. Then the North End took up the attack, and Roberts more than once demonstrated that he had not forgotten how to keep goal. Still the play was none of any great class, the ground causing high- class football to be out of the question. Campbell was badly tripped by Ross jn, and from the free kick awarded it seemed quite on the cards that the visitors' goal would fall, but the North End defence was equal to the strain. A fine shot by Grier gained a corner at the opposite end, but the Villa defence was good, and on several critical occasions the North End forwards were pulled up very smartly. At length the Villa forwards came down the field by means of a good combined run, and, after a lot of manoeuvring, Hodgetts, from a difficult position, shot an exceedingly clever goal; Trainor being quite unable to gauge the flight of the ball. Just as the North End were attacking, Ross, jun., was again penalised for foul play, and the free-kick enabled the Villa to run into their opponents' quarters. Their stay there, however, was short-lived, for W. Cowan sped along his wing at a great pace, but his centre dropped harmlessly into the top of the net. The Preston men were now having the best of the game, but there was not much in it, and a good deal of play took-place in mid-field. The ball was a still there when the whistle blew at half-time, the Villa then leading by 1 goal to 0. On recommencing North End looked like drawing level, the first ten minutes of the game going unmistakably in their favour. The Villa goal was strictly invested, and three corners fell to the visitors in rapid succession, but Roberts kept goal well; and the backs were very reliable. The Villa forwards then commenced to play most brilliantly. Hare made a fine run up the right wing, and so well did he centre that Albert Brown promptly put the ball past Trainor for the second time, this seemed to do the home side a deal of good, and they gave the North End backs unlimited trouble. Hare Centred smartly, and Albert Brown scored again; but as the rule referring to off-side had been manifestly infringed, the point was disallowed. After Roberts had saved a nice shot from young Ross, Albert Brown and Dowds made a pretty combined run, but Trainor got the latter's shot away most skilfully. The Villa were constantly on the aggressive at this point, and for ten minutes the North End forwards scarcely got once over the half-way line. J. Cowan played a magnificent half-back game, and always seemed able to pull the North End forwards up when they got away. On one occasion W. Cowan put in a fine sprint on behalf of North End, and dashing past Stokes almost scored, his shot striking one of his adversaries. A few minutes later, after Roberts had only partially saved a shot, W. Cowan had another splendid chance, but failed miserably to take advantage of a very favourable opening. The North End 'forwards were now doing slightly better, but an effective pass by Russell to W. Cowan was ruined by the latter getting offside. The visitors continued to attack, and for a few minutes pressed the Villa severely. Roberts, however, saved splendidly whenever the ball reached him. Dowds now put in a clever individual run, and getting through the Northern backs, he sent in a shot which Trainor hardly attempted to stop. Towards the close Beckton shot a well-deserved goal for the visiting team, and as nothing else was done the game ended for the Villa by 3 goals to 1.