SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION RULES. ENGLISH CUP:- SECOND ROUND. Sunderland v. Aston Villa. The meeting between the League champions of this season and last was beyond all question the great match of the second round for the cup, and after some 22,000 people had been admitted to the Sunderland ground, hundreds were turned away. Both clubs played their full strength, but, during the first half the wind gave Sunderland a big advantage and before the change of ends Gillespie scored twice for the home team. Aston Villa played up in rare form afterwards, and when the time expired the score was 2 goals each. An extra half hour was played out with no result, and the game had to be left drawn with the score 2 goals each. --- *The Birmingham Daily Post* Monday 12 February 1894 NOTES ON SPORT. THE ENGLISH CUP TIES. SATURDAY’S English Cup ties provided singularly close and interesting encounters; indeed, we question if ever there has been a better-contested round in the history of the competition. No fewer than three of the eight matches were drawn, whilst in four of the remaining five games a goal was the difference between victors and vanquished. The great contest of the round was, of course, the meeting of Aston Villa and Sunderland, and after two hours’ play the score was two goals each - a result eminently satisfactory to the local club. It is distinctly a fine achievement, and stamps the Villa eleven as one in which the greatest confidence may be reposed. When the result was made known in the town it was received with much enthusiasm, and it is questionable if the Birmingham people themselves are not as well satisfied as if the team had come home victorious, for they will now have the opportunity of witnessing a meeting of champions. There is no doubt that the replayed tie will be desperately contested and the crowd at Perry Barr on that occasion should easily beat the record. That the Villa will win is the wish of all footballers in the Midlands, and it is to be hoped that we shall yet see them the happy possessing of the two great trophies of the Association game. SUNDERLAND V. ASTON VILLA. The match between Sunderland and Aston Villa at Sunderland, on Saturday, was certainly the match of the round. Both clubs are so well known for their prowess that it was considered somewhat of a pity that they should have been drawn together so early in the competition, and the opinion at Sunderland, and in the North generally, was that whichever came successfully through Saturday’s ordeal might be looked upon with reasonable confidence as the coming winners of the cup. No wonder, then, that the gate was the largest ever recorded in connection with the history of the Newcastle Road Football Ground. It was estimated that the stands and the spaces on the flat between them and the barriers would accommodate close on 22,000 people, and every place was packed. The pressure was so great in some places that the barriers gave way, but the crowd-amongst whom were about 1,000 Birmingham men was a most orderly one, and no attempt was made to get on to the field of play. The amount realised by the match was about £900. The gates were opened two hours and a half before the time advertised for the kick-off, and all the best places were appropriated very early. The weather was fine when the ball was kicked off by Devey, but there was a stiff westerly wind almost approaching a gale, blowing, and against this the visitors had to battle at the commencement. It was most confusing, and it was some time before either team could thoroughly appreciate its effect. Every time the ball received a kick a little heavier than usual away it would be carried by the wind, and it was difficult to say what angle it would take in falling. Soon after the opening exchanges, Reynolds, unfortunately, received a nasty kick on the head, which drew blood, and the game was stopped for three or four minutes, and until it was ascertained that his injury was not dangerous. It was a great relief to the immense crowd to see him take his place again. Wilson was responsible for the wound, but it was a pure accident, and was done when that player way trying with a high kick to get the ball back over his head. The ball was out of play every few minutes, and the goal kicks throughout the first half from the Villa end were monotonously numerous. However, under the conditions existing, this could not be avoided: Miller was the first to shoot for goal, and he sent wide; then Donald Gow, with one of his mighty kicks, similar to those with which he has scored more than once this season, sent the ball straight for goal. He had judged his distance well, but not quite to a nicety, for the ball, instead of falling into Dunning’s hands or into the net, grazed the crossbar, and passed harmlessly outside. Meehan sent over next, and then followed a grand break-away by Hodgetts and Woolley. They were well followed up, and when he saw his opportunity Hodgetts crossed to Chatt, but that player, although he was in a pretty good position, shot very wide. A rapid return visit to Aston Villa’s quarters followed the goal-kick, and there was a sharp and well-ordered attack on Dunning’s charge. The excitement now became intense, and the determined pressure of the Wearsiders was causing their opponents and their patrons considerable anxiety. A climax was reached, and a temporary rest to overtaxed interest was afforded when Gillespie, first having centred from a corner, and then having rushed up after the return and received from Wilson, headed through the first goal of the match, amidst thundering cheers, about six minutes after the start. Nothing daunted the visitors returned to the charge with great earnestness, but the wind more than their opponents kept them back. True, they got over the dividing line once or twice, true that both wings worked splendidly and with their usual dash, but it was all to no purpose. They could not get a look in for goal until after Wilson had scored Sunderland’s second point. This he accomplished with a long, swift, high shot. Dunning touched, but could not hold the ball. From the restart from the centre line Aston Villa got down close to Doig’s charge, and when here Devey shot, but put the ball just over the top of the crossbar. From now until the end of the first half Sunderland had all the best of the game. and had scored two to nil when the whistle announced the temporary suspension of hostilities. On resuming the visitors had the advantage of the wind, which was as high as ever. They soon got to work with real earnestness, and after skying the ball two or three times there was a bully in the Sunderland goal mouth and Hodgetts put the ball through two minutes after the restart. The Birmingham contingent, who had taken up their position at the back of this goal, cheered with encouraging effect, and things looked exceptionally bright for their champions, who were urged collectively and individually to maintain the reputation of their club. Following this success the Villa men attacked with brilliant persistency and Sunderland’s defence was much taxed. The visiting forwards shot often, but their aim was faulty. The best attempt to score at this point was made by Groves but he was a trifle wide of the mark. Then Devey headed in and nearly got the ball through; but after this Sunderland broke away and became dangerous, and would most probably have scored had not Hannah got off-side. No one could but admire how, for a rather long period, the home men worked. They were putting in everything they knew to increase their score; they often had the Villa men packing their goal, but they failed to carry their desire into effect. It looked as though the visitors were getting “blown” but before the end of the second period they came again and swarmed around Doig in a most bewildering manner. They shot with great frequency, but it was not until eight minutes from time that Cowan, after the ball had been taken from Campbell on the centre line, equalised with a grand long shot. Nothing more of interest occurred until time, when the score stood level - as the regulations required, the referee ordered extra time - a quarter of an hour each way-to be played. Rain was now falling heavily, and the ground had become very slippery. In the first fifteen minutes Sunderland pressed nearly all the time, and rained shots in, it being greatly to the credit of Dunning that they did not add to their score. He gave a most magnificent exhibition of goal-keeping. The second fifteen minutes’ play was of a more equal character, but the Villa were more often dangerous. Hodgetts was hurt towards the close, but resumed play. His side forced a corner at this point. The kick was taken in the usual course, but the referee blew his whistle to announce the completion of the extra period as soon as the kick had been taken. The Villa forwards, however, rushed the ball through, but as they had clearly done so after time was up no point was counted, and the game remained a draw. The match will be replayed at Perry Barr on Saturday next, which will necessitate the postponement of the Birmingham Cup tie between Aston Villa and Loughborough.