STOKE v. ASTON VILLA The visit of the Villa team to Stoke was always looked upon as one of the gems of the football season in the Pottery capital, and that of Saturday was no exception to the rule. The Villa were, however, a bit unfortunate in having Crabtree and Jack Cowan unable to play, but then this was likely to recede the teams more to an equality, and no one regretted it, But when it was found that Eccles and Johnson could not play for Stoke, the hopes of victory faded considerably. Substitutes from the reserves had to be played. The Stoke halves, however, stuck gallantly to work, and the game had progressed considerably before Wheldon, who had put on some brilliant play on the Villa left in company with Smith, scored for the Brums. Soon after this from a free kick for a foul, Clare landed the ball through the goal past Whitehouse, but a second player not having touched it no point was scored. The Villa, by grand passing, delighted the spectators, but so resolute was the Stoke defence that no further goals were score up to half time being sounded, when the Villa led by one goal to nil. The second portion of the match saw the home men much better together, but however Schofield and Maxwell carried play up the wings they found a barrier in first Welford, then Spencer, and not in one of these in the phenomenon of a custodian, Whitehouse. The Stoke men played gamely, but repulse after repulse had its effect, and the forwards got discouraged. All this time the Villa had been putting in swift, clock-like movements up the field, and when in the closing stages of the game one of these resulted in Smith beating Rowley hope took its departure. The sides played out time without any further increase and the game was called - Villa, two goals; Stoke, nil.