SATURDAYS FOOTBALL MATCHES. ASSOCIATION RULES. ENGLISH CUP TIES.- SECOND ROUND ASTON VILLA v. SMALL HEATH ALLIANCE.- The English Cup holders met the Small Heath Alliance in the second round of the above competition. A fair amount of interest was excited by this match and about 5,000 persons were present when the game commenced. As was anticipated the Villa were victorious, winning by four goals to nil - a severe thrashing to administer to the Alliance, who were playing on their own ground. The result shows that the Perry Barr men are returning to their form of lest season; indeed, on Saturday they they played a remarkably good all-round game, beating their opponents at every point. Their backs were far and away better than the home team’s, whilst their half backs and forwards were also superior. The Alliance men played a plucky uphill game, and several times showed some fine forward work, but their efforts ware always annulled by the defence of Cox and Coulton. Hunter having won the toss, the home team started the ball towards the Muntz Street goal. A half-hearted attack was made by the visitors, and the home team replied, but Cox thwarted the attack. Back came the Alliance eager to score, and Adams sent the ball into Warner’s hands. He only stopped it, and could not get it away. Matters looked very dangerous as Smith ran in, but Coulton kept him from rushing Warner whilst he kicked the ball clear. Brown ran down on the right and passed the Alliance backs, but kicked the ball too far in front of him, and Charsley met it. The home team then bore the Villa back, and Burton, being pressed, gave a corner kick, which was well taken, but Cox cleared the goal. The game was carried to the opposite end of the field, and Allen made an attempt to score, but the ball struck the inside of one of the uprights, and rebounded into play. Brown returned the ball, but it again struck the post and Evitts kicked away. Continuing to press, two shots were made by the Villa, but both were repulsed by Charsley. Green then tried a shot, and this time the ball went through. The score was well received. From a series of throws- in on the right wing, the Alliance worked their way into close proximity with the Villa fortress, but Dixon shot outside. The visitors bore down in a body upon the Alliance goal, and four shots were sent in, all of which were saved by Charsley. The Villa continued to press, and many were the shots that Charsley kept out, some of them seeming almost impossible to stop. The Alliance were not idle, and made many well-meant attacks upon Warner’s charge, but were unable to break through the defence. Shortly before half time the Villa gained a corner kick. Brown, placed the ball well in the mouth of the goal, and Green scored cleverly with a back kick. The Villa held the upper hand to the interval, which found the score unchanged. On restarting, the home team tried to storm the Villa goal, but Cox stopped their rush, and a moment later Charsley saved a scorcher from Green. The Perry Barr men were then forced back, and Dixon had a good opening, but delayed making his shot, the result being that Cox knocked him off the ball. Hodgetts obtained it and running down the line sent the leather hard and straight for goal. Charsley, however, disposed of It by throwing it round the posts. The corner kick was of no use. Figures and Stanley broke away, and showing some fine speed looked very dangerous, but Coulton ran between them and successfully defeated their intention. Some splendid passing between the Villa forwards enabled them to get near the home team’s goal. There Hodgetts passed to Brown, who with a low swift shot made the third point for the visitors. The centre kick was merely a brief respite for the Alliance’s defence, whose strength was in a few moments again busily employed In keeping the Villa at bay. Figures relieved the pressure by dashing away, and he passed Coulton; but Yates overtook him, and wrested this ball from him ere he could shoot. The Alliance returned to the assault, and obtained a corner kick, but the Villa defence remained intact. The Alliance, who were playing up with desperate energy, again carried the fight into their opponents’ quarters, and Stanley missed a fine opportunity to score through falling to keep cool. The game continued to be well contested, but whilst the Villa defence defied all efforts to break it down, that of the Alliance could not withstand the assaults made upon by the Villa and at length Allen scored the fourth goal. The home team tried hard to score, but failed, and when time was called the Villa were left the victors by 4 goals to none. Aston Villa: Warner, goal; Cox and Coulton. backs; Yates, Devey, and Burton, half backs; Hodgetts, Allen, Hunter, Green, and Brown, forwards. Small Heath Alliance: Charsley. goal, Evetts and Barlow, backs; Morris, Simms and Farley, half backs; Adams, Dixon, Smith Stanley and Figures, forwards.