FOOTBALL. Aston Villa v. Preston North End. This return League match was played Preston yesterday before about 9,000 spectators. Aston Villa played with the wind. There was the greatest interest in the game, the Villa having defeated North End in the last League match. The game was started by the home team, and soon there was exciting play. Gordon screwed the ball into the middle, which Coulton saved grandly with his head. In clearing, however, Devey handled the ball, and from the free kick Ross Sr scored with a quick shot at the end of six minutes. A few minutes later Ross had another fruitless shot at goal. The Aston Villa now had look in, but Dickson shot wide. Again Dickson and Brown got the ball at the end of fifteen minutes, and the former put a magnificent middle, from which Moore cleverly beat Trainor. A couple of neat runs by the home right were concluded by Ross Jr putting the ball through, but offside had been ruled against Gordon. The next minute Johnson, the home-team new man, shot wide when close in front of goal. The visitors again splendidly took the ball down, and Dickson beat Trainor with a low shot - the custodian allowing the ball to roll between his hands. A corner to each side proved fruitless, following which Trainor saved a capital shot from Dickson, after Howarth had missed the ball. North End had hard lines from shots by Ross and Gordon, Villa only clearing the latter at the expense of a corner, which came to nought. Half-time ended : Villa 2, North End 1. On the resumption the Villa attacked, but North End quickly repulsed them, and Ross Sr getting possession beat Warner with a long shot amid cheers. Warner's fortress had a narrow escape at the instances of Drummond, Ross, sen., and Johnstone. After twenty minutes' play Jack Ross scored with a lightning shot. Hands in the goal-mouth against the visitors came to nothing. Some exciting play followed, but at the call of time nothing further was done, and North End won by 3 goals to 2. The ground was in a wretched condition, and the second half both sides were considerably fagged. The match throughout was hard fought.