EVERTON 1 ASTON VILLA 1 (Game 304)
April 17 1899. The Liverpool Mercury
The return League engagement between these clubs took place at Goodison Park on Saturday, and as the result of the game had an important bearing upon the chances of Liverpool for premier honours, it was only to be expected that a big crowd would patronise the event. There would be quite 20,000 spectators present when the sides took the field, but owing to enforced changes on the ranks of the home side, there were few to be found who were at all confident of the local club gaining full points. The forwards line was again reconstructed, and Taylor was drafted into the halfback line while Turner of the combination team, filled Eccles position at right full back the latter suffering from a severe sprain to the ankle. The Villa directorate were fully alive to the importance of securing victory, and with the exception of Johnson and Devey, placed their full strength in the field, and when preliminaries were adjusted, the players took up their positions as follows: -Everton: – Muir, goal, Turner (e) and Molyneux, backs, Wolstenholmes, Boyle and Taylor (captain) halfbacks, Schofield, Proudfoot, Oldham Chadwick, and Gee forwards. Aston Villa: – George, goal, Spencer, and Evans, backs, Bowman, Cowan, and Crabtree, halfbacks, Athersmith, Garrity, Leigh, Wheldon, and Smith, forwards. Everton won the toss, and had the assistances of a stiffest breeze that blew from end to end. At the outset the home forwards had most of the
play, and their left wing were particularly busy in their attentions to George, but when favorably placed, final shots went wide of the mark. One capital effort by Chadwick, however, was only a trifle to high, and after sustaining a prolonged attack, the Villa forwards got under weigh, only to be eventually accquated for by Wolstenholmes and Boyle both of whom put in some very fine tackling work. However, Cowan managed to get in a parting shot, but like his opponents he was wide of the mark, and in returning again, Athersmith dropped the ball beautifully into the goalmouth where Muir brought off a magnificent save when surrounded by the inside men. Garrity was next in evidence with a well directed shot, and then the Everton van took up the running, but as a rule they could exact, but little quarter from the Villa defenders, who, by reason of the faulty passing of their opponents had plenty of opportunities of forcibly clearing. Breaking away again, Leigh tested Muir with a clinkling shot, which was ably dealt with, and following further pressure by Everton, the interval arrived without any score. With the wind now assisting the visitors play for some time was located in the home half, but, owing to the fine defence of Molyneux and Turner, Muir was not troubled. A movement to the other end resulting in Taylor putting in a shot, which George got away with difficulty. After play had been in progress some seven minutes, Smith opened the scoring account for the Villa from a corner kick, the ball having previously rebounded from the crossbar as the result of a shot from Wheldon. Getting to work again, play settled down in close proximity to the Everton goal, but a long pass out by Oldham brought successful results. The ball went to Gee, who sped along the wing, and centering accurately, Oldham met the ball, and breasted it through without giving George a chance of clearing. With the scores level, much excitement prevailed, and the pace was increased considerably. Still the Villa had slightly the best of matters, and on several occasions Muir had to deal with difficult shots, which he negotiated in clever fashion. Smith was particularly dangerous with his accurate centre, though on many occasions Wolstenholmes, who all though had played a most resourceful game, foiled him. At the other end of the Villa line, Athersmith owing to the vigilance of Taylor failed to be at all dangerous, and after a long spell of defence, the Evertonians again took up the running, out, as before were weak when within range of the Villa goal. No further scoring took place, and the game resulted in a draw of one goal each.