29/01/1938
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Aberdeen |
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4 - 0 |
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St. Johnstone |
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| Kick Off:
2:45 PM |
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Armstrong 48, Brady 78, Strauss 83, Mills 97. |
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| Attendance: 7,000
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| Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen |
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| BRIGHT CUP-TIE PROSPECTS |
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DONS WALLOP ST JOHNSTONE
SUCCESSFUL DEBUT OF WINGER
Aberdeen's Cup prospects are bright. Saturday's decisive victory over St Johnstone at Pittodrie makes them hot favourites in the second round tie with the Perth team.
The Dons were superior to their rivals in all departments. League form, however, often proves an unreliable guide in Cup football, and for that reason Aberdeen must not make the mistake of treating the opposition too lightly on Saturday week.
St Johnstone may quite well prove a sterner problem in the knock-out competition than they were on Saturday. It must not be forgotten that they were engaged in a hard Cup replay with Arbroath on Wednesday.
Set to face strong wind and snowstorm in the first half would not have been surprising had the Dons been forced into the role of defenders. The opposite was the case. The home team did the bulk of the attacking, and considering the conditions their football was remarkably good.
TENDENCY TO BUNCH
Yet no goals were scored in the opening period. No fault could be found with the play of the forwards in the outfield, but once they got within striking distance of Wylie they insisted in bunching. This made the work of the Perth defence easy.
They adopted more open style of play after the interval, particularly in the closing stages, and the result testifies to the value of the change of tactics. Three goals were netted in the last twelve minutes.
Aberdeen opened the scoring thirteen minutes after the start of the second half. A fine through pass by Mills saw Armstrong gather the ball, run between the backs, and beat Wylie as the 'keeper left his charge.
The second goal came in thirty-three minutes. Both Moulds and Wylie failed to connect with a lob by Thomson and Brady followed up to cut the ball into an empty goal. Mills instigated the movement which led to the third goal five minutes later. He swept the ball out to Smith and Strauss found the net at the second attempt from the right winger's cross.
Mills completed the scoring three minutes from the end. He fastened on to a pass from Thomson and his drive entered the net off the post.
Aberdeen's new right wing partnership of Brady and Smith proved success. The play of this pair was the highlight of the match. Mr Dave Halliday, the Dons' manager, did the club a good turn when brought Smith with him from Yeovil.
SMITH CAN SHOOT
The Englishman made a promising debut in the League side. He was fast, could beat the back cleverly, and crossed a dangerous ball. He showed in the second half that he possesses a good shot. One of his drives almost shattered the crossbar.
He received excellent support from Brady, who gave one of his best displays of the season. The inside man was strong and forceful. Armstrong led the line well after a somewhat indifferent start.
Mills was a grand inside left. Many were the attacking movements he started by his clever distribution. He could hold the ball and draw the defence, and his long passes to Smith had not a little to do with the newcomer's success.
Strauss gave one of his poorest displays. The South African could get nothing to go right for him and he missed several chances which, at his best, he would have snapped up.
The Dons' defence was not seriously tested. Johnstone in goal was well protected by Cooper, M Gill and Nicholson. The right back was in good form. Caskie, St Johnstone's dangerous left winger, got no chance to work his wiles.
NICHOLSON DOES WELL
McGill experienced more difficulty with Tennant, but was far from disgraced. Nicholson has strengthened the Aberdeen defence. The centre-half saw to it that nothing dangerous developed down the middle.
Thomson was the most accomplished wing half-back afield. Not only was he strong in defence, but he was ever ready to force on the attack. He played a part in two of the goals. Fraser was unreliable. St Johnstone's defence had busy afternoon. They stuck it well until the closing stages. Wylie had more to do than Johnstone and performed creditably. Welsh was the better back. Taylor could not hold Smith in check.
McGeachie was a hard-working halfback and one could not but admire the plucky way in which he tried to get his forwards going. M'Call was the only attacker who really impressed. With support he would have been dangerous inside forward. Tennant, on the right, was clever, but was inclined to delay his crosses too long.
Source: Press & Journal, 31st January 1938
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Aberdeen Teamsheet:
Johnstone, Cooper, McGill, Fraser, Nicholson, Thomson, Smith, Brady, Armstrong, Mills, Strauss.
Unused Subs:
Bookings: |
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St. Johnstone Teamsheet:
Wylie; Welsh, Taylor; McGeachie, Moulds, Smellie; Tennant, McLaren, Meechan, McCall, Caskie
Bookings: |
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| Referee: |
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J. Baillie, Motherwell |
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