Aberdeen 4 - 0 Raith Rovers

A crowd of about 4000 saw Aberdeen A take a step forward at Pittodrie yesterday afternoon in their fight for the custody of the Scottish Second Eleven Cup. Their opponents were Raith Rovers A, and, while the homesters were not quite so superior to the opposition the final score of 4 goals to 0 would seem to indicate, they lasted the pace better and profited by the mistakes of a shaky defence in the second half.
The first half was fought out in a somewhat lackadaisical fashion, each goalkeeper being only once in really serious trouble, but, on the whole, the visitors gave the impression of being the better balanced and more pushful combination. A change came over the scene in the second half, when the homesters came away strongly, while their opponents seemed be leg-weary and apathetic. Duncan got Aberdeen's first goal off a beautifully-placed corner by Grant. The second counter went to Armstrong, via Innes, the Rovers' left back, who turned the ball through his own goal. Then in closing stages each back gave away a penalty in turn, and first, Grant and then Bowie gave Brown, the viistors' clerical goalkeeper, no chance from the spot.
The Aberdeen forwards were not an impressive force, either individually or as a line. There was a lack of thrustfulness in their methods, albeit they improved after they had taken the lead. Cosgrove was the brains of the line, frequently forcing the play both to right and left, but he also erred several times in not clinching matters at the crucial moment. Main tried too much and did not always succeed, while Bowie and Forbes were mediocre. Grant made a good recovery in the second half.
Duncan looks like making the centre-half berth his own, but he will need to curb his impetuosity a bit. Yesterday's second half recovery was in large measure due to his initiative and leading out work. Davidson and Armstrong were patchy, and the same can be said of the two backs, whose kicking was very erratic, although they tackled well on occasion.
Brown is a good custodian, and got no chance with any of the goals. Macdougall was a capable defender throughout, but his partner was fluky, although robust in his kicking. Marchbanks shone in the mid-line, but the forwards, although nippier than the home lot, frittered away their chances in the first half and could not pull together in the second.

Source: Press & Journal, 5th March 1925