Aberdeen 1 - 2 Airdrie

The Airdrieonians gained a good victory at Aberdeen. That they won was due to a mistake by Blackwell, Aberdeen's goalkeeper, who in gathering up a ball that was going past, let it slip from his grasp. Early in the game Pirie headed through a goal for Aberdeen, with Ewart out of his charge. Then McPhail got through and scored a cleverly-taken equaliser, and before the interval Blackwell's mistake enabled the visitors to take the lead, an advantage they retained during a goalless second period. Aberdeen lacked cleverness in finishing in front of goal, and Ewart was seldom dangerously tested. The Airdrieonians maintained an admirable defence, and their wide passing game served them well. Dick, Allan, McDougall, Reid, Russell, and McPhail were outstanding for the winners. On play, the Aberdeen team might have drawn the game. The half-back line was none too strong, and the inside forwards were not able to cope with the Airdrieonian defenders.

Source: The Scotsman, 4th October 1924

Aberdeen came by another unlucky defeat on Saturday, when Airdrieonians beat them at Pittodrie by 2 goals to a. All over, Aberdeen had a greater share of the attacking, but they were weak in front of goal, and although very unfortunate in the manner they conceded what proved to be the winning goal, it was really weak finishing which lost them a game they might well have won. Play throughout was fast and interesting, but with two spoiling defences, forward movements were not allowed to mature. There were periods in the game when Aberdeen were virtually 'all over" the opposition, but the attacking movements were never really very suggestive of danger to the Airdrie goal, and there was a spell of about ten minutes in the first half when Airdrieonians supplied the most effective football in the game. On the home side, Blackwell made one mistake, and it was fatal. J. Jackson and Forsyth were two good backs, and in a serviceable half-back line Edward was best. A Jackson was the outstanding forward, and carried through some nice combined movements with Paton, but the inside forwards have been seen to better advantage. Walter Jackson, centre-forward, was not well plied, but, even so, he lost more than one chance through over-anxiety. Smith, on the left wing, was disappointing, and Miller was not consistent, although he took his goal very neatly. The honours of the game went to the defence, which stood up resolutely to a hard gruelling. Ewart kept goal in fine style, and had a number of daring saves. He was splendidly supported by Dick and Allan, whose first-time tactics proved very successful. The team was splendidly served at half-back, where Macdougall and Bennie were always prominent, and in an attack that moved well and proved adept at the wide passing game, Reid, Russell, and McPhail were outstanding. There was an attendance of 15,000.

THE GAME DESCRIBED.

The Aberdeen, right wing made headway at the start, and A. Jackson cleverly beat two opponents and centred, but Paton just failed to catch on. Off a free kick near the penalty area, Pirie sent the ball wide, and Walter Jackson followed with a shot that missed narrowly. Play continued to rule in Aberdeen's favour, and W. Jackson headed wide off his brother's cross. With seven minutes gone Aberdeen took the lead. Edward lobbed the ball forward with a free kick, and Ewart left his goal to field the ball, but Miller reached it first and neatly lifted it over the goalkeeper s head into the net. The reverse stirred the Airdrie attack to activity and raids by Russell, Gallacher, and McPhail were countered by the fine defensive play of the Aberdeen backs, James Jackson especially being prominent. Aberdeen returned to the attack and Airdrie defenders got in the way of hard drives by Miller and W. Jackson. Russell for the visitors, got through, but harassed by Pirie shot weakly, and Blackwell easily saved. At the visitors' end A Jackson had a centre headed away by McDougall, and twice W. Jackson and Miller were dispossessed in the nick of time. With 20 minutes gone Airdrieonians drew level. Gallacher drew ahead, and when tackled passed out to McPhail, who ran in and beat Blackwell at close range. Following this, the Airdrie attack was seen to advantage, and the Aberdeen defence were kept busy. Paton and A. Jackson forced matters on the home right, and the latter finished with a brilliant shot which hit Ewart's crossbar and rebounded into play. When least expected Airdrieonians took the lead in lucky fashion. McDougall tried a long shot which appeared to be going wide, when Blackwell in an effort to keep the ball in play, slipped when fielding it, and dropped it over the goal-line. The reverse appeared to unsettle Aberdeen, as subsequently they were kept defending, but they rallied before the interval and forced several fruitless corners. Following one of these Ewart was fortunate to be in position to stop a lightning drive by MacLaclan. At the other end Blackwell saved from Sommerville. On play the visitors scarcelyy deserved to be on the lead at half-time.

FAST PLAY BUT NO GOALS.

Aberdeen began the second half in business-like fashion, but a promising movement was nullified by Smith shooting weakly at Ewart. After this play ruled from end to end without either goalkeeper being seriously tested. Two flag-kicks fell to Aberdeen in quick succession, and off the second of these Ewart saved at full length from MacLachlan. Play ruled for the most part in front of the Airdrie goal. Pirie headed over following another corner, and Smith shot over. Walter Jackson several times tried to burst his way through, but he was dispossessed through trying too much. Off a free kick Walter Jackson swept the ball over and later Ewart had to save from Paton and Alec Jackson. MacLachlan made a desperate effort to beat down the visitors' defence. He dashed along the touch line and centred finely, but Walter Jackson, when well placed, failed to get his boot properly behind the ball. It was only occasionally that the Airdrie attack came into prominence, and when it did, was well held. Near the finish Ewart fisted away from a flag-kick taken by Smith, and safely negotiated a hard drive by W. Jackson.

Source: Press & Journal, 6th October 1924