Aberdeen 2 - 0 Alliance Select

ALLIANCE SELECT XI. BEATEN,/p>

CENTRE HALF-BACKS IN LIMELIGHT

Even for a friendly this was a game that had remarkably few features worth recalling.
For a spell it gave promise of holding at least normal interest, but that promise was never fulfilled. Two early goals - netted within the opening ten minutes - put the Young Dons in a comfortable position, and after that they seemed more or less satisfied with the score.

RAGGED PLAY

The Select kept pegging away, but there was a raggedness about their work that could probably be attributed to some extent to the fact that most of them were strangers to each other.
At any rate, they rarely had Smith in real trouble, although the 'keeper had to deal with a number of well-directed long range shots.
If the first half was a tame affair the second period was dull in the extreme, and the sound of the final whistle must have been a relief to all.
As a team the young Dons were the superior lot, and had they made the most of their scoring chances they would have finished more than two ahead. The goals they got were attributable to defensive blunders.

KEEPER'S ERROR

The first came after Warnock had punted downfield. The harassed McLatchie tapped sharply back to Jack who failed to cover the ball with his body and the leather spun over his arms into the net.
The second count should also have been averted. Davidson foozled a clearance and Lang, who was rushing in, had an easy job to find the net.
On the whole the home defence were able to keep a firm grip on the opposing attack. Smith was always safe, and McGill and Newton were rarely in trouble.

DRYSDALE'S EFFORTS

In the attack, Lang and Ritchie Smith did some clever things, and Warnock kept the Select defence on edge. The entire quintette, however, were at fault when it came to finishing.
Drysdale, of Rangers, strove hard to keep the Select attacking machine in motion, but there was a tendency on the part of his wing halfs to adopt defensive tactics. The Ibrox pivot's raking forward passes might have led to better things.
Jack did not seem too confident in goal - probably his blunder in the opening minutes had an unsettling effect, and the backs were inclined to get flurried.
Souter, on the right wing, was the live wire in the early stages, but a nasty leg knock twenty minutes from the interval affected his play later.
It was from the other flank that the best combined play was seen, Wooley and Smith, both of Partick Thistle, being used to each other's play. There was, however, a lack of punch when it came to finishing.

Source: Press & Journal, 1st March 1937