Aberdeen 3 - 2 Ayr United

BRADY SCORES GREAT GOAL IN SECOND HALF

Aberdeen "A" had Kelly back in goal for this game at Pittodrie with Ayr United "A ". Bowie, the Buckie Thistle back, was given another trial at left back and Campbell, who was injured against St Johnstone " A." resumed at outside right.

The Ayr team showed five changes from the original selection. Torbet, the outside left, was playing his last game for Ayr United.
Donald kicked off for Aberdeen and two seconds later the ball was in the net for Aberdeen to be a goal up.
Scott slipped the ball to Campbell and the outside right beat Thomson, the ball slipping through the 'keeper's grasp. This early lead was encouraging and the Young Dons hammered the Ayr goal.
There was little combination in their raids however. The inside men were pushing up balls to Donald which left the centre with too much unnecessary work to do.
Instead of drawing the defence to give Donald room to work in, they made the Ayr defence's job easy by passing to a marked man.
Donald, too, was getting a number of his passes in the air. It would have paid to have kept them low.

RAIN OF SHOTS

Kelly had a bewildering few minutes at the other end. A rain of shots came from the Ayr forwards which found the uprights. Ayr were definitely unlucky not to take the lead at this point.
Just before half-time they drew level from a lovely shot by Aitken.

The second half opened with vigorous pressure by the Ayr attack but the Aberdeen forwards took a grip on the game and tested McCloy with hard drives. Temple, well up the field, sent in a high ball which almost deceived the keeper.
Donald was injured and had to go off, Brady going to centre. When Donald resumed. Ritchie Smith went to centre with Donald at outside left.
The new centre was lively in his changed position. Persistent in attack, he chased every ball with any possibilities.
Aberdeen's front line was now moving with speed and directness.

PENALTY AWARD

A penalty for hands was given against Ayr and Ritchie Smith scored from the spot with beautiful shot.
Shortly afterwards. Scott, Campbell and Brady combined in what was the high spot of the game. The ball came to Brady, who scored one of the finest goals ever seen at Pittodrie.
The Aberdeen defence dealt adequately with the Ayr attack, although Kelly definitely had luck on his side on three occasions when the ball struck upright or crossbar.
The half-back line pushed on the play well enough, Fraser opening up the game wherever possible.
Of the forwards, Ritchie Smith and Brady were best. Campbell at outside right gave a promising display, being very speedy on the ball..

Source: Press & Journal, 18th October 1937