Source: The Scotsman, 19th January 1925
A THRILLING STRUGGLE
A warm pace was set from the start. Thistle were the first to get in a thrust, and, following a centre by Ness, Miller swept in a great drive which beat Blackwell, but the ball found the upright and rebounded into play to be cleared by J. Jackson. Aberdeen were kept defending for a time, and it was only good covering by the backs and half-backs that kept the attackers at bay. Ultimately, forcing play by Pirie caused Crichton to concede a corner, and Ramsay ran out and fisted clear from A. Jackson's well-placed flag-kick. Pirie and Bruce greatly troubled the Thistle defence, and there were several exciting passages in front of the visitors' goal. Bruce forced another corner, and Ramsay, at full length, eluded Pirie to scrape the ball behind, following a header by A. Jackson. The pressure by Aberdeen was maintained, and Hutton and Bruce both shot past. By long-swinging tactics Thistle ultimately got back to the attack, and Salisbury sent the ball against the outside of the net. He was more accurate a minute later, when he caused Blackwell to fist clear. The play ruled fast from end to end, and, following a free kick by W. Jackson, Pirie headed over. In a desperate rush by the Aberdeen forwards, Ramsay dashed out and kicked clear when Pirie had passed the backs, and later A. Jackson headed on to the roof of the net off an accurate return by Bruce. There was intense excitement when Smith centred, and, after Ramsay had failed to fist clear, Pirie headed the ball inches wide of the goal. Following this, Pirie gave A. Jackson a chance, but the winger shot wildly. The Thistle goal had another narrow escape when A Jackson cut in and put the ball to Pirie's foot. The centre-forward shot, but the ball was deflected, and Crichton just managed to avert disaster at the expense of a corner. Bruce and J. Jackson were both injured, and had to be treated at the side field. While the latter was absent, Forsyth went to centre-half and placed very accurately to the forwards, but they were slow to gather, and before they could recover the defenders relieved. Bruce volleyed in a terrific shot from 25 yards, and Ramsay just managed to deflect the ball against the crossbar, off which it bounced for a corner. Three minutes from the interval Pirie gave Aberdeen a well-deserved lead. A. Jackson centred accurately, and, from a crowd of players, the centre-forward Jumped high and headed the ball out of Ramsay's reach. Thistle came very near to equalising immediately, Blackwell saving finely a hard drive by Miller.ABERDEEN ON TOP.
Thistle were first to make headway on resuming, and Davidson cleared a dangerous cross from Ness. Subsequent to this, there was a prolonged defensive duel in midfield, interrupted only occasionally by bursts away by the wingers on either side. Kinloch dashed ahead to let Ness off and square, but the first named overran the ball and Forsyth cleared. At the other end Paton disposed of a dangerous centre by Smith. Each defence was tested in turn after this. Miller shot against the side-net for Thistle, and Paton was fortunate to get in the way of a terrific shot by Smith. Following this the Partick right back conceded a corner when he misjudged a pass back just wide of the goal. Following the corner kick, Pirle was penalised for a charge on Ramsay, who was injured, but was able to carry on. Hutton conceded a corner, but offside gave Aberdeen relief, and following this, Blackwell had to hold a long high shot from McMullan. At the other end, Ramsay saved finely from A. Jackson, and immediately afterwards had a wonderful clearance from a terrific shot by Bruce. The Aberdeen wingers developed liveliness, and harassed by Pirie, the Thistle defenders were hard put to it dispose of their centres. After 35 minutes Aberdeen increased their lead. Smith swung over a beautiful centre, and similarly as he had done in the first half, Pirie headed the ball into net. The Thistle attack again came into the limelight, and Blackwell saved a tremendous drive off a free kick by Miller. On the home right, A. Jackson beat all opposition, and cut in towards goal, and it was a near thing when Ramsay dashed out and kicked clear when the winger was in the act of shooting. Following this, the Aberdeen forwards were rampant. Smith and W. Jackson had shots that went wide, and later Ramsay brought off a fine save from the home inside left. The game was interrupted while MacLachlan and Miller had injuries attended to, the latter changing places with Ness on resuming. In the closing stages, the Thistle defence was hard pressed, but no further scoring took place, and Aberdeen proved worthy winners of a thrilling struggle.Source: Press & Journal, 19th January 1925