Queen of the South 0 - 2 Aberdeen

It was disastrous day for Queens at Palmerston Park on Saturday in the Reserve League game against Aberdeen Reserves. Campbell, Queens' young outside right, had the misfortune to sustain a bad cut at >ve his eye about half-an-hour after the start, and he had to go to the pavilion, where several stitches were inserted in the v/ound. Campbell was unable to resume until after the interval. He met with a further mishap about a quarter of an hour after the resumption of play. Injured in a tackle, he had to be carried off the field on a stretcher, obviously in great pain. A superficial examination was made in the pavilion, and it was thought that he had one of his arms broken and also dislocated. An ambulance was at once summoned, and the player was taken to Dumfries Infirmary. Fortunately an X-ray examination revealed that his injuries were not as serious as had at first been imagined. He is suffering from dislocation of the arm at the elbow.
The injuries to Campbell thoroughly upset the Queens, and they were unable to make much of a show. Aberdeen also failed to hit it off in the way they had been expected to do, and all over it was a very unsatisfactory game with very little good football. The result was a win for Aberdeen by 2 goals to 0, one goal being scored in each half. There was a lot of fouling during the match, and the referee came in for a good deal of criticism from a section of the crowd, who considered he was too lenient with some of the offenders. One of the Aberdeen players, however, was booked by the official for one glaring bit of ungentlemanly conduct.
Queens had trialists at left back and centre forward. Neither of them distinguished himself, but they might have been affected by the unsettlement caused by the withdrawal of Campbell, and the fact that the side had to struggle on with only ten players for most of the game.

There was a crowd of twelve hundred.

DONS LEAD. Owing to the dry ground, it was evident that many of the players were puzzled by the quick change in the conditions from the heavy going which has been the rule for most of the season, and they could not get command of the light ball. Play was quiet at the start, and the first thrill came when Grant took free kick for Aberdeen and sent in a rocket drive for the ball to rebound from the cross-bar. Queen returned the compliment, and when Stevenson fired in shot from free kick the ball went perilously near to sailing past the Dons' 'keeper, who appeared to be deceived by the flight of the ball. M'Murdo, the Queens* Tceeper, seemed ill at ease, and on several occasions he caused apprehension letting the ball slip from his grasp when attempting to clear. Queens came nearest to scoring when there was some forceful football by Crawshaw, who was certainly the most energetic of the Palmerston forwards. He was loudly cheered for a fine effort when he had a smart flick towards the net with his head from a well-placed free kick by McMath. It looked like a goal all the way, but Crawshaw was robbed of success by splendid goalkeeping by Kelly. The keeper managed to tip the ball round the post when all seemed lost. Queens kept going when once they had got the Aberdeen defenders in difficulties, and from a corner kick by Crawshaw, Campbell drove hard for goal. Kelly again saved the situation at the expense of injury. He made a dive at the ball as it left Campbell's foot, and, though he cleared the danger, he lay on the ground apparently badly injured. The 'keeper had received a kick on the head, but after receiving attention he resumed his position. Campbell shortly afterwards received bad cut above the eye, and had to retire to the pavilion. The Dons scored a goal at the end of thirty minutes. In a mix-up in front of the Queens' goal the Dons' centre forward was left with an opening. He shot for goal without hesitation and beat M'Murdo. At the interval Aberdeen led by one goal to nothing.

PLAYER INJURED.

Campbell resumed after the interval, but Queens were again deprived of his services after a quarter of hour, when he was again injured and removed on a stretcher to the pavilion by ambulance men in attendance. With ten men, Queens had very little chance. There were some minor injuries to several of the other players, and later there was a good deal of fouling. Many in the crowd evidently considered that the referee was not doing his duty in failing to put a curb on what was going on, and there were several vocal demonstrations directed against him. After one incident the official made a note of the name of one Aberdeen player. Queens' best attack in the early stages of the second half came after neat bit of combination between McMath and Tulip. Tulip's pass into the centre was taken by Crawshaw, but he was rather unceremoniously dealt with by one of the Aberdeen defenders and did not get in his shot. Play became very uninteresting, and the only goal of the half was scored by Taylor for Aberdeen at the end of half-an-hour. There was suspicion that he was in an off-side position when he received the ball, but the referee saw nothing wrong. Queens were rarely dangerous in attack afterwards, and it was fortunate that the Dons themselves were not impressive as an aggressive force, and the game faded out with the score two goals to nothing in favour of the men from the North.

Source: Dumfries & Galloway Standard & Advertiser, 5th April 1939