Aberdeen 4 - 1 Clydebank

Aberdeen at home defeated Clydebank easily before 10,000 spectators. The match was played under the most wintry conditions experienced this season. The officials of the Aberdeen club had arranged for the ground being cleared from the previous day's snowfall of four inches, but still the footing on the frozen park, even where sand had been liberally sprinkled were precarious. That accounted for Reid, the Clydebank centre-forward, coming to grief when he collided with Hutton after the match had been fifteen minutes started. He was being treated in the pavilion when Smith, accepting a pass from Reid (Aberdeen), scored. The Clydebank Reid equalised almost as soon as he reappeared. It was soon apparent, however, that Aberdeen were easily the superior side, and all the smart defensive play of the Clydebank backs. Murphy and McKendrick, could not prevent McDermid from adding another couple of goals before half-time, and MacLachlan getting a fourth a few minutes after the restart. The Aberdeen players adapted themselves better to the conditions than the visitors. As stated, the Clydebank backs were prominent, and others outstanding on their side were Scraggs, the centre half-back, and the centre-forward, Reid. For Aberdeen, Hutton, D. Bruce, and MacLachlan were the best defenders, and the front line showed considerable energy and better combination than in recent matches. Before the close of the match Reid, Aberdeen's right winger, slipped and had to be taken off the field. He suffered from a dislocation of the right elbow.

Aberdeen experienced little difficulty in defeating Clydebank at Pittodrie by 4 goals to 1. Before the game could be proceeded with a coating of six inches of snow had to be removed from the pitch, and although the surface was hard, it was not icy and the footing improved by a sprinkling of sand, was surprisingly good. Although this was so, the ground was hard enough to be dangerous for players who came down violently, and it was not surprising that several mishaps occurred during the afternoon. The most serious of these was that which befell Reid, the Aberdeen outside right, near the end of the game. He came down heavily, and after he had been carried off it was discovered he had dislocated his right elbow, an injury which will keep him out of the field for about three weeks. Reid, the Clydebank centre forward, also fell heavily, and sustained a sprained wrist, and minor hurts were suffered by Hutton and MacLachlan, Aberdeen, and McKendrick, Clydebank.
Victory went to the home players because they adapted themselves much better to the conditions than Clydebank, and on the day's play the margin of victory might have been doubled without any injustice being done to the losers. The Aberdeen players risked more, and were always more enterprising, while the visitors never seemed to get out of the rut, and always appearing to be afraid to let themselves go on the hard ground, it was surprising that the victory of the home team was not more decisive. With a lead of 3-1 at the interval, Aberdeen had the game well won at that stage, but when they registered a fourth goal they slackened off perceptibly, but even appearing to take matters easy as they did, they held the upper hand.
Except in goal, where no comparison could made, so little did Blackwell have to do, Aberdeen were superior in all departments, and they played surprisingly good football considering the underfoot conditions. Hutton and j Bruce (D.) were never in difficulties at back, and Aberdeen had a great advantage at halfback, where MacLachlan and Edward were outstanding. In an attack that, now led very successfully, and carried through many clever individual and combined movements, there was really not a weak link, but McDcrmid, Bruce (R.), and Smith were outstanding.
Although did not inspire confidence, Gallacher did well in the Clydebank goal. At back Murphy and McKendrick put up a heroic fight, and constituted the best division of the team. The half-backs were weak, only Scraggs claiming attention, and that only as a defender. In a forward line that lacked support from the rear, Reid and Evans were best. The attendance - about 8000 - was the smallest of the season at a First Division match at Pittodrie but that can accounted for by the early start and the chilly nature of the atmosphere.

STORY OF THE PLAY.

After Clydebank's opening burst had been beaten back, a shot by Jackson at the other end was charged down by Scraggs. A miskick by Hutton gave Clydebank a corner, but the flag kick was sent behind. Following this, Aberdeen took up the running, and Reid centred in rear of Gallacher's goal. A shot by Jackson was deflected for a corner by Gallacher, and after this, in clearing from the Aberdeen centre-for- ward, the Clydebank goalkeeper had to follow the ball nearly out to the touchline. Before he regained his charge, the ball was twice cleared by colleagues. Off a raid by the Clydebank left, Smith shot wide. The game after this for a time ruled entirely in favour of Aberdeen. Smith hit the crossbar with a terrific shot, the ball rebounding behind Gallacher's goal, and subsequently several shots by Aberdeen attackers were charged down by Clydebank defenders. Reid, the visitors' centre-forward, was injured, and had to retire, but returned after ten minutes with a bandaged wrist. Gallacher brought off a wonderful save from Jackson, tipping the ball over for a corner, which did not avail Aberdeen. All the play was in Clydebank territory, and it was not surprising that Aberdeen scored. Reid carried along the right and centred strongly for Smith to take the ball as it came and crash it into the net. The exchanges continued to favour Aberdeen, and the Clydebank goal ran several narrow escapes. With the return of Reid, the visitors improved, and Blackwell had to fist clear from Houston. Following this Evans centred, and Reid nipped smartly between Blackwell and Hutton to send the ball into the net. In another Clydebank raid, Evans dropped the ball on Blackwell's crossbar. Following this, Gallacher saved from R. Bruce, and Smith twice shot against the outside of the Clydebank net. Ten minutes from the interval McDermid accepted a pass from R. Bruce to give Aberdeen the lead with an oblique shot from just inside the corner of the penalty area. Close on the interval following further pressure by Aberdeen, McDermid met a return by a Clydebank defender to go through and obtain a third goal for Aberdeen, who were worthy their lead of 3 goals to 1 at the interval.

MACLACHLAN'S GOAL.

When play resumed Aberdeen took up the attack, and Maclachlan worked through to shoot high over. He made amends immediately, however, when he dribbled past two opponents to shoot a fine goal from fully 20 yards' range. Aberdeen maintained the pressure, and after McDermid had shot wide. R. Bruce handled when he appeared to be rushing the ball through from a corner kick. A raid by Evans resulted in Blackwell having to fist clear, but play was quickly back at Gallacher's end, where the keeper tipped over the bar from R. Bruce. At this stage play became very one sided. Smith shot inches high with a fierce drive, and Reid, after working into the centre, sent wide. In a scrimmage Gallacher was beaten by a header from McDermid, but McKendrjck headed out from below the bar. A great drive by Hutton was deflected over the bar by Gallacher, who subsequently was lucky not to have another goal recorded against him when out of his charge he missed, the ball, but Reid, the home right winger, slipped at the critical moment. A run by the Clydebank left produced a fruitless corner, and Aberdeen went back to the attack, Edward, Smith, Jackson, and MacLachlan all had shots that were just off the mark. In a run by Jackson, Gallacher did well to gather his parting shot at the foot of the post. Alec Reid, the home right winger, was injured, and was carried off five minutes before the end, but even shorthanded Aberdeen continued to hold the upper hand and were easy winners.

Source: Press & Journal, 21st December 1925