Aberdeen 8 - 1 St. Bernards

No Quarter from the Dons

St Bernard for pluck. Handicapped by the loss of Duke in the first few minutes, the Saints made a fight against Aberdeen, and actually opened the scoring, the marksman being Harvie.
Aberdeen's eight goals came from Pirie (3), Hutton, Jackson, McDermid, and Reid, while Birrell put through his goal.
The match was not entirely as uneven as the score would suggest. The attackers, although upset by the loss of Duke, raised several dangerous attacks and Blackwell had to stop one or two likely shots. Simpson and Cunningham were their best forwards. Despite the fact he gave away a goal, Birrell had a sound game against a bustling Tom Pirie.
The Aberdeen centre had the best of it. His first was a beauty, but he had luck's way with the other two. Matchless, he gave pep to the home attack and there was no failure in the home forwards. McLachlan was the star half of the side, although he showed signs of tiring towards the end. His two partners played their roles with acceptance.
Corrigan, with Birrell, gave most resistance to the Aberdeen attack. They were difficult to pass, while they were the instigators of most of the Saints' raids. Mitchell was a lusty-kicking back, and one of the best on the field. The two Aberdeen backs were seldom in difficulties, but Johnston twice got the better of Internationalist Jock Hutton. Jock's goal was got from a free kick.
Weir was not to blame for the remarkable total registered against him, although he gave away Pirie's third, however, he had been previously injured by a shot from McDermid. Duke, who was injured early on in a collision with MacLachlan, had to be removed to the pavilion suffering from concussion.

Drawings: £474

Source: Sunday Post, 24th January 1926

Although they defeated St Bernards by 8 goals to 1 and qualified for the second round easily enough, Aberdeen got a fright during the first twenty minutes of the game at Pittodrie. Aberdeen set up a vigorous attack at the start, and for ten minutes hemmed in the Edinburgh team, without, however, getting in a counting shot. At that stage misfortune overtook the visitors. Duke, their inside right, sustained concussion in collision with MacLachlan and had to be assisted off. He was unable to resume, and so serious was his injury that he had to be removed to the Royal Infirmary.
Short-handed and against the wind, St Bernards put up a great fight, and they had the distinction of opening the scoring. Bruce miskicked into corner and following the flag kick the home defence muddled badly, the ball going to Harvie, the Edinburgh team's right half. He shot hard, and the ball struck Blackwell's left-hand post high up to rebound across his front and lodge in the side net at the other end of the goa. Amazed at the turn events, Aberdeen were obviously unnerved for a time, but they subsequently rallied, and when the game was 24 minutes old Jackson headed the equaliser after Reid had placed a free kick into goal. That was the beginning of the end so far as St Bernards were concerned. Following further attacks, Pirie gave Aberdeen the lead in five minutes with an unsaveable shot from close range, and after Pirie had made an opening in a defensive wall, Hutton put on a third goal with a tremendous drive from a free kick taken just outside the penalty area. With their confidence fully restored Aberdeen went from success to success, but St Bernards were unfortunate to lose the fourth goal. MacLachlan took a free kick from out on the left and shot hard for goal. Mitchell met the ball, but in clearing knocked it against Birrell, off whom it rebounded past his own goalkeeper. Near the interval, following clever play by Smith, McDermid headed through a fifth for Aberdeen.

ABERDEEN'S SUPERIORITY.

Aberdeen attacked at the beginning of the second half, and gave the impression that had had they cared they might have added to their lead earlier than they did. The St Bernards' attackers were plucky, and quick to seize opportunities of making ground. Good work resulted in Blackwell having to save a capital shot by Cumming, who subsequently just missed the mark with another fine try, while Johnstone also had the Aberdeen goalkeeper in action.
A sixth goal fell Aberdeen in due course. Pirie gathering quickly off a free kick by Reid left Weir helpless, and shortly afterwards Reid dashed past two opponents to shoot a seventh. Subsequently the Edinburgh goalkeeper saved finely from Smith and McDermid, but Pirie rounded off the scoring with a great shot, which Weir stopped but dropped with the ball behind the goal line.
After Aberdeen had drawn level the issue was never in doubt, but the play was never one sided as to be farcical.
Aberdeen were sound in all departments, and the return of MacLachlan and Reid, and the inclusion of Pirie at centre forward, greatly strengthened the team. Despite the big score against him. Weir performed creditably in goal for the losers. Mitchell at left back played finely, and Corrigan was clever at left half, while Cumming and Simpson were most prominent in an attack that got few chances to shine. The inclement weather affected the attendance, and the official returns show that 8076 persons paid for admission, and gross receipts were £474 3s.

Source: Press & Journal, 25th January 1926