Hamilton 1 - 1 Aberdeen

Play in the game at Hamilton between the Academicals and Aberdeen, which was attended by some 5000 spectators, was of a moderate character until the second half was entered upon. An early goal by Reid, from a cross by Smith, appeared to create a spirit of contentment amongst the Aberdeen players. When the Academicals equalised by Kelly in the opening minutes of the second half the complexion of the play completely altered. The determined efforts of the Academical forwards to secure a winning goal were met by tactics of the most determined kind, and it was fortunate for the Aberdeen team that they had such a reliable set of defenders as Hopewell [sic.], Hutton, and Bruce. The Aberdeen half-backs lost their grip of the home forwards, who launched attack after attack on Hopewell's [sic.] goal, only to have them turned aside, and in the closing minutes Pirie made a praiseworthy effort to snatch a leading goal, which on team play Aberdeen would not have been value for. Indeed, they were fortunate to get off with honours even. The forward wing play of Aberdeen was clever up to a point, but the front division men were deficient in penetrative power. The absence of Williamson in the Academicals' attack proved a handicap.

Source: The Scotsman, 1st February 1926

Note: The Scotsman report uses the name "Hopewell" but in fact the Aberdeen goalkeeper was, as usual, Blackwell.

Aberdeen picked a valuable point in a rather drab game at Hamilton, where they divided two goals with the Academicals of that ilk. The game was strenuous enough, but neither individual nor collective skill was featured. The result did justice to both, although Aberdeen came nearer to winning, and had they done so Academicals could not have grudged them success. Aberdeen fielded the team that swamped St Bernards in the cup-tie, but compared with the side that knocked out Cowdenbeath the Academicals were without Stewart, outside right, and Williamson, centre-forward. On cold afternoon, there were 5000 spectators.
It was a dourly-contested game, with neither team showing much method, the forwards on both sides suffering from the fact that defenders rarely parted to advantage, and the ball was much in the air and often out of play. In defence, Aberdeen had not a weakling, but the defect was general that little attention was paid to constructive play. The forwards worked harmoniously at times, but an old failing on the part of the inside wingers, who showed a tendency to lie too far back, detracted from their value as attackers. Reid, Smith, and McDermid were the most prominent, the first-named being the most dangerous forward on the field. On the Academicals side McCormack and Johnstone were stalwart defenders. None of the half-backs were of much account, although all three, like those of Aberdeen, excelled as spoilers. In attack Miller and Morton were best.

STORY OF THE GAME.

Aberdeen attacked at the start, Somerville having to hold a long shot from Reid, and just afterwards he was fortunate be in position to stop a header by Pirie. Academicals made play on the right, and Morton forced a comer from which Bruce cleared. Aberdeen took the lead after six minutes. McDermid and Smith carried the ball along, and the first-named centred for Reid to head through from close in. At the other end, Blackwell fisted away from Borland. The home attack was maintained, and off another corner MacLachlan gave Aberdeen relief. Pirie carried play to the other end, where Reid forced a corner, and a drive by Jackson was blocked by a defender. Subsequently, raid was countered by raid. Blackwell, when harassed by Gibson, just managed to throw clear, and got back in time to hold a stinging shot by Moffat. At the other end, a shot by McDermid was only a matter of inches high. For time Aberdeen were on top. McDermid forced a corner, and then just missed with a shot that had Somerville beaten, and Reid followed with a fierce drive, the ball striking the upright and rebounding over the touchline. Miller did his best to marshal the Academicals' attack and following good work by that player, Morton shot wide from favourable position. Aberdeen took the offensive after this, and Somerville fisted clear from Smith, and saved off Jackson's head. Following this Smith, at a bad angle, sent the ball against the outside of the net after Somerville had been drawn out. Aberdeen looked like going further ahead at this stage, and several shots by Pittodrie forwards were blocked front Somerville. Ultimately Miller again put Academicals on the attack, and two corners fell to them in quick succession, Blackwell fisting away off the second. In another raid by Aberdeen, Somerville saved cleverly from Reid, and at the other end, Morton just misled with two capital tries. Close on the interval Sommerville, out of his goal, was lucky to shoot out his foot and stop a ball from Jackson that must have found the net. Aberdeen retained their lead at half-time.

Academicals Draw Level.

On resuming, Academicals were granted a doubtful corner on the right. Morton placed the ball accurately, and in a scrimmage in front of the Aberdeen goal Kelly flicked the ball past Blackwell. Subsequently the Aberdeen defence was hard pressed for a time. Blackwell ran out and cleared from Miller, and Hutton dashed In and dispossessed Kelly when the latter hesitated to shoot. Reid gave Aberdeen relief with a brilliant ran from midfield and Somerville got his hands on the winger's parting shot when the ball appeared to be going through just under the bar. A centre by Smith misled the Academicals' goalkeeper, but the ball found Pirie unprepared. Aberdeen kept up a vigorous offensive for a time, and the Academicals were lucky when, following a free kick by MacLachlan, McCormack headed out from below the bar with Somerville out of his charge. A cross from Reid was headed Just wide by Pirie. Subsequently both defences were severely tested. Blackwell stopped a fast grounder from Miller, and Kelly was twice dispossessed when on the point shooting. Following a corner for the Academicals Blackwell was knocked over and lost possession, and the ball seemed to he going through at the post when Bruce deflected it wide. Reid again gave Aberdeen relief, but his ground pass travelled too fast for Pirie to intercept, and McCormack ultimately cleared. For a time neither team could make much headway, but Aberdeen came near to winning the game in the closing minutes. Following a corner by Reid, there was a desperate scrimmage in front of the Academicals' goal before the ball was cleared, and just on time Pirie, after a tussle with both the home backs, sent the ball just over the bar while he was lying on the ground close to the home goal.

Source: Press & Journal, 1st February 1926