Aberdeen 1 - 1 Raith Rovers

About 10,000 spectators were present at Pittodrie, Aberdeen, where a hard game was played between Aberdeen and Raith Rovers, the result, a drawn match of one goal each, being a good indication of the run of play. To Raith Rovers the match was of vital importance in view of their lowly position on the League table, and, if over anxiety was apparent in their play at times, they worked tremendously hard and fairly earned a division of the points. It was a hard task the Rovers had, and their pluck was never more apparent than when they levelled the scores through Allison within five minutes of Aberdeen taking the lead through a soft goal scored by Carroll immediately after the interval. This drawn game makes it still possible for the rovers to avoid deposition if they can win their last game with Queen?s Park at Kirkcaldy next Saturday, though they can only remain in the First Division by virtue of a slightly better goal average than St Johnstone. Mathieson, Moyes, Deuchar, King, Grand, and Allison were in good form for the Rovers, and Pitcairn made an excellent debut at centre-half. Aberdeen were sound all round, Reid, at outside right, being specially prominent.

Source: The Scotsman, 19th April 1926

In a drab contest at Pittodrie, Aberdeen and Raith Rovers divided two goals, and the point taken may enable the Fife club to retain its place in the First Division of the League. There were about 9000 spectators, who looked on at a game in which the play seldom rose above mediocrity. On the whole, Aberdeen had the better of the exchanges, but they never were particularly dangerous near goal, and if only for their plucky defence, Raith Rovers were entitled to the point they got from the game.
On the home side Blackwell was safe in goal, and Ritchie was the better of two good backs. In the intermediate line Cosgrove took the eye most. The play of the forwards was ragged, Reid meeting with most success, and Smith being a dangerous shot.
For the visitors, Mathieson, Frame and Moyes formed the strongest department of the team. Deuchars was conspicuous at half-back, and of the forwards Grant and Dorrans were best.

GAME OF FEW THRILLS.

Carroll nearly got through at the start, but was elbowed off, and when Rovers attacked Turner shot wildly from favourable position. For a time the Kirkcaldy team forced the play, and following a corner Dorrans just missed with a fine shot. Subsequent to this, Aberdeen attacked for a time, and from a flag kick by Reid, McDermid headed against the crossbar. A fierce shot by Smith was well saved by Mathieson, who shortly afterwards deflected a drive by R. Bruce. At the other end, Grant shot weakly into Blackwell's hands, and Ritchie saved on the goal line from Dorrans. Following this, the visitors' goal ran several narrow escapes. Mathieson knocked out a shot by Smith, and there was a series of scrimmages until Aberdeen were ultimately repelled. Twice in succession Blackwell had to stop shots by Bell. Towards the interval Aberdeen attacked strongly, but apart from a shot which Mathieson tipped over the bar from Cosgrove, the Rovers goal was not seriously endangered.

A COSTLY MISUNDERSTANDING.

The second half wag only minutes old when Aberdeen took the lead. R. Bruce shot from long range, and Carroll taking advantage of a misunderstanding between Mathieson and Moyes, dashed in and hooked the ball into the net. For a time Aberdeen played as if they might increase the lead, but Rovers rallied, and clever work by Bell and Dorrans, and a square pass to Allison, who was unmarked, resulted in the last named equalising. The visitors were seen to better advantage after this success, and twice Blackwell had to clear good shots by Grant. Aberdeen retaliated with intermittent raids, but they got few chances to shoot, and Rovers nearly took the lead as the result of a long oblique shot by Turner, Blackwell saving at the expense of a corner. In the later stages of the game, Aberdeen applied strong pressure, but although they forced numerous corners they did not give much trouble to Mathieson, who was splendidly supported by the set of plucky defenders.

Source: Press & Journal, 19th April 1926