St. Mirren 3 - 0 Aberdeen

Before 6000 spectators at Paisley, St Mirren gained a comfortable victory over Aberdeen. There was no scoring in the first half, and in the second goals were got by McRae (two) and Howieson.

Source: The Scotsman, 26th April 1926

Aberdeen team concluded its programme of Scottish League games at Paisley, where St Mirre, the Scottish Cup winners, beat them decisively by 3 goals to 0. Ten thousand spectators watched a keenly contested game, in which St Mirren were the superior team, but it was not until fifteen minutes after the interval that they were ableto pierce a stubborn Aberdeen defence. Aberdeen were inferior in both periods, and they had no reason to complain about the severity of the defeat, which, on the run of play, might have been even more decisive. Their forwards were clever in the outfield, but were woefully weak near goal, and in a defence that served its side admirably until the surrender of the first goal, fell away in the later stages. Blackwell kept goal brilliantly for Aberdeen, and distinguished himself by a great one-handed save of a penalty kick taken by McRae in the second half. He could not have prevented any of the goals registered against him. Hutton and Bruce defended stubbornly, but towards the end the strain was telling upon them, and they did not play so well, although making few mistakes. The Aberdeen half-backs did well in the first half, but they lost their grip after the interval, and Edward was the most consistent of the trio. The attack was not well balanced. Reid got few chances, but made the most of those he got. McDermid was crafty but erratic in shooting, and while Bruce was clever, he spoilt a lot of good work by hanging too long on the ball. Smith was fleet on the left wing, and occasionally shot well, but did not relish the robust tackling of Findlay. Pirie at centre forward was not a success, and slowness to gather the ball nullified several good chances.
St Mirren played well individually, but a tenancy to adopt too close tactics accounted chiefly for their delay in opening the score, Bradford was safe in goal, and Newbiggin was the better back. Summers and Morison excelled in the middle division. Howieson was the best forward on view, and Indulged in more shooting than any other player afield. Thomson was very effective towards the close, and McCrae was a nippy centre forward, who took up good position.

STRONG ABERDEEN DEFENCE.

Bradford had to save a soft shot by Pirie at the start, but St Mirren soon attacked and Blackwell had to save a header from McCrae. At the other end, Smith rounded Findlay to deliver a great shot on the run, Bradford tipping the ball over the bar. Following this, Pirie just missed the goal with an oblique ground shot, and Reid lifted one from favourable position. After this St Mirren took up the running. Blackwell saved from Howieson's head, and McCrae broke through to shoot hard for Blackwell to bring off a wonderful clearance. For a time the exchanges entirely favoured St Mirren, but Aberdeen put up a doffed defence. Blackwell saved well from Howieson, who was the home team's most enterprising forward, and had several shots that were just wide of the mark. Thomson and Morgan both failed at easy chances, and at this stage bad finishing alone by the home attackers accounted for a blank score sheet. Howieson headed wide, and Blackwell fisted clear from Thomson. A breakaway by Smith nearly led to Aberdeen taking the lead. The winger crossed to Pirie, who was unmarked, but his shot was weak, and Bradford easily saved. The exchanges generally, however, favoured St Mirren, but their forwards elaborated too much. On one occasion McCrae broke though, and was in the act of shooting when Hutton dashed in and deflected the ball for a corner. Subsequently Blackwell fisted clear from the wings. Near the interval Reid got away on the right, but his centre found the cross-bar. The honours of the first half went to the Aberdeen defence, who did well to keep their goal intact.

BLACKWELL'S PENALTY SAVE

When play resumed the Aberdeen right made progress and R. Bruce had a lovely shot deflected for a corner by Bradford. St Mirren again took up the offensive after this, and Blackwell saved from Howieson, who later swept the ball only inches wide. After 15 minutes' play Thomson cut in and shot low down beside the post, and Blackwell at full length pushed the ball away. Thomson regained possession, his pass along the goal was accepted by McCrae, who easily netted. Aberdeen came near to equalising immediately, McDermid's shot hitting the outside of the net. In another attack St Mirren were awarded a penalty, but McCrae's swift low shot was brilliantly saved by Blackwell, who dived to the right, and knocked the ball out with one hand - a really brilliant piece of work. Following this, Smith, for Aberdeen, shot weakly, and scooped the ball just over the bar. St Mirren went further ahead after this, a long shot by Howieson striking Edward, and being deflected wide of Blackwell, who must otherwise have saved easily. Subsequently Aberdeen were kept busy defending, and Howieson and Thomson each had shots that missed narrowly. At the other end, a fierce shot by Smith was knocked out by Bradford, and Pirie and McDermid were only slightly wrong in direction with good tries.
Six minutes from the end McCrae worked through on the right to score a clever third goal for St Mirren. In the closing minutes, Aberdeen attacked strongly, and the St Mirren goal was fortunate to escape downfall when the ball hovered about in front of Bradford, and neither side could apply a decisive kick.

Source: Press & Journal, 26th April 1926