Queens Park 1 - 1 Aberdeen

On their second half display in the game with Aberdeen at Hampden Park, Glasgow, the Queen's Park should have won in comfort, but their forwards failed to make the best use of their chances, and Aberdeen were able to force a draw in the last few minutes. The teams were evenly matched in the first half, with Aberdeen rather the more dangerous in front of goal, but after the interval the amateurs attacked almost continuously, and King gave them the lead. They should, however, have gone further ahead with the chances which fell to their forwards, but hesitancy, and poor shooting allowed the Aberdeen defence plenty of time for recovery work. Seven minutes from the finish the Aberdeen attack came into action again, and after some clever play by Reid, R. Bruce had an easy task in securing the equaliser. Both defences were sound all through, but forward Queen's Park held a decided advantage in their outfield play. The Aberdeen attack made up for that with their opportunism. The attendance would be about 8000.

Source: The Scotsman, 10th January 1927

Aberdeen did well to save a point at Hampden, where they divided two goals with Queen's Park, and retained their place fourth from the top of the league table. The weather was wretched in Glasgow, there being torrential rain during the forenoon and on the eve of the game. In the circumstances, the underfoot conditions for play were of the worst, the pitch being waterlogged. In view of this, play never reached a high standard, but it was a wonderfully keen game, with Aberdeen having the pull in the first half, and Queen's Park the better team after the interval. In a game which either might have won with a flick of fortune, a draw did justice to both, but Aberdeen probably came nearer to taking full points. Three times during the first half shots by Aberdeen forwards hit the woodwork of the Queen's Park goal, and in the last minute Aberdeen claimed that the ball had been over the line before one of the home backs kicked clear from below the crossbar.
In an Aberdeen team that gave a sound display, but did not combine so well as the amateurs, McSevich, Jackson, and MacLachlan were most prominent in defence, as were Reid, Love, and McDermid in attack. Outstanding for the amateurs were A. H. Hay, A. J. Graham, and R. Gillespie in rear, and Crawford, J. McDonald, and J. B. McAlpine in front. The bad weather restricted the attendance to about 6000.

RUN OF THE GAME.

After the amateurs' opening attack had been repulsed, the Aberdeen forwards were active, and Cheyne and McDermid had shots that were off the mark. The offensive was maintained for a time, but several promising movements broke down because of water on the pitch preventing accurate passing. Clever play by McAlpine improved the amateurs' prospects, but McDonald shot high. Later a ground cross by Nicholson was missed by McDonald and Chalmers, who had only McSevich in front of them. Reid became active on the Aberdeen right, and clever play by the winger was nullified by Cheyne shooting wide. Following this, Reid executed a brilliant individual run which finished by sending the ball against an upright, with Harkness out of position. Aberdeen kept up a persistent pressure, but several times their efforts came to grief because of the underfoot conditions restricting freedom of movement. On one occasion Cheyne failed to get right behind a pass by Reid, and Harkness easily saved. Good play on the left resulted in McDermid sending in a hot shot, which Harkness knocked out, and Cheyne fastening on sent a hard shot against an upright. Subsequently the amateurs took up the running, and McSevich fisted away from Crawford, and following this effected a brilliant one-handed save off a surprise header by McDonald. For a time each end was raided in turn. McDonald had a chance to shoot for the amateurs, but hesitated, and McSevich ran out and cleared. At the home end, Harkness saved from Love and a shot by McDermid was charged down. In another Aberdeen attack Harkness was in difficulties when he was illegally charged, and Aberdeen were penalised, McSevich was in action at the other end, saving from Gillespie, and R Bruce just missed the home goal with a cross shot that beat Harkness. Aberdeen continued to show up well. Harkness required two attempts to dispose of a close range effort by R. Bruce, and later, that forward just missed with a shot delivered from the left. At the other end McDonald got between the backs to shoot, and McSevich saved brilliantly. When Aberdeen attacked again Love was fouled just outside the penalty area, and following MacLachlan's free kick, Reid shot against the post. There was no scoring up to the interval.

KEEN SECOND HALF.

Queen's Park made the running when the game was resumed, and forced two corners in quick succession. Off the second of these the ball was cleared, but King catching on sent in a fierce shot, which appeared to strike Jackson on the leg and glance into the roof of the net, McSevich having no chance to save. Aberdeen made a spirited reply, and after R. Bruce had forced a corner, McDermid and MacLachlan had shots which hit against defenders. In an attack by the amateurs, McDonald stumbled when on the point of shooting, and Gillespie had a terrific shot brilliantly deflected over the bar by McSevich. Following this, the Aberdeen goalkeeper had again to save from Gillespie, and to prevent being charged into the net the goalkeeper had to throw the ball behind after holding a shot from Crawford. From the flag kick the Aberdeen goalkeeper fisted clear. and later D. Bruce deflected a fierce drive by Chalmers. In a rush by Aberdeen, MacLachlan sent wide from long range. Clever work on the Aberdeen left resulted In Love being left in possession in favourable position, but he muddled his attempt at a shot. For a spell Aberdeen attacked, but Harkness was not seriously troubled, although his backs were kept busy. Reid, in course of a solo effort, was grassed just outside the penalty area, but MacLachlan's free kick was smothered. After this, the game again turned in favour of the amateurs. McSevich was injured bringing off a magnificent save from McAlpine, but recovered, and disposed of tries by Chalmers and McDonald. Aberdeen rallied again after this. Harkness saved cleverly from Love, and did well to get the ball away when harassed after McDermid had shot. Seven minutes from the close Aberdeen drew level. Love let McDermid away, and after the latter had made ground and cut in he squared to Reid. The right-winger in turn slipped the ball to R. Bruce who netted from close range. A comer for Queen's Park was cleared, and in the closing stages Aberdeen made a determined effort to win the match. Clever work on the right drew the amateurs' defence, and with Harkness out of his goal the ball seemed to be going for the net when Hay dashed in and cleared. Aberdeen protested that the ball had been over the line, but the referee turned down the appeal.

Source: Press & Journal, 10th January 1927