Morton 1 - 2 Aberdeen

The results of Saturday?s Scottish League games did not serve to throw further light on the championship and relegation problems. Rangers strengthened their position as leaders, and Aberdeen, with a smart victory at Greenock, established themselves more firmly in the role of runners-up. McHale?s inclusion did not save St Johnstone from defeat at Hamilton, and the plight of the Perth club is serious. Ties in the North of Scotland Cup competition attracted big crowds.

It is a good performance for any team to go to Cappielow Park and beat Greenock Morton. Aberdeen deserve every credit for taking both points, but it was a near thing. In truth, it was the opportunism of Yorston that won the day. When this great little centre-forward scored an equalising goal half an hour after the start, he put a damper on the enthusiasm of the Morton men and put his own side?s stock up fifty per cent.
When he scored what proved to be the winning goal, ten minutes from the end, he took the heart out of the home side altogether, albeit a side that at this advanced stage of the game had merited to the full a division of the spoils.

Turning Point.

At one period of the second half, as a matter of fact, Aberdeen found themselves literally fighting with their backs, not to the wall but to their own goal. Had there been a real general in the Morton attack, there is little doubt that Aberdeen would have found themselves in arrears. As it was the home forwards, after making the openings, simply could not turn them to account.
They just kept banging in the hope that a shot would find its billet. Of real method they had none and the hard-pressed Dons' defence survived the seige. Then the visiting inside supports decided to allow the defence to look after itself and that was the turning point. Yorston's supreme individual effort in heading through a high centre from Smith ended the struggle.
Few teams, after pressing so consistently as Morton had done, without success, can hit back on receiving such a blow as this was to their morale and Greenock Morton more or less bowed to the inevitable.
Aberdeen will not have to fight harder for points this season at least. The Dons from the kick-off set up a style of game that clearly showed they were conscious of their superiority and that there was plenty of time to demonstrate it. It was nice classy football, lovely to watch, but the expected goals did not come. Soon the Black and Gold brigade realised they were up against a stuffy side, and when MacCartney slipped away to score from a seemingly impossible angle the fat was in the fire.

Yorston?s Great Goal.

Aberdeen lost something of their repose, and attacked with greater purpose. Yorston s equaliser, ten minutes later, was more welcome even than the flowers in May. It was a bonnie shot too. Beating defender thirty yards out, Benny sheered off to the right, took cool, steady aim, and hey presto, Wilson, the home keeper, was picking the ball from the back of the net.
A rally near the close of this half should have seen the Dons on the lead. There was more than one offender in front of the hapless Wilson who seemed almost dazed by the consistency with which two of the visiting forwards declined to accept the gifts the gods gave them.

Period of Stress.

But all the forwards played so well that there is little point in dwelling on this passing phase.
The first twenty minutes of the second half were somewhat nightmarish for the Dons. Morton came far out of their shell, and set up a steady bombardment. The shots rained in, were blocked, scraped away, or seized by the sure hands of Yuill, who took up a Horatio-like role. Yuill was on his mettle, and proved equal to any emergency. Still, Lyle, the Greenock centre, should not have allowed anybody to prevent him from scoring when he was clean through with only the advancing custodian to beat.
It was a daring and brilliant piece of work on Yuill's part, who in narrowing the centre's angle, undoubtedly saved his side from falling into arrears for the second time that afternoon.

The Match-Winner.

Yorston is being freely spoken of just now in an International connection, and that he merits the favour of the selectors there can be no doubt. The manner in which took his second goal placed him in the highest class. A leap in the air, a twist of the head, and one of Smith?s lightning crosses was piloted past a goalkeeper who, even to have seen the ball in its flight, must possess uncanny powers of observation.
As usual, it was the forward line that shone most for the Dons. Yorston was at his best. One might say that he out-Gallachered Hugh Gallacher himself. He was here, there, and everywhere, but always just in the right position to snap up a pass or a stray chance. Benny was in deadly shooting form, too, while his speed and quickness in getting off his mark seemed more pronounced than ever.
Both Smith and Love were dangerous raiders, but the left-winger was the more effective of the two. The triangular work of Smith, McDermid, and Yorston was a feature. Cheyne took longer to settle down, but was a great support.

Yuill?s Brilliance.

Of the halves, none did better than McLaren. There was little between the backs, but on occasions it was fortunate for Aberdeen that there was a keeper of Yuill's brilliance behind them.
Morton are quite a good side, strong at half back and possessing in McCartney and Johnston two great wingers. Lyle is a dashing centre, but rather stereotyped in his methods. The Morton defence was at times very unreliable.
Of course, mention must made of the Greenock Supporters? Club boycott. It kept just over 1000 spectators away, and the attendance of over 6000 was an increase on that of a week ago when Queen's Park provided the opposition. What a pity that such an unsporting thing as a boycott should ever have been introduced into the grand old game of football.

Source: Press & Journal, 10th February 1930