Aberdeen 0 - 2 Hamilton

Sustained Pressure that did not bring Reward.

Aberdeen suffered another set-back yesterday when Hamilton beat them at Pittodrie by 2-0 in a Scottish league match, the fourth match in succession Aberdeen have lost.

There were 12,000 spectators, and Academicals were at full strength, but while Aberdeen had Smith again on duty at outside-left, Jackson took the place of the injured Legge at left back.
While victory went to the more methodical side, Aberdeen actually held territorial advantage, but could not strike a decisive blow.

Unfortunate Dons

Both goals were scored in the first half, when Academicals moved at great speed with wonderful accuracy, and their dashing, go-ahead thrusts had the Aberdeen defence flustered. At the same time the home team were unfortunate to be in arrears at the interval as they had many shots blocked, and several times, notably from efforts by McLaren, and Love, the Academicals? goal had the narrowest of escapes.
In the second half Aberdeen faded out, and it seemed as if their ill-luck in the first period had a devastating effect on their nerves. True, they again went close to scoring on several occasions, but their play deteriorated, and there was a lack of cohesion in their work.

Changes Of No Avail.

In a desperate effort to save the game in the closing stages, the team was reorganised, McDermid going to left half, Dickie to inside left, and Hill to inside-right, but these changes brought no improvement.
Nor was the good luck all on one side, as there were two occasions in the second half when the woodwork came to the rescue of Aberdeen and at another time Jackson prevented a certain goal when Smith had left his charge and been beaten.
Indulging largely in swinging and first-timing, the Academicals made ground at great speed, repeatedly they had the home defence in straits.

Shots That Counted.

The first goal came after fourteen minutes? play, when following a corner-kick from the left, herd turned the ball through after several players had missed it.
The second count came just on the interval, Wilson (F.) had crossed, Cooper failed to clear decisively, and Howe, lying unmarked, obtained from Herd to put the ball into an empty goal. The lead of 2-0 for the Academicals at half-time was against the run of play, but they had snapped up their chances.
Strive as they might in the second half, Aberdeen could not weld together. Such as Yorston, McDermid and McLaren did their utmost to rally the side, but nothing would go right with them, and in the end the team was well beaten.

Best Players.

Smith kept a splendid goal for Aberdeen, and was blameless for the defeat. Cooper was much the better back, while McLaren at centre half was in a class by himself. In the forward line, Yorston and McDermid strove hard, but they were not well supported, all the other positions being weakly filled.
In a business-like Academicals side Gilmour, Wilson (J) and Watson were the shining lights in defence, and in a penetrative attack, Wilson (F), Herd, and Howe were most prominent

Source: Press & Journal, 23rd September 1930