East Fife 1 - 3 Aberdeen

The first fifteen minutes at Methil proved to be the deciding period. From the outset both goals were attacked, and, with East Fife playing confidently, the 6000 present were delighted when Gowdy whipped past Smith five minutes after the start. With this success they continued to be the more aggressive, and Aberdeen's rear lines had to be alert.
With twelve minutes gone a good long shot from McLaren found Bernard make a poor show at saving, and the next minute the goalkeeper palmed a ball from Love to the feet of Smith, who added number two, and the home side suffered a severe blow. Their subsequent play suffered, whereas that of Aberdeen improved. The visitors' third gaol, 20 minutes after the restart, was another simple one, Bernard partially saving, and McDermid, on the spot, had no trouble in netting. To complete East Fife's discomfiture Gowdy missed a penalty kick.

Source: Glasgow Herald, 20th October 1930

Cooper, Aberdeen's right back, was injured in the match against East Fife on Saturday, and lies in hospital at Kirkcaldy. Cooper apparently received a knock on the stomach in the first half but finished the game. Shortly after the start of the journey home he became sick and was removed to hospital at Kirkcaldy, where he has been detained for examination.

Source: Glasgow Herald, 20th October 1930

The outstanding result in the First Division of the Scottish League on Saturday was the defeat of Rangers by Kilmarnock. As the outcome, the champions drop to sixth place, three points behind Motherwell, who are leaders. Aberdeen registered their first win on opponents? ground by easily defeating East Fife at Methil.

Aberdeen defeated East Fife at Methil much more easily than the score 3-1 suggests. Six thousand spectators saw what at first promised to be a rousing struggle, but with the play very one-sided in the second half, many left long before the end.
Aberdeen should have scored In the first minute when, after Bernard had weakly cleared from Love, Smith was not quick enough to fasten on in front of goal.
It was after eight minutes that East Fife took the lead. Liddle worked along to centre for Gowdy to net with a great left-foot drive.

Two Quick Goals.

Only five minutes had gone when Aberdeen drew level. Brilliant play by McDermid and Love had the home defence in difficulties, and McLaren dashed in to let go a fierce right-foot drive. Bernard got the ball but failed to hold, and it deflected into the net.
Another Aberdeen success followed immediately. Yorston shot hard for Bernard to knock the ball down, and while he endeavoured to get possession. Yorston and Smith dashed up, the last-named forcing it over the line.

Cooper?s Timely Clearance

As the game progressed, Aberdeen got all the more firm a grip, and Smith should have increased their lead, sending wide with open an goal in front.
Aberdeen were not without their moments of anxiety. Goalkeeper Smith was often in action, and once Cooper cleared from underneath the bar when the 'keeper was out of his charge. Bernard, however, had more to do, and did well to dispose of powerful shots by Love and Yorston.
Early in the second half Gillespie, below the bar, stopped ball from Yorston when Bernard was beaten. For ten minutes Aberdeen pressed continuously, and Love headed home from free kick by Hill, only to given offside.

Third for Aberdeen.

After prolonged pressure Aberdeen got a third goal. Yorston fired in a great shot which Bernard at full length could only push out, and McDermid, lying handy, had no difficulty in netting.

A Missed Penalty.

In a rally by the home team McCurley shot against the crossbar, and later Gowdy, taking a penalty kick given against Black, shot wildly over the bar.
Apart from these isolated efforts by East Fife, Aberdeen made all the running, the outfield work of the forwards being delightful.
Near the close Gowdy looked like counting for East Fife with a header, but for the second time in the game Cooper cleared on the goal-line when Smith would have been, beaten.

McLean?s Debut.

Better as a team, Aberdeen were superior in all departments. They had a very capable goalkeeper in Smith, who brought off a number of clever saves. Cooper and Legge, especially the former, were sound backs, and in an intermediate line that was much more constructive than the home trio, McLaren and Hill were splendid.
McLean, the ex-Celtic and Sunderland forward, who made his debut for Aberdeen, made an impressive appearance at inside left, and the line worked with much more harmony than in recent weeks. His long passes to either flank were a feature, and he varied his work with an occasional dart through on his own.
The placing of McDermid at inside right also made for improvement, and the wing was the best Aberdeen has fielded this season, Love responding in great style to the many excellent passes sent him.

Missed Chances.

Smith was always lively, but not so effective as he might have been considering the chances he got. Yorston?s distribution was all that could be desired, but his tendency to fall into the offside trap spoilt many promising movements.
With all their smoothness of working and despite many grand saves by the home goalkeeper, Aberdeen ought to have had more goals. Love, McDermid, Yorston, and Smith all failing at comparatively easy chances.

Well Beaten Side.

East Fife were a well beaten team. Bernard was at fault in the loss of all three goals, yet stopped many balls that looked sure counters. His fielding of the ball, however, was faulty. Gillespie was the better back in a division that was overworked. In the middle line Shaw was best, but was not constructive.
Of the forwards, Liddell was most successful. Gowdy, the Irish international centre-half, who was at centre-forward, had an abundance of dash, but was too slow for the position, and Wilson, the ex-Aberdeen right winger, did well considering his lack of height and weight.

Aberdeen Back's Injury

Cooper in Hospital at Kirkcaldy

Willie Cooper, the stalwart right back of the Aberdeen team, now lies in hospital in Kirkcaldy suffering from an injury to a kidney, sustained during the game with East Fife at Methil.
On dismounting from the bus at Kirkcaldy station on the homeward journey, Cooper complained of pain in the region of the left kidney and was sick. He was immediately seen to by Mr William Mitchell, the director who accompanied the team, Mr Travers, the manager, and Trainer Russell, who accompanied him to the Station Hotel. There a doctor was communicated with, and the player taken to the residence of Dr Greig, which is nearby.
After examination, the doctor immediately ordered the player's removal to hospital, and he was conveyed there in the doctor's car. Further examination revealed Cooper to be suffering from a bruised kidney, and he was detained in the hospital, Trainer Russell remaining in Kirkcaldy to keep him company.
On inquiry yesterday it was learned that although Cooper was sick on Saturday evening after arrival in hospital, he passed a fairly comfortable night, and there was some improvement yesterday. He will remain in hospital in Kirkcaldy for few days.

Source: Press & Journal, 20th October 1930