Aberdeen 6 - 1 Dundee

Yorston Gets Hat-Trick in Whirlwind Finish at Pittodrie.

A thrilling game was witnessed at Pittodrie yesterday, when Aberdeen beat Dundee by six goals to one. Yorston, the Aberdeen centre, netted three times and the other goal scorers were McDermid (2) and Love. Four of the home team's goals were scored in the last few minutes of the game.

Fully twenty thousand spectators were thrilled at Pittodrie when Aberdeen defeated Dundee by 6 goals to 1. The pitch was frost-bound and the surface had been liberally treated with sand, but even so the foothold was uncertain.
Dundee were at full strength and Aberdeen had McLaren at centre-half, with Yorston as leader, and Smith being associated on the left.
Aberdeen were the better team throughout, but the game was not so one-sided as the score would suggest. Up to about fifteen minutes from the close the score was 2-1 for Aberdeen, but in the whirlwind finish by the home attackers, the Dundee defence crumpled up and four goals were rattled on in quick succession.

Story of the Game.

The first thrill came when Smith pranced along the wing to send over a glorious centre, following which Yorston just failed get in his kick properly and Marsh cleared.
Aberdeen kept up the attack, and, after Love had forced a corner, first Black and then Yorston went close with great tries, which brought great plaudits.
Aberdeen were delighting their supporters with really great football despite the frost-bound pitch, and what a cheer there was when McLean volleyed in a terrific shot which Marsh saved in wonderful style.
Dundee were accustoming themselves to the conditions, and Jackson earned plaudits for a fine tackle on Dempster, who was a dashing leader for the Dark Blues.
Smart combination by Gavigan and Ritchie saw the latter have a header stopped by Smith, and in another Dundee attack Campbell sent high over.

First Goal

With eighteen minutes gone, Aberdeen took the lead. A "free" against McNab was well placed by Hill to McDermid, and the Aberdeen captain's header went to Yorston, who booted the ball into the net from close range.
This success put the Dons' following in great glee, and in the subsequent exchanges Aberdeen were all over the opposition.
What a thrill there was when Marsh lifted the ball from Yorston's toes, and there were shrieks when the Dundee 'keeper leapt high to fist away from Love with the diminutive Yorston right on top.
Dundee were doing their best to keep the game open by swinging the ball about, but Cooper and Jackson were in their best form, and, with McLaren covering up finely, Smith had an easy time.
On the other hand, Marsh was kept in the danger zone. He fisted away from Love, and then gathered a dangerous bouncer from McDermid.

McDermid's Counter

The Dundee half-backs were at their wits' end to stop the clever attacks of the Dons' forwards, and when Aberdeen got a second goal in thirty-three minutes it was well deserved.
McDermid found himself in possession twenty yards from goal, and netted with a grand left-foot drive.
After this second set-back Dundee rallied, but their forwards could make no impression on the home backs. Campbell and Dempster had sallies, but they ended in smoke, and Marsh continued to be the most harassed player on the field.
Love cut in to send in a terrific drive which Marsh saved at the second attempt, and then came a thrill at the other end when Smith went full length to stop a fierce grounder by Ritchie.
The crowd was getting a real New Year's Day treat and Marsh and McLean got a cheer to themselves for the latter's great drive and the 'keeper's equally fine save.
Towards the interval the Dundee attack was more in the picture, and got their reward when Campbell beat Smith with a swerving shot.
Just on half-time Aberdeen should have increased their lead. Marsh was out of his goal, and Yorston got possession, but with nobody between him and the net Benny sent against the outside. It was a miss that made the crowd howl, and Yorston is probably still wondering how he did it. At half-time Aberdeen led by 2-1.

Aberdeen set up a barrage when the game resumed, and McLean just missed with a tremendous shot. Then Love flashed in a centre-shot that was inches off.
The players got a welcome respite when there was a stoppage when McLaren received attention after getting in the way of a McNab shot.
Dundee were giving as much they were getting at this time, and Troup forced a corner which brought a negative result.
Over-eagerness was spoiling fine movements on both sides, and while the game was clean and fought out in the best spirit, it was evident there was high tension among the players. Love raised home hopes with a fine run, but his shot miscarried.
Aberdeen were hanging on grimly to their slender lead but they looked just as likely to lose it as increase it, so level were the exchanges.
Both defences were showing up well, and Marsh on one occasion just beat Yorston in a race for the ball. Another time he was beaten if Love's shot had not swerved.
Dundee kept pegging away, and Aberdeen had a great slice of luck when, following a corner kick, Ritchie sent the ball against the post.
The luck was not all at one end, as next minute it was Marsh's tremendous reach that enabled him at full length to stop a wonderful screw shot by Yorston.
There was a stoppage for an injury to Marsh, but he quickly recovered to save efforts by McLean and Love.
Aberdeen were relentless in attack, Yorston, McLean and Love serving up really delightful football, and all has shots rather luckily charged down. The Dons were decidedly on top, and it was only the brilliance of Brown and Gilmour backed up by Marsh's fine goalkeeping that kept Yorston and Co. from amassing a big lead.
On play Aberdeen should have been well ahead, their one-goal lead not doing them justice.
Yorston's luck was dead out when he swept the ball against the post, and Marsh, after being at full length, made a brilliant recovery to clear from the goal-line.

<>Quick Scoring

At long last Aberdeen got a well-deserved thisr goal. They had been maintaining steady pressure, and it was their due when McDermid fastened on to a backheeler from Yorston to beat Marsh.
There was a sensation two minutes later, when McCarthy handled in the penalty area and Love scored from the spot.
Another! The plaudits had not died down ere Yorston netted a fifth, the ball being deflected by a defender.
A sixth followed immediately, Yorston beating Marsh in a race for the, ball.
Dundee were completely demoralised, and several Aberdeen players missed a great chance of yet another goal.

Source: Press & Journal, 2nd January 1931