Aberdeen 1 - 2 Heart of Midlothian

About 15,000 spectators at Pittodrie Park, Aberdeen, saw the local League team lose for the first time at home this season. It fell to Heart of Midlothian to achieve this distinction. It was a game played under peculiar conditions. For practically all of the second half it was difficult for the spectators to follow play owing to fog, and near the end there were loud calls for the match to be abandoned. The referee, however, let the game go on, though when Hearts secured the winning goal, Smith, the Aberdeen goalkeeper, must have had difficulty in following the flight of the ball from near the touch line. Despite the handicap of the fog play was wonderfully fast, and, when it could be followed, very interesting. Its main features were two magnificent saves by Harkness from Dickie, a half-back who shot with fine power, and the missing of a penalty by McLean when Aberdeen were striving for the equaliser. Aberdeen scored in the first half through McDermid, whose low shot deceived Harkness, who was unsighted by a number of players. Early in the second half Battles equalised for the Hearts, when he cleverly beat a couple of players before shooting. The winning goal was got by R. Johnstone with a shot from midway between the side of the penalty area and the touch line. Smith must have lost sight of the ball in its flight. The Hearts may have had some luck during the match, but in the end they well deserved their success.

Source: The Scotsman, 4th January 1932

PENALTY KICK THAT WAS MISSED.

Aberdeen's home record went smash, Hearts beating them at Pittodrie by 2 goals to 1. Twelve thousand saw a game of two distinct phases. In the first half Aberdeen were much the better side, but largely owing to weak finishing and the splendid defence put up by such as Harkness and King, had to be content with a solitary goal lead at the interval.
In the second period Aberdeen were decidedly bottom dog, and it was only the great work Smith in goal and Falloon at centre-halt that saved them from a heaver defeat.

Fog " Fiend."

Throughout the second period the pitch was enshrouded in fog, and so thick was the atmosphere that when the play ruled outside a limited range of vision the spectators had no idea what was happening. Near the close Aberdeen were awarded a penalty at the west end, and those spectators at the east end had no view of the proceedings.
The opinion was general that the referee might have abandoned the game but the official evidently felt justified in carrying it through to the end.
The play was always strenuous and keen. It was fairly even for the first ten minutes, but subsequently Aberdeen took a firm grip. Dickie took the eye with splendid forcing play, as did McLean, who put in some great scheming from outside left, and created several openings which ought to have been improved upon. Warnock just missed with a header from a ball that Dickie drove with great force towards goal. Subsequently Harkness tipped over a fierce drive by Beattie, and Jackson went close with a similar effort.

Dickie's Drives.

Dickie followed with two tremendous drives. The first was tipped over and the second was brilliantly saved at full length by the Hearts' 'keeper. In a breakaway Johnstone (R.) just missed with a lightning effort for Hearts. Mclean showed splendid form on the home left, and Jackson, McDermid, and Beattie might all have turned his passes to account.
Aberdeen's goal had another narrow escape when Smith dived at the feet of Battles and threw out. The 'keeper was injured, but soon recovered. Subsequently Jackson when clean through, missed the goal, and McDermid, after an individual effort, misplaced a pass when a score appeared to be imminent.

McDermid's Goal.

Four minutes from the interval Aberdeen got a well-deserved lead, McDermid finding the net with a ground shot when Harkness appeared unsighted. Shortly afterwards Harkness brought off a great save from Beattie, and several shots were charged down or blocked in the Hearts' penalty area.
Aberdeen were not at all flattered by their interval lead, but few were prepared for the transformation that marked the play of Hearts in the second half. Right from the start they applied strong pressure, and Smith was kept busy with shots from his namesake and White, and crosses from Johnstone (R.) and Murray.

Hearts' Equaliser.

Only five minutes had gone when Battles accepted a pass from the right to send the ball out of Smith's reach. Subsequently Aberdeen were kept busy on the defensive, and Smith had a wonderful double save from White and Murray. About this time the fog became dense, and it was practically impossible to follow the play unless it was close at hand.
Twenty-one minutes had gone when Hearts took the lead, a lob by Johnstone (R.) from near the touchline deceiving Smith, who allowed the ball drop behind his upstretched arms. Later the Aberdeen 'keeper distinguished himself with several fine saves.
In a burst by Aberdeen a penalty was awarded them, but McLean, in attempting to place rather than shoot, sent the ball inches wide of Harkness's charge. Hearts subsequently netted again, but "offside" came to the rescue of Aberdeen.

Deserved to Win.

Hearts won because of their greater solidarity at back, their superior skill at wing half-back, and their more penetrative attack. Several Aberdeen players failed to touch their best, but those who did themselves justice were Smith, McGill, Falloon, Dickie, McLean and Warnock.
Outstanding for Hearts were:?Harkness, King, Massie, Bennie, Johnstone (R.) and Smith. Attendance. 12,000.

Source: Press & Journal, 4th January 1932