Aberdeen 3 - 0 Third Lanark

All Three Goals Scored by Headers.

There was little to enthuse over in the Aberdeen-Third Lanark game at Pittodrie. The Dons won with ease, but they were not a very convincing company, and the 10,000 crowd were far from satisfied.

It is significant that the Dons' three goals were scored by headers.
The finishing of the forwards was poor, and there will have to be a big improvement if Aberdeen are to progress in the knock-out tournament.
The attackers moved splendidly in the outfield, but when they came within shooting range that old weakness of puerile finishing was in evidence.
The Warriors provided poor opposition. There was a lack of understanding in their their play, and the Aberdeen defence experienced little difficulty in dealing with their furtive raids.
Some idea of Aberdeen's superiority may be gauged from the fact that about fifteen minutes of the second half had gone before Smith was called upon to make his first direct save. Altogether the Aberdeen 'keepr had not more than half a dozen saves during the whole ninety minutes.

Left Wing Problem

Aberdeen have not yet solved their left wing problem. Armstrong who was tried against the Warriors, was nothing if not wholehearted, but he did not meet with much success.
Johnston, who deputised for Benyon on the right, played well. He was tricky and his crosses were always fraught with danger ? two of the goals being scored off them.
The inside trio were clever, but much of their cleverness was wasted because of their ineffective finishing.
Moore was the best if the three. He was too well watched by Denmark to have many scoring chances, but he distributed the ball judiciously.

Warnock worked splendidly with Johnston. In fact he was one of the hardest workers afield, but his finishing, to say the least, was poor.
Mills was disappointing and never settled down.
The Aberdeen had rather an easy time, but when they were called upon they proved safe.
Smith, in goal, however, almost blundered on one occasion when he dropped a shot by Blair, and the ball bounced dangerously near the line. Cooper and McGill did all that was asked of them in workmanlike fashion, and Falloon guarded the centre of the field in fine style.
Fraser, sound in defence and quick to set the halves going, was the better of the two good wing halves, although Thomson was little behind.
Of a poor Cathkin team, only the defence is worthy of praise. Taylor, Carabine, and Warden, the rear trio, were overworked, but they stuck to their guns manfully.
They received able assistance from Denmark, who was head and shoulders above the other halves both in stature and in play.
Lynas was the most dangerous attacker. Ge had several good runs on the right, but none of the other forwards, with the possible exception of McCulloch, responded.
Aberdeen took command from the start, but twenty minutes had gone before Moore, with great skill, headed home an Armstrong cross with the back of his head.
It appeared as if this had finished the scoring, but with twenty-five minutes of the second half gone the Dons became more lively, and two goals came in quick succession.
Moore gave to Johnston, and from the winger's accurately-placed cross Armstrong headed home the first.
Warnock got the second from a perfectly placed Johnston corner.

Source: Press & Journal, 15th January 1934