Arbroath 3 - 3 Aberdeen

DONS IN ARREARS, IN LEAD, THEN DRAW

NEW PLAYER GIVES GOOD DISPLAY

It took Aberdeen a long time to find their feet at Gayfield on an iron-hard ground, which made ball control and accurate football difficult. By the time they became accustomed to the impish tricks of the ball and the fact that their feet were apt to go from under them at the most awkward moments, they were two goals in arrears.
All their attempts to play accurate combined football proved unavailing. Arbroath, on the other hand, seemed less handicapped the state the ground. They were content to swing the ball about and follow quickly, tactics that enabled them to retire at the interval with a two goals lead.
Aberdeen were a different team in the second half, and they proved that in spite the conditions good football was possible. For twenty minutes the Dons delighted with an exhibition of clever, cohesive football, and at the end of that period a two goals deficit had been transformed into a 3-2 lead. The teams finished level, and all things considered this was a fair result to a well-contested game.

ARBROATH AHEAD

Arbroath took the lead in twenty-one minutes. McInally and Lowe cleverly made ground on the right, and when the winger centred and Johnstone slipped and fell in going to cut out the ball, Brand headed into the net.
The second goal came just on the interval, and again McInally played a leading part. He carried the ball upfield and parted to Brand, who drove into the net without hesitation.

Nine minutes after the start of the second half came a spectacular Aberdeen goal. Mills, Armstrong and Strauss combined cleverly, and when the centre sent the ball along the ground to Strauss, the South African sent it crashing into the net.
Six minutes later the Dons were on level terms. McKenzie, Brady and Armstrong started an attack which ended with the centre on the wing and the winger in the centre. Armstrong sent the ball into the middle along the ground, and Brady guided it away from the 'keeper into the net. A minute later McKenzie sold the dummy to two Arbroath defenders and put Strauss in possession. The inside-right accepted a return pass and practically walked the ball into the net. The referee gave offside, a decision with which the Aberdeen players were not in agreement.
The third goal was not long delayed, however. Strauss was fouled by Fordyce near the corner flag. He took the kick himself and Robertson failed to hold the ball, which seemed to be over the line before Armstrong came in to add the finishing touch.