East Fife 1 - 1 Aberdeen

ABERDEEN HAVE TO THANK DEFENCE FOR DRAW WITH EAST FIFE

NICHOLSON OUTSTANDING: FORWARDS GIVE SURPRISINGLY POOR SHOW

The Cup, true to tradition, has once more turned form topsy-turvy. The third round has rivalled the first round in producing unexpected results. The mighty Celtic, the Cupholders, who have the League championship in their pocket, fell to Kilmarnock, fighting desperately for First Division existence; Raith Rovers demonstrated how fit they are for promotion by ousting Partick Thistle, one of the League's average sides; and another Second Division side, East Fife, lives to fight another day. But for the do-or-die spirit of their defence, Aberdeen might now be mourning their dismissal from the Cup competition. Against East Fife, at Methil, the Dons had to fight every inch of the way to earn the right to a replay. At Pittodrie on Wednesday Aberdeen should gain the verdict, but the Fifers proved themselves a strong and virile side, and the Dons cannot afford to take anything for granted.

REMEMBER 1927

Remember the 1927 Cup-ties, when East Fife held Aberdeen to a draw at Methil, and won the replay at Pittodrie! We have no wish to see history repeat itself. Make no mistake. East Fife are a tough proposition. On their own ground on Saturday they forced the Dons to accept the role of defenders. They held a territorial advantage, and were the more dangerous side. With the aid of a strong, gusty wind in the first half it was not surprising that the Fifers forced the Even so. however. Aberdeen's brightest spell was during this period. Keeping the ball on the ground, they moved smoothly in attack, and when they retired at the interval on level terms victory seemed more than probable. Hopes that the Dons would take command in the second half were speedily dissipated. East Fife were full of fight, and there was no sign the expected falling away. They were still the more dangerous combine.

ATTACK UNIMPRESSIVE

Much has been said and written about the cleverness of the Dons' attack, but the forwards were far from impressive at Bayview. The fierce and relentless tackling of the East Fife defenders prevented them settling down. The poorness of the forward play is exemplified in the fact that Milton, in the home goal, had not half-a-dozen really testing shots to deal with. The Aberdeen inside forwards were too prone to lie back in defence. This was all right in the first half against the wind, but after the interval, when they had it in their favour, they should have changed their tactics. There was nothing half-hearted about the East Fife attack. They played five forwards, and the wing halves were ever up in support. Only the smart positional play and clever covering of the Aberdeen defence kept East Fife from scoring more than once.

DONS' GOAL

The Dons rather unexpectedly took the lead in nineteen minutes. The goal came as the result of a well-conceived and smartly-executed movement. Kenzie sent Smith away on the right. Strauss and Armstrong had switched positions, and when the ball came in to the South African he pushed it on to Mills. The inside left brought the ball down and sent into the net from twenty-two yards range. Milton, who had started for the right-hand post, made a desperate effort to recover, but was too late. Five minutes from the interval East Fife deservedly equalised. Adams gathered a clearance from Johnstone and sent in a terrific shot from forty yards. Cowan dived through the air to graze the ball with his head, and it glanced off Nicholson into the net. Twice in the second half East Fife came within an ace of taking the lead. In the opening minutes McLeod had the ball in the net. but the point was disallowed for offside, and later the right-wing pair went through and McLeod finished with a drive which struck the outside post. Aberdeen's nearest approach to goal came in the closing minutes, when Milton saved a splendid drive from Fraser.