Motherwell 2 - 2 Aberdeen

Two Up in Five Minutes but Only Manage to Draw

By NORMAN MACDONALD

THE Dons' winning career was halted at Fir Park, Motherwell, last night.
Aberdeen got off to a flying start with two goals in the first five minutes, but Motherwell fought back courageously and shared four goals and the points.

The Dons had victory snatched from their grasp at Fir Park. The points looked safe for Pittodrie until five minutes from the end, when Barclay, the Motherwell left-winger, whipped in the equaliser.
Yet the Dons might have won the day in the dying minutes of the game. Hamilton broke through, and slipped to Williams, but the South African sent wide.
Although the more polished side, Aberdeen could not complain about the result.
A whirlwind opening produced two goals in five minutes, and Aberdeen had the chances to augment this total before the interval.
All credit to Motherwell for their wonderful fight back.

Fatal Mistakes,/p> The Aberdeen defence made two misbakes and they were fatal. Johnstone had a good game, but Cowie was never happy against Barclay. He failed to subdue the winger. Waddell played soundly at centre-half.
The Aberdeen attack lost its nippiness after the interval. Before half-time, both Hamilton and Baird were strong forcing inside-forwards, and A A. Kiddie and McCall threatened danger on the wings.
Williams, who led the attack, often had the 'Well's defence in difficulty, but, like the others, he faded out after the initial period.
Shaw and Russell were Motherwell's best defenders, while Humphries at inside-right and Barclay on the left wing, were the most dangerous forwards.
In three minutes the Dons took the lead. Williams spreadeagled the 'Well defence with a neat pass to Hamilton, and Scotland's inside-left sent the ball out to the right.
Kiddie, travelling in from the wing at top speed, hit the ball first time and sent it hurtling into the net.

Williams Scores

Two minutes later and Motherwell were shaken by a second Aberdeen goal. It was a typical Williams effort. Hamilton sent the ball up the middle. The Dons' leader and Johnstone the Motherwell 'keeper, made for possession. Williams got there first, but the 'keeper on the ground, stopped his shot. The South African was not to be denied. He regained possession, and ran on to send into an empty goal.
Sixteen minutes after the start of the second half, the Dons made a defensive blunder. The ball came over from Russell, the home left-half, and went to Humphries.
Both Cowle and Taylor went to tackle the inside-forward, but neither got the ball, and Humphries slipped into the net.
Five minutes from the end Barclay, always a danger, carried the ball down the left, parted to Brown, accepted the return pass, and shot into the net.

Source: Press & Journal, 22nd August 1946