Aberdeen 2 - 3 Motherwell

Half-Back Strength Was Secret of 'Well's Success
By NORMAN MACDONALD

THE Dons are fast gaining for themselves the reputation of the shadow team. Certainly their form is as elusive as any shadow. Brilliant one week and mediocre the next - that's Aberdeen.
After their scintillating display at Dumfries a win was looked for against Motherwell at Pittodrie, instead, they were beaten 3-2.

There can be no argument and no excuse. Victory went to the better team on the day's play.
Early indications were that the Dons were going to canter into the knock-out stages of the League Cup. Motherwell have changed all that, and the holders will have to go "all out" now if they intend to be in at the "death."
Both the "Steelmen" and Falkirk are only a point behind, and the Dons have yet to visit Brockville and Fir Park.
Motherwell's strength was Aberdeen's weakness. The visitors were quicker on the ball and could find their man better. The keystone of their success, however, was their half-back line.
That was where the 'Well had the edge on the Dons. McLeod, Paton and Russell were well ahead of the Pittodrie trio both in defence and attack.
Cowie, Waddcll and Taylor, in the second half particularly, were too busy trying to checkmate the fast and mobile Fir Park attack to lend their own forwards much assistance.

Taylor Disappoints

I was most disappointed with Taylor who, if he was 100 per cent fit, certainly didn't play to any thing like his best form.
While admitting that the Pittodrie forwards did not get much service from behind, the interpassing as a whole was too inaccurate for them to be effective.
Williams was not nearly as successful on the left wing as was Miller the previous week, and when he was switched into the middle in the second half it was too late to bring any results.
McCall was not the brilliant inside forward that I saw at Dumfries, but he must get credit for scoring the two goals. Harris got little scope at centre and Hamilton was also too well marked by Russell to be dangerous. Kiddie only caught the eye occasionally.
Cooper was Aberdeen's best defender, but he appeared to tire towards the close.
The Dons started well enough, but gradually Motherwell took their share of the play and one goal each was a good half-time score.

McCall's Two Goals,/p> McCall got Aberdeen's first goal in twelve minutes when he raced forward to meet a Hamilton ground pass and sent the ball hurtling into the net. Brown got the equaliser in twenty-three minutes by whipping a pass from McLeod past George Johnstone.
The 'Well dominated from the start of the second half and were rewarded by a goal in five minutes. Two minutes before this Brown had the ball in the net, but the point was disallowed.
The goal that gave Motherwell the lead resulted from Robertson taking advantage of a pass from Humphries.
The Pittodrie defence was again caught out of position when Robertson added a third after good work by Watson in twenty-eight minutes.
Seven minutes from the end McCall beat the Motherwell 'keeper with a good shot from a cross from Kiddle. Hamilton twice had the ball in the net for the Dons in the closing stages, but the referee said "no."

Source: Press & Journal, 7th October 1946

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