Aberdeen 1 - 1 Morton

Dons Now Face Hard But Not Impossible Task
By NORMAN MACDONALD

WHY was McCall's second half goal disallowed? I've been asked that question dozens of times since the Aberdeen-Morton cup-tie.

Was Williams given offside when he dashed forward in an effort to reach Hamilton's cross? McFeat, the Morton 'keeper, was out of his charge when the ball came over, and it dropped out of his hands and over his head.
The Dons' South African forward raced forward, but failed to connect and landed in the back of the net. McCall, who was close on Williams' heels, breasted the ball down and booted it into the net.
The Aberdeen players started to walk to the centre of the field, obviously under the impression that the referee had awarded a goal. When I tackled Williams, he claimed that wasn't offside, and McCall corroborates him.

Inclined to Dramatise

Frankly, 1 don't know the answer. There's only one man who does - Referee J. M Martin - and he won't talk. In any case, right or wrong, the referee's decision is final.
The crowd disagreed with several of the official's decisions. Personally, I thought he was inclined to dramatise incidents which are common to any soccer match.
The Dons are now faced with a hard but by no means impossible task at Greenock on Wednesday. The forwards are to blame. They had the winning of the game at Pittodrie, but failed to take their chances.
McCall was the biggest transgressor in this respect. Three times in the second half over-impetuosity lost him scoring chances. Twice he blazed the ball over after Miller had crossed, and on the third occasion, in attempting to place it, he sent into the 'Keeper's hands.
The big "switch off " has evidently extended itself to the Aberdeen forward line. There was a distinct cut in the power compared with the Ayr United tie.
More weight is needed the middle if the Dons are going to survive Wednesday's visit to Cappielow. When Manager Halliday and his directors sit down to choose the team for the replay they may recast the line if they don't make changes in personnel.
None of the four regulars in the Aberdeen forward line on Saturday had a happy day. They have all played better. McCall is undoubtedly more effective at inside forward than on the wing, and it struck me that the burly Harris might have given strong man Aird more trouble than the lightly-built Williams.
Miller played well on the right wing. He fully justified his selection. Not only did he take his goal coolly, but most of the danger that threatened the Morton goal came from his crosses.
The Aberdeen defence played well, Cooper and McKenna were seldom in difficulties, Dunlop was always in control down the middle. Taylor received an injury to his right ankle about eleven minutes from the interval. He played for a spell on the left wing before he resumed his own posftion.
McLaughlin and Taylor, too, untll he was injured, tackled strongly and successfully. Time and again they smashed up Morton's efforts to play constructive football.
Morton Lacked Thrust

Morton have a good, solid defence, but their attack, on Saturday at any rate, didn't reveal much thrust. Maley, Fyfe and Aird were doughty defenders, and Divers was a forcing wing half. White gave Hamilton little space in which to work his wiles.
Steel showed himself to be a clever and tricky inside forward, and although McInnes and McKillop on the wings flashed into prominence occasionally, they were not consistent.
Miller's goal for Aberdeen came in twentv-five minutes. When Hamilton flicked the ball up the middle, Williams failed to get in his shot because of the attentions of Aird. The South African managed to push the ball out to the right, and Miller steadied himself before driving into the net.
The second half was eleven minutes old when McKillop equalised. Johnstone dived full length to push out a shot from McInnes and the right winger found it easy to net.

Source: Press & Journal, 24th February 1947