Queens Park 3 - 1 Aberdeen

Dons' Rot Set in After Loss of Foolish Goal
By NORMAN MACDONALD

DEEP depression over Pittodrie: further outlook unsettled.

The Aberdeen club had three teams on the field during: the week-end. All they can show for it is a draw with Queen's Park Strollers at Pittodrie.
The senior team gave a pathetic display at Hampden. Since the start of the year the reserves have staged a revival. Signs were that some of the young talent were maturing. They, too, descended to mediocrity on Saturday.
This morning the Dons' relegation worries could and should have been over. Against Queen's Park the defence folded up. A poor amateur team was made to look good.
The rot set in at Hampden when they lost the first goal. Up to that point Aberdeen had looked like winners.

Acted Like Wine

It was a foolish goal. How simply it could have been avoided. A momentary lapse by Cowie and hope was reborn among the amateurs.
The right back delayed clearing. Alexander moved in from the left to challenge him. Cowie at the last minute attempted to pass back and the winger pounced on the ball to jab it away from the 'keeper into the net.
It acted like draught of wine on Queen's Park. It revived the traditional Hampden fighting spirit.
Five minutes after the opening of the second half came the amateurs' second goal.
The Dons struck back in nineteen minutes, when Harris and Yorston combined to make an opening for Williams to score. Eight minutes later a shot by Burgess struck the woodwork and Cunningham netted from the rebound.

None Brilliant

None of the Aberdeen players was brilliant. In fact, there were only five to whom I can give pass marks. They were Taylor, Roy, Williams, Pearson and Harris.
The defence had a bad day. Scott is not ready for Scottish League football.
Neither Cowie nor McKenna was entirely reliable, and Waddell is still short of his best form. Taylor was the most consistent Pittodrie half back. Roy played a useful but not brilliant game.
Yorston was disappointing. He was not half the player we saw during his Christmas leave from the Forces. Kelly was unprofitable as leader of the attack, but was more successful when he took over the right wing berth shortly after the interval.
Pearson and Harris did not hit it off as a left wing partnership. The former Newcastle player got little support.
Williams was the best forward and the No. 1 Aberdeen player.
This win provides a gleam of hope in the Hampden Park darkness. I doubt if they can escape, however. Saturday's results leave the Dons little worse off, fortunately, but if they fail to beat Morton at Pittodrie this week they will be in trouble.

Source: Press & Journal, 15th March 1948