Third Lanark 2 - 1 Aberdeen

Gallant Hamilton the Central Figure

THERE was a touch of tragedy and pathos about Aberdeen's Scottish Cup defeat at Cathkin Park. Gallant George Hamilton was the central figure.
He played with dash, daring and skill until he sustained a chest injury a few minutes after the start of the second half.
His face twisted with pain, and clutching his injured chest, Hamilton was presented with the best chance of the match three minutes from the final whistle.
Pearson put him in possession eight yards from goal. He had nobody to beat but Fraser, the Third Lanark goalkeeper. Thinking he was offside he hesitated that fatal second. Fraser never gave him a second chance. He plummeted at Hamilton's feet to smother the ball.

Lack of Fortune

That incident typifies Aberdeen's lack of fortune. They will never play better or with more resolution than they did on Saturday and lose a game.
Admittedly they missed scoring chances, particularly in a twenty-minute spell in the first half when they played devastating football, but there were times, too, when the gods of chance must have chuckled with devilish glee.
There were four incidents that spring readily to the mind. Diminutlvr left half Harry Mooney was the wrecker-in-chief of the Dons' hopes.
He deflected three shots with the goal label attached from Williams, Hamilton and Harris, and left back Harrower cleared a scoring shot from Rice on the goal-line after his 'keeper was beaten.M/br> The Dons were courageous in defeat. It was their smartest display of the season. Nowhere was the improvement more apparent than at wing half-back. Harris and Anderson forged the missing link with the men in front.
The football in the first half was reminiscent of the Dons' Cup-winning team of 1947.

Brilliant Harris

The biggest surprise was the brilliant form of Harris at left half. He has never played better for Aberdeen. Not only did he effectively police Mason, but he acted as a sixth forward.
Anderson, too, played his part, and Thomson, after a shakey opening ten minutes, played at centre-half with the coolness of a veteran.
The Dons have found a winner in young Jack Hather from the North of England. He and Mitchell vied for the honour of being the beat winger, with Rice a good third.
Williams at centre forward worked hard without achieving anything spectacular. Pearson at inside left failed to put enough devil into his play.
The first goal, scored by Aberdeen after thirty-seven minutes' play, showed intelligent anticipation on the part of Hamilton. In attempting to head out a long clearance from McKenna. Balunas, Thirds right back, sent the ball to the left.

Winning Goal

Hather was on it like a flash and whipped it into the goalmouth. Hamilton waited for it beside the far post and headed the ball away from Fraser into the net.
Five minutes later Third Lanark equalised. It looked as if Johnstone, the Dons' 'keeper, might have prevented this goal. Henderson crossed from the right, McCulcch headed the ball down. Johnstone dived towards the post, but he was a fraction late and although he got his hand to the ball it rolled into the net.
The winning goal arrived ten minutes from the final whistle. It was scored by Staroscik, Thirds' Polish inside left, and it had a typical Continental touch.
The ball came out following a corner, and without moving Staroscik took it on the half volley to send it thundering into the net.

Sporce: Press & Journal, 24th January 1949

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