Aberdeen 2 - 0 Queen of the South

Hamilton's Grand Leadership Deserved Better Response
By NORMAN MACDONALD,/p> THE gods of chance must be chuckling sardonically over the football antics of Aberdeen and Queen of the South.

Last Wednesday the Dumfries club stunned the North by beating the Dons in the Scottish Cup replay. On Saturday Aberdeen took two vital League points from Queens.
The southern club now find themselves in the somewhat Gilbertian situation of being Scottish Cup semi-finalists and in imminent danger of dropping into "B" Division.
The final touch of irony is that identical teams lined up in both games.
I imagine that had the results of the two matches been reversed both clubs would be considerably happier to-day.
The fact that Aberdeen won 2-0 on Saturday, and should have won more emphatically, simply increases the impression that was cup-tie nerves that beat them last Wednesday.
They were a much more confident team in the league match. It took them a long time to score, but it was obvious that man for man Queen of the South were inferior football craftsmen.
The traffic in the first half all led to the Dumfries goal. Henderson, the Queen of the South 'keeper, must have been delighted and relieved to see shots from Anderson and McKenna strike the woodwork.
The Dons forwards had their share of bad luck, but they also exposed themselves to criticism by their lack of drive near goal. On plav and chances Aberdeen should have retired at the interval with a substantial lead.

Energy and Craft

Again it was George Hamilton who kept the flag flying in attack. The Dons centre forward showed boundless energy and no little intelligence in his clever constructive play. The pity it was his team-mates did not respond more readily.
Yorston was more active than in the cup-tie, but Baird had a most disappointing game. Pearson was more effective in the second half than in the first, while Stenhouse was well held by James.
There was an improvement in the play of the half-back line. Anderson. McKenzie and Harris gave the Queen of the South inside trio less scope this time, and they did not fall for the Houliston-Charlie Brown switch.
McKenna put up a good show at back. He held Houliston on a tight rein.
There was lack of constructive ability in the Queens' ranks. The spirit was there, but the craft was missing.
They are a long shot to win the Scottish Cup, and the odds are against their escaping relegation. Their remaining matches are against Rangers and St Mirren (home) and Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers (away).
Hamilton put Aberdeen on the winning path nineteen minutes after the start of the second half. A foolish pass by McAvoy gave Pearson a chance, and the left winger beat Sharp almost on the bye-line to cut the ball into the middle. The Dons' centre threw himself forward to head into the net.
Baird got the second. When Pearson whipped the ball down the left Hamilton followed up to cross low and the inside left neatly slipped the ball past Henderson.

Source: Press & Journal, 18th March 1950