Aberdeen 4 - 2 Motherwell

Youngs Ankle Injury Makes Him Doubtful Starter Against Morton
By NORMAN MACDONALD

THE Aberdeen-Dundee Scottish League match at Pittodrie on New Year's Day will be an all-ticket affair. This will be the Aberdeen club's fourth venture into the realm of all-ticket games.
As was the case in the previous matches, the crowd will be restricted to 42,000. The game will be a sell-out provided both clubs continue to set the pace in the League race until then.
Aberdeen football enthusiasts will be well catered for during the New Year period. Aberdeen F.C. agreed to requests by Aberdeen junior clubs Banks o' Dee and Lewis United to stage their Scottish Junior Cup fourth-round ties at Pittodrie.
The "Dee" will tackle Broxburn Athletic on Tuesday, January 2, but a snag has arisen in connection with Lewis's tie with Blantyre Vis, the holders.
The Aberdeen club had been given the use of Pittodrie for January 3, but two Blahtyre Officials who travelled to Aberdeen yesterday could not agree to this date. The game will probably now be staged on Saturday, December 30, at a venue yet to be arranged.

There were some hard knocks dished out in the Dons-Motherwell clash at Pittodrie on Saturday. Alec Young was a casualty in the second half and the report yesterday was that his ankle is badly swollen and painful to the touch.
An X-ray examination may be necessary. Under the circumstances the centre half must be regarded as a doubtful starter at Greenock this week.
Three goals down in the first seventeen minutes, Motherwell demonstrated they were by no means out. They staged a great fight back and twenty-two minutes from the end the score was 3-2.

DEATH BLOW,/p> The Dons had some anxious moments before Yorston sabotaged the Fir Park team's revival with a fourth goal fifteen minutes from the end.
Aberdeen made it difficult for themselves. In the opening twenty minutes they played streamlined football. I doubt if any Scottish League defence could have stopped them on this form. They created the impression that they had the came well won.
It is difficult to find an explanation for the deterioration. Certainly Motherwell revealed unexpectedly strong recovery powers, but when the Dons had them on the run they should have turned it into a rout.

TRIERS

Gradually they permitted the initiative to be taken from them, and midway through the second half the odds against Motherwell had shortened considerably.
The half-baeks were not altogether to blame this time. Neither Anderson nor Glen had the polish and poise of Redpath, Well's left half, but they played hard in defence. Once again Young was the key man the rear.
The Dons' left wing never moved into top gear. This wasn't the fault of Baird who played particularly well in the first half. Hather had a poor day. He never seemed happy against Kilmarnock.
Hamilton led the line well. his only slip was when he sent past after Johnston had pushed out a drive from Delaney with the score 3-0.
In spite of the close attentions of Redpath, Yorston was always a potential source of danger and Delaney gave Shaw more trouble than Hather did Kilmarnock.
With Young effectively patrolling the middle the Aberdeen rear trio performed creditably. Martin in goal inspired confidence by his handling and McKenna more than held his own with Watters. Emery found Aitkenhead a trifle elusive at times, but did quite a good job of work.

SNAPPY,/p> Hamilton's opening goal tor the Dons in four minutes was a bright affair. Baird, Delaney and Yorston took the ball through and the home leader ran into position to head the inside right's cross high into the net.
Aberdeen struck again in fifteen minutes. Johnston the 'Well 'keeper was not blameless for the loss of this one. He fumbled a half-hit shot from Delanty and Baird raced past the 'keeper to net.
Within two minutes the Dons got a third. Hamilton beat Paton and when tackled by Johnston forced the ball out to Hather who scored.
The 'keeper had grabbed Hamilton by the knees and the referee awarded a penalty. Emery did the trick from the spot.
Just on the interval a penalty kick was awarded against the right back, apparently for hands Aitkenhead took the kick and placed the ball cleverly in the far corner of the net.
With sixty-eight minutes played Motherwell got a second goal. Martin could only push out a shot from Watson and Kelly dashed in to jab the ball home.
The game was decided when Yorston got a smart fourth goal for Aberdeen following back-headers in sucoession from Hamilton and Baird from a long throw-in by Anderson.

Source: Press & Journal, 11th December 1950