Aberdeen 5 - 1 St. Johnstone

After the poor display given by the Aberdeen last week, it was not surprising to see one or two changes in the team that faced St. Johnstone. The changes were wise ones, and the directors are to be congratulated thereon. Shinner, their latest capture, appeared at outside right, and is by far the best man they have yet got. Winning the toss, the Saints started with the wind and sun in their favour. They were poorly represented, as they lacked the services of Buchan at back, Arnott and Emrie at half, and Munro at forward. Aberdeen kicked off, and pressed immediately, but were repulsed, and the Saints came up in good style, but Willox relieved, and the White's forwards made a tremendous rush down, and Shinner opened the scoring with a fine shot. The ball had hardly been kicked off, when Aberdeen were down again, and Strang scored number two with a soft shot, Macpherson muddling the hall through his hands. The Stripes pressed from the kick off, but Doig shot a trifle high. Aberdeen were playing with great dash, but the Saints played pluckily, and kept the ball well up, and then had a smart run down, an exciting scrimmage in front of Barrett ending with the ball going behind. The homesters then again took up the running, but Davidson relieved, and Cameron sent in a grand shot, Barrett saving, but opinion seemed to be that the ball was through ere he did so. After a spell of midfield play, the visitors again pressed, but Willox cleared. A foul against the Saints looked dangerous, but Shinner shot wide, and repeated the performance a minute later, Johnston also sinned in this respect. After the ball had travelled from end to end, the homesters again pressed and gained a fruitless corner. Shortly after a fine run by the forwards was capped by Shinner shooting the third goal with a shot no goalkeeper could have saved. From the kick off, the visitors again pressed, and kept Willox & Co. busy. Shinner was then again prominent with a grand run down, finishing with a fine shot which just missed, Johnston making a fine effort with his head. The Stripes then had a look in, and gaining a foul looked dangerous, but Kinross shot over. Aberdeen then broke away, but Mackay shot miserably. The play went in favour of the Saints for a time, and Doig was getting towards Barrett, when Sangster fouled him very badly. A little later Doig had a good try, but the ball went over, and half-time arrived with the White's leading by 3 goals to none.

With the sun and wind to aid them, the White's should have added considerably to their score in the second half, and came away at the kick off, but Kinross cleared, and the Stripes again looked dangerous. Shinner then created much enthusiasm by a tremendous rush down on his own, but he had too much speed on, and carried the hall and himself behind. The homesters continued to have the best of the play, but Macpherson cleared nicely, and the visitors got well down, and gained a foul, which proved abortive. The Stripes were then kept entirely on the defensive for a time, but they at last raised the siege, and got well down to Barrett, but the ball went behind. Again the Aberdeen pressed, and getting well down, MacKay scored from close in, Macpherson having no chance to save. The ball was hardly kicked off ere MacGregor with a fine kick let MacKay have another chance, and he scored the fifth goal with a really class shot. The White's were having all the game, and Charlie Mackie had a fine try for goal, but his shot was just a little high. The Saints defended very fairly considering their weak team. Willox was next prominent, with a fine long shot, which Macpherson tipped over, and the resulting corner was fruitless. The Stripes then played determinedly, and gained two corners in rapid succession, but failed to score. A little later the Saints again got down, and got what their play deserved, Moir scoring nicely. Aberdeen again took up the running, and Macpherson showed his true form, saving twice in masterly fashion. The White's were pressing continuously, but could make no headway, Johnston's shooting being very poor, and the game ended, Aberdeen 5, St . Johnstone 1.

Source: Bon-Accord September 3 1903

Points from Pittodrie.

The fine afternoon attracted a large crowd, but we venture to think it would have been still larger had a win been secured the previous week.
The drawings - close on £80 - show a slight falling off.
Great interest centred in Shinner's appearance. He is no daisy.
His presence put new life in the forwards, who played a vastly improved game.
Mackie got on well with his new partner, and they should prove a dangerous wing.
Mackay played in much improved style, and if he keeps it up will do very well.
Macaulay was the weakest of the front rank, while Johnston's shooting was very poor.
The halves all played well, Strang was the pick. He worked hard and kept the forwards more in touch than last week.
Sangster lies too far back, and is inclined to kick too hard, but he and Ritchie were always prominent.
The change in the backs' positions proved very successful, though MacGregor has not yet got the necessary speed.
Willox played grandly. Barrett got little to do.
The Saints were very poorly represented, and criticism would be unfair.
The greater part of their defence was absent and the substitutes were hardly effective.
Macpherson was entirely off colour in the first half, but towards the close he showed what he could do.
One of his saves called for applause from the Aberdonians. What more could you want?
Doig was the pick of the forwards.
The White's display must have been very gratifying to the directors, but they must remember the opposition was very weak.
We do not care, as a rule, to criticise referees, but some of the decisions of Mr. Forest, of Arbroath, could certainly be questioned.
We trust this is the first of many victories for the Aberdeen. The team, as it played on Saturday, is undoubtedly a strong one.

Source: Bon-Accord September 3 1903

There was again a very large attendance at Pittodrie on Saturday afternoon to witness Aberdeen and St Johnstone in a Northern League fixture. Aberdeen's unexpected defeat the week previous came as a shock to the local football community, and a good deal of strong criticism has been directed against several of the team. With several players changing positions and the substitution of Herbert Skinner [sic], of Middlesbrough, at outside right vice J. Mackie, a great revival was anticipated. Skinner [sic] came to Aberdeen with a reputation for speed and shooting.

Aberdeen's left wing at once piloted the ball down in beautiful style. McAulay crossed, and the ball was likely to go past the goal and over the line when Skinner [sic] dashed in, nipped the ball on the line and banged it in hard. Ere there minutes had elapsed Strang scored a second. Aberdeen, although playing against a stiff breeze and the sun, were performing in a way which delighted their supporters. Strang, Sangster, Mackay, and McAulay danced through the opposition. After twenty minutes' play, Skinner [sic] raced down the wing, leaving all behind him, and with a magnificent shot from the touch line sent the ball into the off corner of the goal. Play was mostly in Aberdeen's favour, and at half time the score remained unaltered. On resuming, Aberdeen pressed, and after some breaks through by the visitors, and a little midfield play, Mackay notched a fourth goal for the local team. St Johnstone retaliated and secured a goal through hesitancy on the part of Willox. Aberdeen pressed to the very finish, and Mackay notched a smart goal close in with three opponents harassing him. Macpherson saved again when a goal seemed certain. Result: Aberdeen 5, St Johnstone 1. The gate drawings amounted to about £80.

Source: Aberdeen Journal 31st August 1903

N.B. The excellent "Aberdeen - A Complete Record" by Jim Rickaby records the second goal as having been scored by McAulay but as can be seen in the above reports the goal was actually scored by Strang