Aberdeen 6 - 0 Peterhead

Peterhead were the visitors to Pittodrie on Saturday. Their game with the Aberdeen was a Qualifying Cup Tie. The home team were the first to press, and ere we a minute had passed the visitors custodian had to deal with a low shot. Peterhead now came away with a rush, and McEchran with a fine low drive almost opened the scoring - Barrett just saving in the nick of time. The Whites then took up the running and forced a corner, which Johnstone kicked to perfection. The visitors' goalkeeper attempted a fine save, but just as he handled the ball he was rushed through, and the Whites opened the scoring. The spectators had not long to wait for number two, C. Mackie obliging after dodging the opposing defence. Not long after this McAulay scored from close in, and put the Whites in a safe position for the next round. The forwards and halves then indulged in a little fancy work, with occasional bursts from Johnstone and Skinner to keep the opposing defence lively. After having hard luck with a fine try which struck the bar, McKay waded through half-a-dozen or so players and beat Buchan with an unsaveable shot. The Peterhead now tried to break through the home defence, but their attempt was too half-hearted to result in anything but failure, and to make matters worse for them, Shinner scored for the Whites. From this on till half-time the game was, very one-sided, and it was no surprise when Johnstone placed a very fine corner right under the bar, from which McKay headed through another goal. This point, however, did not count, as the whistle had blown as soon as the kick was taken.

The second period, as regards play, was just a repetition of the first, the only difference being that just one goal was scored. To give an account of it in full would be that the homesters pressed continually until the finish. On one or two occasions the visitors did get off towards Barrett, but he was really never troubled. Johnstone was the marksman for the sixth goal, and the game ended - Aberdeen, 6, Peterhead, 0.

Points from Pittodrie. If the game was disappointing, the same could not be said of the weather.
It was all right, and no mistake.
A cricket match would have been more appropriate.
If the Peterhead are not masters in the football art, they are certainly no better in the virtue of punctuality.
To come on fully quarter of an hour late, and then give a very feeble display, requires a fair amount of nerve and pluck.
Although they did not record a win, yet we hope they will be consoled with the few tips they learned and their share of the gate.
Buchan in goal for them was a very fair keeper, and did well considering the opposition.
The backs for a country team were very good, both in the tackling and kicking line.
Their halves, however, were rather mixed, and did not seem to know how to keep their places.
Ferguson was the best, McIntosh, McEchran, and Baxter were the pick of a very poor front rank.
The centre man is too selfish, while the whole five should practise shooting.
Barrett got little to do for the home team, and the backs were in much the same state.
McGregor is improving but still lacks speed, and very badly too.
The halves were not much troubled, and had an easy time.
Strang hangs on to the ball too long, and might try with a little less dribbling.
All the forward had a goal to their credit, and we hope they will keep it up.
They had splendid practice at shooting for goal, but we can't say they were very successful with so many chances hanging around.
Mr. Hodge had one or two very queer decisions during the ninety minutes, but we think he was quite fair to each side.

Source: Bon-Accord September 10. 1903

The weather was rather on the warm side for hard football on Saturday when these teams met. It was beyond the advertised time when the teams took the field as follows:- Aberdeen - Barret; McGregor and Willox; Low, Strang and Ritchie; Shinner, Mackie, McKay, McAulay and Johnstone. Peterhead:- Buchan; Robertson and Shand; Reid, Davidson and Ferguson; McIntosh, Buchan, McEachran, McKechnie and Baxter. Mr P. Hodge, Dunfermline, officiated as referee. Aberdeen won the toss and the visitors played towards the west goal. Evidently the home side quickly gauged the strength of the opposition they had to meet. Previous to their settling down to any concerted mode of action, Peterhead with their usual rush, were down on Barret who got a hot shot to hold. On the Completion of this, the Whites indulged in the pretty close pressing game, without any attempt at forcing the pace. Getting well down, the backs were forced behind and the resulting corner was neatly placed by Johnstone, so accurate was the line of direction that any of the forwards could have put it through. It was almost impossible to tell whose 'napper' did the trick, but it was done and Peterhead were a goal down. From one of those zigzag runs Mackie seized his opportunity of adding a second with a cross drive and the crowd at once seemed to realise that there was no chance for the visitors in this game. Tricky passing and dodging were now the order, a mode of play which proved somewhat perplexing to the usual order of play with which, the Peterhead players have been accustomed. McAulay, McKay and Shinner in succession, at their turn in scoring, and at half time Aberdeen were leading by 5 goals to nil. On resuming, the lack of training has told on the Peterhead, who preferred to act more on the defensive than assume the aggressive. It was some time before Johnstone got the goal to his credit right off the reel, though he had a prominent say in several of the others. This proved all the scoring of the period, though it was not without incident, and the spectators were evidently kept in good humour with themselves. Peterhead made not a bad appearance against their more experienced opponents, especially as this was their first game of the season. The result was:- Aberdeen 6 goals; Peterhead, 0. There was very little to criticise in the game as each player seemed to understand that there was not too much expected of him. The weather was also against a fast game, being too hot to set a fast pace. The halves were an improvement in the way they tried shooting on their own - a point that ought to be practiced more. The forwards were all good, though again the outside right seemed to be neglected. The defence was steadier than it has yet been, and will improve with experience.

Source: The Aberdeen Free Press, Monday 7th September 1903