Montrose 4 - 1 Aberdeen

These teams met in a return Northern League fixture at Links Park, Montrose, in disagreeable weather. Teams:- Montrose: Towns; Allan, Burgess; Watt, Campbell, Mackenzie; McHardy, McKay, Duncan, Henderson, Keillor. Aberdeen: Barrett; Macgregor, McNicol; Low, Strang, Robertson; Shinner, Mackie, McKay, McAulay, Johnstone. Referee - Mr. Hendry, Dundee.

Montrose kicked off towards the west goal against the breeze. They pressed right away, and Barratt had an anxious couple of minutes as the home left and centre bore down upon him. The chance was muddled, however, and the Whites rushed east. A spell of play in midfield followed. McNicol handled the leather, but blocked Allan's kick, and returned the ball to Burgess, who was prominent by strong tackling. Aberdeen's left were the best in their line, and took a lot of watching. McHardy had a rare chance but lost the leather. McHardy broke away, and in the course of a scrimmage near the Aberdeen goalmouth, a goal came, Barrett being tricked by Duncan and missing. Instead of merely contenting themselves with defensive tactics as they had hitherto done, Montrose attacked and Duncan and McKay each had good tries. The former once beat Macgregor, and McNicol had to come to the rescue. The latter was in fine form, and was a stumbling block to Duncan and his comrades, who were now aggressive. McHardy beat McNicol, and Duncan almost scraped the ball through. The Whites' defence wavered for a bit, and but for the wind Montrose should have augmented their score, as Aberdeen were distinctly mastered for the time being.

On restarting McHardy had atrial, but the Whites, settling down gave Allan and Burgess something to do. Montrose then had their turn, and it would have gone ill with Aberdeen had McNicol not been there. Single-handed he stopped several rushes. Duncan and Keillor muddled a certain chance, but McHardy's shot secured a corner, and the right winger's shot dropped over a crowd of players and into the net. From the kick-off Shinner sprinted along the line, and Mackay picked up a pass back from Burgess to Allan, and scored easily. Aberdeen wore west, and, assisted by a free kick got within shooting distance of Towns. They were sent to the right-about, and Barrett had to punt out a header from Duncan. As time passed Aberdeen redoubled their efforts, but the home forwards were soon again briskly attacking. It seemed as if they would not meet with further success. Beating the opposition, however, Keillor snapped up a centre, and beat Barrett with a beauty. The home right collared the leather at the kick-off, and McHardy emerging from a knot of players let drive from 40 yards out. The ball landed high in the corner of the net, Barrett being powerless to save.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 23rd November 1903