Aberdeen 1 - 0 Dundee

Yesterday, at Pittodrie, Aberdeen met Dundee in an East of Scotland League fixture. About three thousand spectators witnessed the match. Excellent weather favoured the game, and as a holiday fixture the match was an interesting and attractive one. The teams lined up as follows:-
Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Murray, McNicol; Mackie, Strang, Low; Robertson, G. McNicol, Ellis, McAulay, Ritchie.
Dundee: Muir; Chaplin, Jeffrey; Boyle, McAteer, McDiarmid; McHardy, Braund, Kerr, McFarlane, Cowie.
Referee - Mr. Tom Robertson, Glasgow.

The visitors won the toss, and kicked off against the wind. In the first few minutes of the game the Aberdeen players were prominent. A corner was granted but nothing resulted, and Dundee came on, but in a twinkling Aberdeen got back again. A foul was granted near the goal mouth, the infringement being by Muir. Aberdeen broke away on the right wing, and were awarded a free kick, but they failed to follow it up. A minute later, at the other end, Dundee attacked, and Macfarlane saved brilliantly. Play for a time was confined to midfield, neither of the custodians being called upon to exert himself, and the "Wasps" were having the best of matters. In a scrimmage at the Aberdeen goal McAteer sent in a stinging shot which just shaved the crossbar. It was now Aberdeen's turn to take up the attack, and after some good head work Ellis got on the ball and looked like opening the scoring, but the leather sailed over the bar. Robertson came away nicely with the ball, and passed across the field to McAulay and Ritchie, who gained a bit of ground. At this point a slight accident befell Ritchie, and the play was stopped for a minute. Murray, at back, was in good form, and often relieved nicely. Dundee were again on the defensive, but Aberdeen fouled when far up the field. Shortly before half-time, MacAulay, amid great cheering, opened the scoring for Aberdeen with a nicely-placed shot. Some fine play was witnessed on the left, wing, Ritchie and McAulay rendering yeoman service to the local team.

The holiday feeling was very obvious, and during the interval there burst from a section of the grandstand snatches of popular songs. The repertoire of the secular becoming apparently exhausted, the hilarious crowd struck up the "Old Hundred," which was so sonorously droned until the reappearance on the field of the teams.

On resuming, play for a period was confined to midfield. Twice the local forwards broke away, but when near the penalty line, Chaplin and Jeffrey, who were ever on the alert, relieved nicely. By smart work, Muir succeeded in keeping his charge intact. Murray continued to play well, and his fine form was freely commented on. The play continued for a time to be of an even character, each goal being visited in turn. The Aberdeen me, who were showing themselves to be the superior team, now pressed, and the McNicol sent in a nice shot, which was taken up by Ritchie, who passed across the goalmouth to G. McNicol. The latter tried to score, but shot the ball over the bar. Muir was again, a minute later, called upon to save, and rushing out to meet the sphere, succeeded in forcing back the onslaught. The Dundonians had now to contend with a brilliant sunshine. Ellis got off, and, on his own, made tracks for Muir. Jeffrey, however, succeeded in holding him off the ball. A minute later, Mackie had a fair opportunity of adding to the score, but, shooting too rashly, sent the leather over the bar. Just as the vast crowd of spectators was edging towards the gates a minute before the call of time, and exciting scrimmage was witnessed in front of the Dundee goal. McAulay, getting the ball, shot splendidly from near the touch line, and a second goal was looked for. Muir, however, was equal to the occasion, and, springing up, succeeded in fisting the ball over the crossbar. A corner was awarded, and the "Wasps" again attempted to score, but were unsuccessful. The game ended with the score at half time unaltered - Aberdee,1 goal; Dundee, 0.

The drawings at the gates amounted to £107.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 27th September 1904