Aberdeen 2 - 1 Falkirk

Robertson Cup match, at Pittodrie last night, before 2000 spectators. Both teams were almost at full strength, Falkirk having out Kemp, whom they signed from Dundee this week. Within a few minutes from the start Aberdeen's backs fumbled the ball, Simpson scoring easily. The home side pressed, and Stewart had several good shots to deal with. Niblo equalised. On resuming, Niblo put his side one up. Aberdeen, with the wind, were pressing most of this half, and a fast, interesting game ended :- Aberdeen, two; Falkirk, one.

Source: The Scotsman, 22nd April 1909

These teams played their return fixture in the Robertson Cup competition at Pittodrie Park last night. There was an attendance of about 1500 spectators. Falkirk included Kemp, late of Dundee, at inside right. Teams:-

Aberdeen: Mutch; Colman, Hume; Davidson, Wilson, Low; Blackburn, Simpson, Niblo, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Falkirk: Stewart; Reid, Gibson; Morrison, Anderson, Orrock; Simpson, Kemp, Maine, R. McTavish, Brown.
Referee - Mr. A Watt, Aberdeen.

Aberdeen kicked east, and, following some desultory play in the goalmouth, Falkirk bore down, and a judicious pass by Kemp was nullified by Hume getting in his kick. The visitors, with the wind, pressed, but R. Simpson with tricky play relieved. Following a run up by Simpson and a pass out to brown, whose square was missed by Colman, Simpson got in and scored for Falkirk after 7 minutes. Aberdeen pressed, and from a pass by Lennie, O'Hagan sent over. Simpson got away and sprinted past Hume and Colman, but his shot missed by inches. Lennie was next conspicuous with a shot which went over. Lennie and O'Hagan were combining nicely, and O'Hagan had a try at Stewart. Give-and-take play ensued. Lennie made several noteworthy efforts to get through, but with the wind against them Aberdeen could make little headway. Following a magnificent cross by Lennie, Falkirk's goal had a narrow escape, and Gibson scraped the ball away after it rebounded off Stewart. After a try by Lennie and good work by Niblo, Stewart conceded a fruitless corner in saving from Low. Aberdeen, keeping up the pressure, soon had another corner, but Davidson sent the ball wide. Blackburn and R. Simpson were conspicuous, and the latter had a shot which rebounded off the bar, and Wilson sent past. During an invasion, in which Simpson, Kemp, and Main shone, Aberdeen's goal was in constant danger. Wilson relieved, I and, passing to Niblo, that player equalized with a low shot from long range after 30 minutes play. The homesters were again back to the attack, and Blackburn in a sprint sent the ball too far in front, and a good chance was lost. The visitors' forwards were very dangerous near goal, and it was only Sterling work by Colman, Hume, and a watchful goalkeeper that kept them out. By under-estimating the strength of their kicking, the inside men were spoiling the chances of the wingers. Falkirk pressed almost continuously for the last 10 minutes of the first half, but the homesters' defence prevailed. Niblo had a try close on time, but Stewart cleared.

Niblo burst through on the resumption, but overran the ball went close in on Stewart. He gently after Lennie outwitted Reid, and Stewart saved grandly from close range, and the ex-junior internationalist later tipped a long raker from Lennie over the bar. The ensuing corner went for nothing. Shortly afterwards Stewart's charge had a narrow escape, the keeper rushing at and missing a high ball, but the sphere rolled past the post. Brown and McTavish initiated a Falkirk invasion, but after five minutes' Lennie raised the siege. Niblo aroused enthusiasm with a great solo effort, in which he beat Anderson, Gibson, and Stewart, and landed the ball in the net with great force after 15 minutes. Aberdeen were now playing grandly, and their combination was far ahead of that of the "Bairns," who, with the exception of a few spots by Simpson, were seldom in the view. Subsequently the forward play of both sides deteriorated greatly, and the defences predominated. Simpson made several creditable attempts to get through for Falkirk, but Hume kept him out of scoring range. For the most part the Falkirk forwards were overshadowed by the home defence. Lennie, O'Hagan, and Niblo, by overdoing the "exhibition" game, lost ground for their side. Stewart cleared shots from O'Hagan, Niblo, and Lennie in succession. On the Aberdeen right, Blackburn never failed to turn the ball to good account, but Niblo was slow to fastened onto his centres..Miss began to fall swiftly, and it was with difficulty that play could be followed. Gate, £45.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 22nd April 1909