Aberdeen 1 - 3 Rangers

Aberdeen and Rangers met in a match at Pittodrie last night. Playing with the breeze the Rangers were easily the better side. Macpherson opened the scoring, and Hogg added a brilliant second, which was followed by a penalty goal taken by May. Galt was injured, and was off for half-an-hour. Simpson scored for Aberdeen before the interval, and Tom Murray shot wildly when favourably placed. Rangers led at half time by three to one. The second half was less unequally contested, but there was no further scoring. Play stopped fifteen minutes from time owing to the failing light. Result :- Rangers, three; Aberdeen, One.

Source: The Scotsman, 5th April 1910

The Glasgow Rangers played the first match of their northern tour when they met Aberdeen in a friendly fixture at Pittodrie Park last night. The weather was cold, and a strong wind blew across the pitch. There was a small attendance.
The visitors had the wind in the first half. Hogg and Gordon were first to shine in some good combined work, and Galt sent behind from long range. Aberdeen, through Lennie and Soye, were next aggressive. But from Law's clearance McPherson shot a beautiful goal from 20 yards range. Tom Murray had a fruitless solo effort at Lock, but play was quickly transferred to the home base, where McPherson struck the upright. Good work by H. Murray ended in Lock having to clear a stinging ball from Simpson. Aberdeen's left winger neatly dispossessed Stark, but his cross was wild, a remark which would apply to an effort by Alec Smith at the other end. Good placing by Harper helped Aberdeen to be on the aggressive, and after Wilson had checked McPherson and Smith, the home centre had a creditable try at Lock. Without unduly forcing matters, the visitors' right gave a splendid exhibition, Hogg's work in particular being neat and finished. At Lock's end Tom Murray was at fault when he drove high over from Simpson?s pass, which followed upon a thrilling run by H. Murray. A great tussle between Smith and Wilson saw the veteran worsted, but Hogg got possession, and after a piece of superb play on his part put his side two up. Next minute hands against Harper saw May score a third from a penalty. H. Murray tried to turn the tide, but his cross was cleared by Law in international style. The Light Blues were easily the better side; their accurate passing, interspersed with glimpses of grand individual work, was about the best seen at Pittodrie this season.
Aberdeen at one time looked like scoring, but Law got in the way of Simpson's effort. Lock got more to do from his clubmate's passing back to him than from the disjointed attacks of the Aberdeen forwards. Aberdeen's opening goal came as the result of a piece of play which did much to redeem their previous loose efforts. H. Murray had a wriggling run, and Simpson, accepting his pass, neatly tricked Stark and scored. Galt having just previously retired to the pavilion for repairs. Half-time ? Rangers 3, Aberdeen 1.
Galt did not resume, and Waddell, who changed places with Stark, got crippled in the first minute while repulsing an incursion by Simpson. Reid soon transferred the danger to Mutch's end, but Hume cleared. After a period of midfield play, the Aberdeen goal had a narrow escape, Henderson kicking out below the bar after Mutch had missed. Lennie, after being neglected for a period, next came into the picture with tricky but unprofitable work. Aberdeen improved for a time, but on the whole they were met by a defence which had their measure. Occasionally H. Murray and Simpson raised the enthusiasm with their clever runs, but the watchful Rangers saw to it that they did not get into scoring position. A foul close in availed the homesters nothing, and a dazzling run by Hogg ended in a bye. Futile efforts by Aberdeen followed, and their chances were not enhanced when Galt resumed. It was difficult, owing to the failing light, to follow the game. Aberdeen did most of the attacking, but although their combination improved, and H. Murray got a corner, Lock had an easy time. Play stopped 15 minutes from time with the score:- Rangers 3, Aberdeen 1.

Source: Evening Express, 5th April 1909

n.b. 1 Rangers were on a tour of Northern Scotland at this time.
n.b. 2 The opening Rangers' scorer is reported as being Reid in some places and Macpherson in others.

Fine Forward Play

The Aberdeen attack got a fine object-lesson from the Rangers on Monday night in how to get ahead and drive for goal every time. For some time the Rangers were all over Aberdeen, and till they had three goals on never slackened the pace a bit. The Aberdeen got a look-in, but they were handicapped by playing against a strong breeze blowing, and found it difficult to make progress. Reid scored the first goal for the Rangers with a lovely shot, but Hogg's was the best of the bunch, though it should have been got away by Wilson, before he received the pass. The third came from a penalty, which Reid converted, though an appeal was made for Lock to take it. Towards the close of the opening half, Simpson scored a very fine goal for Aberdeen, which was all the scoring during the game. The second period only lasted thirty minutes, when darkness came on and stopped play. With the aid of the wind, Aberdeen were more in the game, and but for slackness in goalmouth ought to have increased their score. Law was in great form at back, and Lock was always keen and interesting, and the only drawback was that the light gave out so early in the second portion when play was at its best. Some of Hogg's tricks were most amusing, while Alick Smith can still dribble and centre as well as ever. In comparison with the other parts of the team the halves were poorest, and it was the same on the Aberdeen side, who had out Wilson, Harper, and Henderson, in place of their usual trio. Bobby Simpson was the best forward on the home side, with Colman and Hume playing great at back. Mutch was not so safe as usual, and might have saved the first goal, while he very nearly let past another. On the whole the game was good, but the attendance was somewhat disappointing.

Chatty Bits

Aberdeen should beat all their previous records in the League this season. They are already within two points of their highest total and have seven games still to play.
Grimsby Town will visit Aberdeen on April 18, and play Aberdeen in a friendly. This will be the first occasion the fishermen have been in the north.
Had it not been that W. D. Nichol injured his foot on Saturday, he would have played against the Rangers on Monday night.
He expects to be fit by Saturday, and will enjoy the game against the famous Celtic at Parkhead.
Aberdeen's programme for the rest of the season is:- Celtic, Third Lanark and Hibs in Edinburgh, Hamilton Academicals at home, Dundee at home, and Queen's Park away. They play Hibs, Hamiton and Dundee all in one week. Their tour of the north will not take place till the last week of the season.
There is no word of any business being done in the way of signing-on by the Aberdeen yet.
The Aberdeenshire Cup and badges will be presented on Saturday night after the match in the Richmond Café.

Source: Bon-Accord, 7th April 1910