Natal 4 - 3 Aberdeen

NATAL SCENE OF TOURING SIDE'S DOWNFALL IN S.A.

INSPIRED PERIOD SEES FOUR-GOAL DEFICIT REDUCED TO ONE

(From Our Own Correspondent) Durban, Saturday.

A period of five minutes in the second half when they scored three goals was the only time that Aberdeen showed their real form in their match with Natal on the Kingsmead Ground here to-day.

They were already four goals down when they staged this recovery, however, and further efforts could not produce another goal to bring them level with their opponents.
Consequently they lost the match 4-3, and with it their unbeaten record. Before to-day Aberdeen had played four matches in South Africa and won them all.
From the kick-off Natal attacked, and their inside-right, Smethurst, scored after a combined rush up the field by the forwards.

Startled Dons

His shot hit the underside of the crossbar but fell inside the goal and with the game barely started Aberdeen were one down.
Half an hour passed without any further score though Aberdeen made many attacks. The next score, in fact, came from Natal.
Again the forwards made a clever combined movement which ended in Foxcroft shooting the second goal. Natal continued to attack and held a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Attacking from the outset in the second half Aberdeen strove desperately to reduce the gap, but the Natal defence did not give way under pressure.

Dunlop Hurt

A leg injury compelled the Aberdeen left half to leave the field early in the second half but he returned almost immediately.
Natal's third goal was given to them when Falloon passed back to his goalkeeper, Johnstone, who was unable to gather and deflected the ball into the net. A further gift came a minute later when Smethurst converted a penalty kick.

Bright Period

Then came Aberdeen's bright period. Lang netted after receiving a pass from Scott and two minutes later a pass from Falloon enabled Lang to repeat his performance, this time putting in a high shot which the goalkeeper failed to reach.
Three minutes later Mills scored from a free-kick, but Aberdeen's further efforts at scoring came to nothing.

Source: Press & Journal, 7th June 1937