Falkirk 2 - 0 Aberdeen

By NORMAN MACDONALD

GEORGE JOHNSTONE was the only Aberdeen star who really twinkled in the Dewar Shield semi-final at Falkirk yesterday.
He, more than any other player, stood between the Dons and a bigger defeat. His final defiant gesture was the saving of a penalty kick from MaPhee eight minutes from the finish.
Falkirk won 2-0 and wiped out the lead gained by Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the first leg last May. The teams must meet again to decide who will contest the final with Dundee.
Reserve players made up more than half the Pittodrie team yesterday, If the officials hoped to discover first team talent in this game they must have been disappointed.
Ralph McKenzie, at centre half, alone showed enough personality and punch to challenge for early recognition in the League side. He has still some rough edges that require polishing, but he has the makings of a good stopper.
If I mention Johnstone, McKenzie, Waddell and Millar you have the names of the four men who showed any real efficiency at Brockville. Buchan, at left half, goes into the category of promising. He was always well up in attack, and it might be worth experimenting with him at inside forward.

Forwards Were Poor

The forwards were poor. Clever enough individually at times, they failed to function as a line - dainty but not dynamic. Millar was the solitary attacker who revealed any real purpose and he could't be described as brilliant.
Harris was better at centre forward than he has been on the wing.
Falkirk were a very ordinary side yesterday. The play of the defence didn't come under the heading of inspiring. It might well have cracked under pressure.
Their forwards were more cohesive and enterprising than the Aberdeen five, but there was no reason to congratulate them on their finishing.

Cooper to Blame

Hesitancy on the part of Cooper led to the first goal in twenty-five minutes. Aikman and Ken Dawson cut through on the left, and from the centre's slip the winger found the net with a fast drive.
When Aikman scored Falkirk's second goal thirteen minutes from the end the Dons vainly claimed offside. McKenzie slipped in trying to intercept a slip from Fleck, and the centre was clean through with nobody to beat but Johnstone. The 'keeper had no chance.
Five minutes later, during a fierce Falkirk attack, Johnstone was out of his goal when Ken Dawson shot, and Cooper stopped the ball with his hands. McPhee took the kick and the 'keeper saved.

Source: Press & Journal, 9th September 1947

Our team at Falkirk had a strange appearance, the defence being almost entirely from the "A" team. The lads who were promoted did quite well. As at Motherwell so at Falkirk, it was the "goals for" that were lacking. Some of our lads have lost their punch and poise near goal.
Spectators can forgive a rip-roaring, tearaway forward who lashes one or two over the bar or past the post - aye, or even strikes the corner flag on occasion - as long as that player keeps trying and manages to get a goal or two. But supporters have no time for the tip-tapping, hesitating lad who dilly-dallies when he should be "having a go."
We seem to have struck a bad patch, but feel sure the team will soon be back to form.

Source: Match Programme, 13th September 1947