Aberdeen 6 - 1 Bathgate

A strong gale from the south-west swept the field at Pittodrie, Aberdeen, on Saturday, and the local men, on winning the toss, had it behind them. Apart from that advantage, however, Aberdeen's play was really a capital exhibition of finished football, and the Bathgate team was kept on the defensive practically all the time, six goals being scored before the interval. In the second period the play was more evenly divided. Bathgate got their only goal four minutes after the restart. Result:- Aberdeen, six goals; Batgate, one goal. The drawings totalled £169.

Source: The Scotsman, 20th February 1905

The Bathgate team paid their second visit to Aberdeen on Saturday to play the local 11 in the second round of the Scottish Cup competition, the game on the previous Saturday having been stopped 25 minutes from time owing to a snowstorm. The weather was spring-like, but a stiff south-westerly breeze lieu down the field two wards the sea dot Aberdeen won the toss, and played with wind and sun at their backs. The game was witnessed by 7000 spectators.
The teams were:-
Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Murray, McNicol; Halkett, Strang, Low; Robertson, Edgar, Ruddiman, McAulay, Ritchie.
Bathgate: Stewart; Collins, Hossack; Conner, Hogg, Grant; Marshall, Lynn, Lavity, Conway, Hastie.
Referee - Mr. Nisbet, Edinburgh.

Aberdeen started well, Ritchie picking up and passing to McAulay. Hogg returned, but the ball was sent out to Robertson, who centred, and the Pittodrie forwards bore down on the Bathgate in a body. A foul against Bathgate almost on the penalty line looked dangerous. For two or three minutes the ball was out of play, the Bathgate defenders, being hard pressed, kicking into touch. A beautiful place by Strang was picked up by Ruddiman, who, without hesitation, shot with lightning force, Stewart just getting the ball and no more low down. From a well-taken corner by Ritchie, Rodham and got his head on the ball, and scored seven minutes from the start. Aberdeen, despite the frantic efforts of Hogg, get the ball in Bathgate territory, and, in the pressure, Ruddiman was in dazzling form. A low shot from Robertson's foot was caught away by Stewart at the expense of a corner. After some dazzling, tricky work, thirty yards out, McAulay steadied himself, and shot with great force, the ball entering the net for out of Stewart's reach. Henry Low, for bringing down Lavity with considerable force, was penalized. Hogg ought to have been ordered off the field for deliberately kicking Edgar on the back, and a minute later, when he depicted the offense, the referee pointed to the barricade, and warned the offending player that he would order him off the field. Hogg got his last warning for a third foul within another minute. Aberdeen still maintained the pressure, and Stewart was twice called upon to clear. Bathgate, even discounting for the wind, were hopelessly outplayed. Another goal was bound to come, and come it did. A neat pass to the right by Ruddiman was run for by Edgar and Robertson. Robertson, coming in with Downer-like speed, short on the run with terrific force, Stewart having no chance to save. Aberdeen were fairly in shooting form, Edgar almost doing the trick again with a long shot. Stewart gave away a corner, negotiating a shot from Halkett. Another corner followed. Strang, after beating Hogg in a tussle, was almost through on his own. Duncan McNicol was next conspicuous for a single-handed run, but he was tripped by a Conner. Low took the kick, and had the ball been six inches lower, it was through. Aberdeen, who were having all the play, forced another corner, from which the ball was sent past. Hossack was penalize the foul and Robertson. Halkett took the kick, and in the scrimmage which followed Ruddiman got his foot on the ball and placed it in the net, scoring the fourth goal for Aberdeen. Play then opened a two bit, from Bathgate invaded the Aberdeen Territory, but the pressure was only momentary, although Murray brought down an opponent within the twelve yards' line rather suspiciously. The referee was not looking. Robertson on the Aberdeen right finished a brilliant solo run with are wreaking shot, which Stewart saved. Shooting was the order of the day, another rocket from McAulay's foot being smartly saved by Stewart. The Bathgate goalkeeper again saved brilliantly, tipping a header from Ruddiman over the bar. After Hogg had muddled, there was a scrimmage at the Bathgate goalmouth, from which Roberson scored Aberdeen's fifth goal. Bathgate played up desperately after the fifth reverse, and in the raid Hastie and Murray had a tussle; but the ball was sent by. Robertson was cautioned by the referee for fouled tactics. With a five goal lead, Aberdeen took things a little easier, but they still kept the Maroons pinned into their own territory. McAulay got a shot in a nice situation, but his parting was high. Murray, the Aberdeen right back, they'd the proceedings by having a shot at Stewart. The Pittodrie brigade were soon again down on Stewart in a body. Ritchie, cleverly springing in between Collins and Conner, let drive and Stewart, who cleared weekly, and slipped and fell. Before he could recover, Ritchie "made siccar" and placed Aberdeen six up.

Aberdeen were again the first to appear on the field, their black and gold jerseys making a pretty picture and the sunshine as they came down the incline. Ruddiman and McAulay started in pretty style but the burly Hogg spoiled the fancy little movement. Even with the wind, Bathgate did not show up for owing to wild kicking. Murray covered up a miss by Halkett. Within three minutes Bathgate scored through slack played by Halkett, the ball being sent across to Marshall by Hastie. Marshall caught the ball on the rebound with a flat of his foot, and banged it into the net, completely beating Macfarlane. Aided by the wind, Bathgate played with great spirit, and high kicking by Murray almost let them in. Aberdeen then settled down, and Ruddiman beat several opponents, but was fouled when passing the ball to Ritchie. Even against the wind Aberdeen had quite as much of the play as their opponents and certainly played with better judgment. Bathgate again and again swooped down on the Aberdeen goal, only to ban the wide or high over the bar, with the result that they were seldom really dangerous. Marshall was the most prominent forward, several of his shots, with plenty of force behind them, almost finding the net. Lavity, the Bathgate centre, played with dash, but he tried too much, and consequently was invariably beaten by one or other of the Aberdeen backs. The Pittodrie defence stood well up to all the attacks of the visitors, the three half-backs playing stubbornly, the tackling and placing being alike admirable. Macfarlane was only tested once, a splendid shot from Lavity giving him some trouble. In the last ten minutes Aberdeen again asserted themselves, and outplayed Bathgate at all points, and Ruddiman and McAulay almost scored. There was no further scoring, the result being - Aberdeen, 6; Bathgate,1.

The amount drawn at the gates and stands amounted to £160.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal