Aberdeen 2 - 0 Kilmarnock

Played at Pittodrie Park, Aberdeen before 7,000 spectators. Throughout practically the whole game the northerners had the best of matters, the Ayrshire team as a whole being very disappointing. Three minutes from the start McNicol opened the scoring for Aberdeen, and right on until the interval the homesters held the upper hand. It was only a matter of time until they increased their lead, McNicol again being the executant. During the temporary absence of Lennie, who had to retire in consequence of injury, Kilmarnock were seen to more advantage, but that was only for five minutes, and then till the close it was again Aberdeen's game. Result:- Aberdeen, two goals; Kilmarnock, nil. Gate and stands, £185.

Source: The Scotsman 04-09-1905

Aberdeen fulfilled their third Scottish League First Division fixture at Pittodrie on Saturday, their opponents being Kilmarnock. A fortnight ago they were defeated by Partick Thistle at Pittodrie by one goal to nothing, and a week later, after a plucky fight, in which they showed clever football, they succumbed to the Rangers by the same score. There was very little wind, and the pitch appeared to be in tip-top condition, despite the fact that the grass would have been the better of a little rolling. There was a large contingent of Kilmarnock supporters around the arena, 500 having travelled by special train. They were not long in making themselves haired. When the game started there were about 6000 spectators present. The teams were:- Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Willox, Gault; Halkett, Strang, H. Low; Robertson, Henderson, McNicol, McAulay, Lennie. Kilmarnock: Monteith; Duncan, Aitken; Banks, Shaw, Macdonald; Maxwell, Fairtoul, Graham, Young, Morton.

Kilmarnock kicked off towards the west, and made a raid, but Willox repelled with a huge punt. Halkett missed, and let Maxwell away, who tried Macfarlane, who was in rare form. Aberdeen went to the other end, and McNicol, after manoeuvring for position, completely beat Monteith with a 'cute oblique shot. The goalkeeper had no chance to save. Aberdeen continued to play with great dash, the half-backs particularly shining. Kilmarnock had a dangerous run, but Willox sprang in in the nick of time, and cleared. A few minutes later Macfarlane, dashing out, cleared in a crowd. Willox was punting in rare style. Kilmarnock pressed vigorously for a few minutes, but only a bye resulted. Clever work by the Kilmarnock forwards, in which Young took a prominent part looked promising, but Halkett stepped in in the nick of time after Willox had missed. Aberdeen then kept play in Kilmarnock's territory. Low chipped in and robbed the Kilmarnock's right wing, and from the pass McAulay missed by inches. A shot by Lennie was just caught in time by Aitken, the Kilmarnock left back, as the ball was making straight for the net with the goalkeeper at the wrong side. Halkett stopped a dangerous run by the Kilmarnock's left winger, and from the breakaway, Kilmarnock's right back missing, George McNicol all but finished successfully. The goalkeeper, however, got the ball first, and McNicol went sprawling. Lennie on the Aberdeen left got many chances, but he was just a trifle too tricky. A judicious pass from McNicol to the right, sent up by McAulay, led to a race for possession. Robertson got there first, and shot with terrific force, the ball just missing the uprights. Aberdeen pressed hard, and Low was the next man to try Monteith, who saved a great shot in brilliant style. A minute later another splendid shot was sent towards Kilmarnock's goal. Aitken, the Kilmarnock's left back, muddled his kick and Monteith saved with great difficulty at the expense of a corner. Lennie's clever touches were a feature of the game, but all over the Aberdeen play was clever, not to say brilliant, Kilmarnock making a poor show in comparison. Kilmarnock's play was of the rushing style, but it failed to come off. Lennie picked up a pass from McAulay, and returned it, and McAulay shot after tricking an opponent. McNicol cutely ducked, and the ball was cleared. Beautiful play by McAulay and Lennie let Aberdeen in, and one after another the Aberdeen forwards tried to get the parting shot. Aberdeen were simply irresistible, and the excitement of the crowd was intense as the black and gold stripes peppered the Kilmarnock's defence, which stood the test remarkably well. A beautiful cross by Robertson failed to find a supporter. McNicol was a great success as centre-forward, his excellent generalship and tricky work causing the Kilmarnock backs and half-backs considerable uneasiness. Aberdeen's forwards continued to bombard the Kilmarnock citadel, all the forwards taking part in the attack. The blue's appeared to be completely demoralized, their play all over being erratic, which kept them from making headway. Strang almost did the trick with a high shot. Robertson was working around when he was fouled by Aitken, and from the free kick the Aberdeen forwards hovered around Monteith who got the ball away pluckily in a scrimmage. Aitken, the Kilmarnock's left back, tackled and kicked very steadily. Henderson was rewarded with a groan for a lamentable skier. Shots by Lennie and from Strang were cleared brilliantly by Monteith.

Kilmarnock were the first to appear, and got a rousing cheer. Aberdeen at once made off and forced a bye. Strang intercepted the kick and passed out to Robertson, who struck the upright with a raking shot. He could hardly have scored from the position, and should have centred. Maxwell had a dashing run on the Kilmarnock's right and his parting shot struck the wrong side of the net. Low, McAulay, and Lennie came westward in great style, and the latter finished with a shot which was yards high. Kilmarnock then had a spell of pressure, and Macfarlane and Willox cleared. Aberdeen went to the other end, but their movements were not so crisp as in the first half. The Kilmarnock's right back was shaky. A touch at the corner flag was well placed by Lennie, but nothing came of the advantage. Robertson in a good position was tackled, and Kilmarnock gave away a corner. Robertson centred with remarkable accuracy. Morton was making away with a clear field when he was bowled over by Sam Willox, who kicked into touch. Aberdeen next had a lively run. Lennie cleverly tricked Duncan, and passed to McNicol, who was off side. Kilmarnock went to the other end, and Halkett stepped in at an opportune moment and averted danger. Macdonald, the Kilmarnock's left half, was now frequently prominent for smart work, and for a time he was the most distinguished half-back on the field. A beautiful nip up by Henderson was manoeuvred by McAulay. Play was now a much inferior to whet it was in the first half, and Kilmarnock had quite as much of the game as their opponents. Maxwell finished a dangerous run by centring but Halkett filled the breach and headed out. McAulay, after brilliant work, finished weakly by shooting thirty feet wide of the goal. Lennie was coming in for a lot of rough handling, which the referee failed to notice. Henderson turned a complete somersault and landed on his head. Offside sent Kilmarnock to the right about. A certain goal for Aberdeen was lost through a misunderstanding on the part of McNicol and McAulay. These players found themselves in front of Monteith with the ball between them. Both hesitated to shoot, and before they could make up their minds the ball was nipped away from them. Macfarlane got a shot from Faitoul into his hands, but he had no difficulty in clearing. Shortly after, Lennie received a kick on the face, and had to be carried off the field. Aberdeen played with ten men for about ten minutes, and Lennie, on returning, was loudly cheered. Aberdeen now worked hard for a second goal and it came as the result of clever play. Robertson and Henderson brought up the ball, which was centred to McNicol. The centre-forward coolly steadied himself, and shot with deliberation giving Monteith no chance of saving. The Aberdeen men did not slacken their efforts, and frequently looked like scoring again.

Gate, £156; stands, £25 - total £181.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 4th September 1905