Aberdeen 2 - 1 Heart of Midlothian

At Pittodrie, Aberdeen, on Saturday, the Heart of Midlothian sustained their first defeat of the season, and lost their record and the League points. McLaren and D. Wilson were unable to play for the hearts, and Halkett was an absentee from the home team. There was a very strong wind blowing from end to end of the pitch, and in the first half the Hearts, losing the choice, were compelled to face it. Aberdeen initiated the first rush, and, aided by the wind, they dot close in on the Hearts' goal, and Philip had to handle. Striving well against the gale, the maroons' forwards made their way to the home end, where Lindsay was called up for off-side as he shot to MacFarlane. McAuley received an injury, which caused his temporary absence from the field, but on his return the ground quintette took up the running strongly, and placed the Edinburgh defenders in serious straits. Ten minutes after the start McNicoll scored for the homesters from an unmarked position. The Hearts played well in face of their difficulties, and Dickinson had a shot which missed narrowly. Ere long Lennie scored a second goal for the Northerners, and just before the interval the Hearts had the misfortune to have a goal disallowed them, the ball touching Menzies on the arm by accident. At the interval the score stood: - Aberdeen, two goals; Hearts, nothing. Unfortunately for the visitors the wind in the second half, subsided considerably, and gave the home team an additional advantage. The Hearts attacked vigorously, and shortly after resumption Menzies headed through. The Aberdeen defence withstood the strong aggression well, however, and kept the visiting forwards well in hand. In the last quarter of an hour the groundsmen revived considerably, and stormed the maroons' goal. The defence was not too sure at times, but they managed to prevent further downfall, although the Hearts were unable themselves to gain the equaliser. Near the end Lennie was hurt and carried off, but was able to return. A hard game ended without addition to either score, and the result was:- Aberdeen two goals: Heart of Midlothian, one goal. Gate without stands realises £171.

Source: The Scotsman 04-12-1905

The game of the season at Pittodrie Park was played on Saturday, and the local team met and vanquished the hitherto undefeated Heart of Midlothian. Although the kick-off was at 2:30, there were fully 7000 spectators around the pitch when the game started. The turf was in good condition, but a gusty south-westerly wind, which blew erratically all through the game, and frequently with considerable force, threatened to interfere with play. Aberdeen won the toss, and the teams, Aberdeen facing the sea with a breeze and the sun behind them, lined up as follows:-
Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Boyle, Gault; W. Low, Strang, H. low; Robertson, Edgar, McNicol, McAulay, Lennie.
Hearts: Philip; Bain, McNaught; D. Philip, Thomson, Dickson; Lindsay, Walker, Menzies, Brown, G. Wilson.
Referee - Mr. McCorkindale, Dalmuir.

The whistle blew and a great game started at top speed. The ball was at once flashed out to Wilson, the Hearts' Internationalist outside left, who went off at top speed. Then down on the little man swooped big-striding Wilfred Low, who swung the ball across to the Aberdeen left. No time was lost in fancy short passing. The Aberdeen men knew the game to play with such a breeze helping them on, and Lennie's long high swinging pass to the centre curled goalwards with McNicol racing in after it, in the most deadly manner. Internationalist Thompson, the centre half, was not dismayed, however, and, judging the ball's flight with his wonted accuracy, he punted strongly up the field. Hearts were checked in their onward rush, and then the ball was borne swiftly to the other end, where McAulay after cleverly working for position was twice blocked in the act of shooting, his ankle being so painfully injured in the melee that after hopping about on one leg for a few minutes he had to retire to the pavilion for treatment. Banging the ball for all they were worth, and giving the Hearts no opportunity to make headway, Aberdeen forced play eastwards, notwithstanding the admirable efforts of Bobbie Walker, the famous inside right, to slip the least and settle the play to the Hearts' style. Walker required careful watching, and Henry Low and Strang, the one covering the other up, held him tight, but, nevertheless, he tantalised the half-backs by his quick, unexpected swerves, and masterly dribbling, and again and again made openings. For a time the determination of the Hearts to make away by cleverness of footwork entitled them to do so, and by keeping the ball low and slipping it quickly from one to the other the forwards several times had flying runs to the west goal. Wilson, close in, failed to pick up a pass from Walker, but a few minutes later he sprinted along the touch line, and sent in a low, swift shot, which Macfarlane smartly held. Playing with great dash and accuracy of passing, the Hearts pressed severely, but the Aberdeen backs tackled and kicked well, and big Thompson, who was doing the work of two men, was kept busy with head and feet returning the ball to his eager forwards. A pass to the Aberdeen right was snapped up by Robertson, and that flier carried the ball down the field at top speed. When tackled, Robertson slipped the ball to Edgar, and the inside man pushed it out again behind the back. Robertson, without stopping, passed McNaught picked up the ball, and, on the run, shot a beautiful goal, Philip being completely beaten. Just as Robertson shot, the referee blew his whistle for offside, and a perfectly legitimate goal was disallowed. The game was carried on with grim earnestness on both sides, every inch of the ground being hotly contested. That Walker was not the only football juggler was demonstrated by Lennie, who tricked several opponents, and left them discomfited, but Bain managed to scrape the ball away. The Aberdeen men now had the measure of the Hearts, and grand work by Strang and Boyle was conspicuous. Wilfred Low, too, was playing robustly, and his tackling and placing forward, although by no means neat, were very effective. The crowd shouted for a penalty when one of the Edinburgh men accidentally fisted the ball down inside the penalty line, but after consulting the linesmen, the referee declined to penalise, and a throw-up followed. In the scrimmage the ball was fisted into the net by one of the Aberdeen forwards, and the free kick brought relief to the Hearts' backs, who were not at all sure in their kicking when closely pressed. Aberdeen were again at full strength, McAulay being loudly cheered as he came onto the field after ten minutes absence. Thus strengthened, Aberdeen were all over their opponents, and but for their feverish anxiety might have been in the goal-getting way more than once. It was when the Hearts were most closely pressed that the great value of Thomson to his side was demonstrated. Besides doing more than his own share of the half-back work, he ran forward or fell back to help forwards and backs. The pressure by the Aberdeen was severe and prolonged. The splendid work by backs and half-backs was made the most of by the front rank. McNicol, in centre, although inclined to lie offside, was plying his wings with the ball with sound judgment, and clever work by McAulay and Lennie, and Edgar and Robertson on either wing, was giving the Hearts defence no end of running. McNaught, hard pressed, gave away a corner, and from the flag-kick the ball was headed over the cross-bar. The goal-kick brought disaster to the Hearts. As Philip was about to take his kick, the wind caused the ball to roll slightly to the right, and trying to keep it low, Philip placed the ball at the feet of McNicol, who, as usual, was lying handy not far out. Both the Hearts' backs darted at McNicol, but they were too late, for the burly centre, with a well-directed shot, had placed the ball in the net, and scored first goal for Aberdeen, amid such a scene of enthusiasm and excitement as is rarely witnessed, even at Pittodrie. Some pretty work by the Hearts' front rank followed, a 'cute pass by Menzies letting Wilson off. Henry Low had a tight handful in Walker, but he frequently took the ball away from the "great one," and was always cheered when he did so. The Aberdeen backs were equal to repulsing all the inroads of the Hearts' forwards, and the punting always transferred play to the other end. Once, however, Wilson outstripped Boyle, and, dashing in on Macfarlane at great speed, sent in a raking shot, which was weak in one important respect - it was wild. Fast and furious the game waged, with the Aberdeen working hard for a bigger lead. At last McNicol beat Thompson, and just as the Aberdeen centre was downed inside the penalty area, he passed to Lennie, who had run in from the touch-line, and the outside left, with a fast upward shot scored a beautiful goal, Philip handling but failing to hold. Try as they might, the Hearts could make a little ground against the wind and the strong Aberdeen play, but when they did break away there was no mistaking their deadly earnestness. A run by the whole Edinburgh front rank ended in Lindsay getting the ball in what appeared to be an offside position. He centred, and Menzies, a few yards from Macfarlane, lost a golden opportunity of scoring by fisting the ball down almost under the bar. Thomson, dashing up the field, and brushing aside all opposition, looked like scoring himself, but he was checked by the backs, and sent to the right-about. Henry Low got a rousing cheer when he cleverly robbed Walker, and, running on, had a great shot at Phillip, which was only a few inches wide. Aberdeen easily kept the upper hand until half-time, and had they crossed over with a three-goal lead it would only have been what they deserved.

SECOND HALF

Although playing against the wind in the second half, their two-goal lead gave the Aberdeen team confidence. A foul against Boyle for handling let the Hearts well down, and Gault being shaky, the visitors look like scoring their first goal. The Aberdeen forwards worked their way to the other end, and a bye resulted. Hearts, playing determinedly, had several rousing runs, and once Bobbie Walker was on the shoot for the Aberdeen goal, when Boyle arrived and spoiled his little effort. Excitement was now intense among spectators and players alike. Even Macfarlane seemed to be affected, for in face of a determined run by the hearts, he overbalanced himself, and stumbled when the ball was headed in by Menzies, with the result that Hearts scored a soft goal. Nettled at this, the Aberdeen men played up with renewed vigour, to which the Hearts responded with a will, and the remainder of the game was fought out in a white heat of excitement, now one team being in the ascendant and now the other, the crowd yelling and cheering themselves hoarse at every exciting bit of play. The game was a hard and fast one and no mistake, with no quarter asked and none given. Hard knocks there were in plenty. Pluck and stamina were displayed on both sides. Hearts tried all the tricks and wiles of attack, and Aberdeen applied all the resources of defence even to kicking the ball out the enclosure, although the referee had a watchful eye on this little dodge. Boyle, fearless, dashing, and sure, and Gault, resolute but not so sure, put in all they knew, and the three Aberdeen half-backs played as if their very lives depended on their efforts, a gratifying feature being the way in which Wilfred Low held the wing opposed to him in check. More than once the Aberdeen supporters held their breath, but once, in particular, they quaked, and that was when Macfarlane sprang out of his goal and fisted the ball as it was spinning over his head towards the net, with three Hearts elbowing him. It was a narrow squeak, and by his save Rab made amends for his previous slip. A dazzling bit of play by Lennie, who broke away, and was making straight for the Hearts' goal ended disastrously for Lennie. Just on the penalty line he was badly kicked, and as he spun round and fell heavily on the ground it looked as if he had been seriously injured, an impression that was strengthened when the fair-haired forward was carried apparently insensible to the pavilion. The crowd yelled "Penalty!" and "Put him off the field!" But the referee thought otherwise, and did not give even a foul. This incident intensified the feverish excitement of the crowd, and the play which followed was of the most determined, not to say desperate, character. With only ten men, Aberdeen rose to the occasion, and played with such dash and determination that they demoralised the Hearts. Thomson was not the man he was in the first half, and the backs were shaky in the extreme. For ten minutes the Aberdeen men besieged the Edinburgh goal, and if ever a goal was deserved it was at this juncture. McAulay, Edgar, and Robertson all had shots for goal, but so crowded was the Hearts' goal front that it was almost impossible to find an opening. Lennie returned after fifteen minutes absence, amid the frantic cheers of the delighted Aberdeen supporters. From one end to the other the ball was carried, and so aggressive were the home team that the Hearts players seemed to lose their heads at times. To the finish of the game there was no slackness on either side, and Hearts, so far from being able to confine their exertions to securing the equaliser, had their work cut out for them to prevent the Aberdeen getting another goal. Boyle was the hero of the Aberdeen defence, and so single-minded were the Aberdeen team in their desire to keep on the lead that even McAulay and Lennie and Edgar fell back to aid the backs, and occasionally did yeoman service. Towards the close, the Aberdeen goal had a narrow escape, Lindsay, four yards from Macfarlane, shooting the ball in the direction of the corner flag. Hearts pressed hard in the closing minutes, but the Aberdeen defenders kept their lines clear, and one of the most exciting games ever witnessed at Pittodrie ended amid the cheers of thousands of spectators, in a great and well-deserved victory for Aberdeen.
The drawings amounted to two £203 13s, of which, £176 was the divisible gate.

HEARTS ENTERTAINED

After the match the Hearts players and officials of the club, who accompanied the team to Aberdeen, were entertained at dinner in the Bon-Accord Hotel by the Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Lothians Association. Mr. R. Currie presided, and the guests included, in addition to the Hearts' directors and officials, Baillie Milne, chairman of the Aberdeen Football Club; Mr. James Phillips, secretary; and Mr. R. Macfarlane, captain of the Aberdeen team. After dinner,
The Chairman proposed "Our Guests." He said that as natives of Auld Reekie and the Lothians they thought it was only their duty to invite the Hearts of Midlothian football team to a little entertainment after the match at Pittodrie. (Applause.) Returning to the result of the match, he said he really thought the Aberdeen club deserved their victory. (Applause.) Aberdeen had the advantage of the wind in the first half, and the Hearts had to struggle hard. They did their very best in the second half to keep the ball in, Aberdeen did not care whether they got the ball in or not. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) But Aberdeen were playing the game. They were playing for the two points and no one could blame them. (Hear, hear.) The match that afternoon was Hearts' seventeenth league game, and it was their first defeat. It was only by one goal. ("Good old Granite City.") the Granite City was hard to beat; hard as granite. (Laughter and applause.) He was sure that the members of the Edinburgh and Lothian Association would not grudge Aberdeen their victory. (Applause.) It would be some consolation after the 6-0 defeat at Dundee. (Groans, and a voice - "Don't mention." - laughter.) The Hearts, though defeated, were not disgraced, and they would live to fight another day. (Applause.) They were delighted to have the Hearts with them that night, and he hoped that they would enjoy themselves, and take back to Auld Reekie pleasant recollections of a pleasant hour spent with the natives of Edinburgh resident in Aberdeen. (Applause.)
Mr. Lorimer, chairman of the Hearts of Midlothian club, responded, and said that he could assure the members of the association that when the Hearts got the invitation to meet them in Aberdeen they were as much pleased as surprised. (Applause.) In the course of his speech Mr. Lorimer said that he once heard the worthy secretary of the Aberdeen club speaking about one of the Hearts' forwards, who had international honours, many times, and he said that the player he referred to had no nerves, and that when he got the ball, no matter in what position, he would go on, and when he came near the goal he looked for the goalkeeper, and put the ball past him. Unfortunately for the Hearts that day, the Aberdeen half-backs and the backs would not allow that forward to look for the goalkeeper, and they prevented that same international forward from scoring. If the fortunes of the ballot, on the 12th of this month, sent the Hearts to Aberdeen in a Scottish cup tie, the people of Aberdeen might make up their minds that the Hearts would reverse the position of the game that day. (Applause and Question.) He had said before the game that day that whoever won the toss won the game, and it happened as sure as he had said it. However, the Aberdeen club had the good wishes of the Heart of Midlothian Club. (Applause.) Perhaps the defeat that day was a blessing in disguise. If there were weak spots in the Hearts' team, Aberdeen had shown them up as clearly as the sun at noontide, and whatever weak spots there were it would be the duty of the directorate to remedy.
The Chairman also proposed "The Aberdeen Football Club," and said that the Aberdeen team always played to win. (Applause.) The Aberdeen club had struggled hard, and were struggling hard, to attain a first-class position in the Scottish League, and he was sure that they wish them all success in their endeavours. (Applause.) Every club must have a capable head, and the Aberdeen club were very fortunate in having such men as Baillie Milne and Mr. Phillip to guide the affairs of the club. (Applause.)
Baillie Milne, in the course of his reply, send they could hardly blame the Aberdeen club for being a little pleased with themselves on being the first to beat the Hearts. (Applause.) There might be something in what Mr. Lorimar said about the winning of the toss that day being an advantage, but at the same time he thought the Aberdeen team played well for their victory in a hard game, and did their best to prevent the Hearts scoring. (Applause.)
"Bon-Accord," followed by "Auld Lang Syne," brought an enjoyable entertainment to an end.
During the evening, songs were sung by Bailliey Milne, Messrs Kenneth Whitton (Hearts director). Lyndsay and Brown (Hearts), McAveeny, Moir, Currie and Kynoch, and Mr. Mavor was pianist.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 4th December 1905