Aberdeen 3 - 0 Dunfermline Athletic

The only disappointing feature in the tie at Pittodrie was the comparative ease with which the Aberdeen team seemed to get the better of their opponents. Had there been half the earnestness displayed as there was at Hampden, Dunfermline would have been squelched. From the moment the ball was set off Aberdeen rushed away, Robertson making the posts shiver with a fast one. Lennie next planted one into Foster's, arms which was only the precursor of many more of the same. It was a splendid bit of work which led to Mackie scoring the first goal.

Few would have attempted the rush, he made between the backs, getting his head on the sphere outside the goalie's reach. There were several rushes west by Dunfermline, one especially by McLelland which gave Macfarlane a chance to show his powers. Another later on by Low was a good effort, but was shot at too lengthy a range to be much danger. Mackie had the goal at his mercy once. Strang and Henry Low also missed good chances. Before the whistle sounded for breathing space, Dunfermline let themselves out for a spoiling game in the second period which proved amusing at times. On three occasions a halt had to be made through accidents caused by the visiting players coming into collision with one another. Lennie was putting in some fine work flashing through the defence at one time and diddling round them the next with delightful ease, and to the merriment of the spectators. Mackie was also prominent, and was well set for a goal when brought down, which Henry Low made up for by scoring from the penalty. I don't think Tom Strang has scored a goal for Aberdeen this past two seasons, but he had the best of the three, on Saturday, and I, too, metaphorically shake his paw. Dunfermline were played off their feet in this half with the exception of Foster, whose luck was phenomenal in keeping out shots. That is about all that could be said in their favour.

Individual

In such a scrappy and, at times, forcible sort of game, the Aberdeen directors did the proper thing in keeping McAulay out for the day, as he would never have stood the knocks that were going. Henry Low was not so artistic as his predecessor at inside left, but he gave Lennie more of the ball, and shielded him pretty well. If there was a weak man, it was Edgar, who struck me as more selfish than usual, though he did some clever work too. The halves did all that was required of them, but I have seen them play harder many a time with less success. At back, Boyle and Gault were as fine a pair as could be wished, and never made a real mistake. On the visiting side Pitblado was the best back, Lambie in the middle line, and McClelland forward. The hero of this side was Foster, who gave a great exhibition between the posts, though some of his saves were not the result altogether of clean calculation, but of luck pure and simple. Mr Muir was fair to both sides in his capacity as referee.

Chatty Bits.

The drawings at Pittodrie on Saturday amounted to £135 all in.
There were a goodly number of Aberdonians at Dens Park on Saturday.
All whom we have seen on the point say Dundee were unlucky to lose - a draw would have been the better result.
Unless protests crop up, the next round should produce some grand ties.
There was plenty of excitement at Pittodrie on Saturday, though the game was a bit one-sided.
The directors ought to stop that unseemly yell which emanates from the youthful section at the top end.
It may lead to trouble if allowed to go on much longer.
Foster did not have the best of taste in his rejoinder, but it was deserving of something akin to it.
Mackie was a carefully marked man on Saturday, and one could hear very varied opinions as to his abilities.
A strong feeling prevailed, that the new centre was a success, and many were heard to grunt that he was the opposite. You cannot please everybody!
A coincidence! The previous, week the scores were 5-2-at home, and 3-0 away. It was the-other way about on Saturday.
Dunfermline are a much improved team since they were at Pittodrie last. They did not expect more than a goal defeat.
Their officials thought they were squarely beaten on the day's play, but expected that their men would have been able to score.
It is confidently expected that Harvey and Hilton will be able to take their places in the A team this week. Their absence was felt very much at Methil, they have both been suffering from colds.
A general impression is abroad that while the team is trained to last the full time well enough, this has been done at the expense of neglect in shooting practice.
There would seem to be a deal of truth in this, if one is to judge by results in goals.
The Aberdeen have a far journey to reach Cappielaw Park, and not the best of grounds to play on at that.
It would seem that they have got to be counted on purely as a home-winning lot, for they have not secured full points away yet.
Celtic, Airdrieonians, and Motherwell, have still to be met at home. How many points can they take-out of these?
Port-Glasgow and Partick Thistle have to be met away.
There will be a battle royal again at Dens Park this week. Celts and Dundee are due in the return League match.
I would not put a penny on either side after last week's display. My prediction will he that either one or the other will rise to the occasion, and make a big show in the goal line.

Source: Bon-Accord, 2nd February 1906

Aberdeen had an easy task in the first round of the Scottish Cup competition, their opponents being the Northern League team, Dunfermline Athletic. The weather was fine, and the pitch in good condition. About 6000 spectators witnessed the match. The teams were:-
Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Boyle, Gault; Halkett, Strang, W. Low; Robertson, Edgar, Mackie, H. Low, Lennie. Dunfermline: Foster; Pitblado, Young; Adamson, Lambie, Christie,; T. Low, McLean, Douglas, Fergusson, McClelland.
Referee - Mr. Muir, Motherwell.

Aberdeen started vigorously, and in the first minute the Dunfermline goal had two narrow escapes from shots by Mackie and Robertson.As the game proceeded it settled down into a ding-dong affair, with one team quite as good as the other, and with very little bright football shown, if we except the tricky dribbling, shooting, and crossing of Lennie, on the one side, and the dodging runs of Low and the dash of McClelland on the other. Macfarlane was first tried by the outside left, who, beating Boyle on the run, sent in a swift grounder, which "Rab" cleverly stopped dead and punted out. At the other end Lennie cleverly outwitted Pitbladdo, and from a difficult angle, sent in a deadly shot, which beat Foster and missed the inside of the off post by a few inches. Had Mackie, Aberdeen's new centre, been up in time, a touch would have directed the ball into the net. Two minutes later Lennie was loudly cheered for an almost similar performance. In a scrimmage close in on the Dunfermline goal the ball was sent across, and Charlie Mackie, dashing in, headed into the net, Foster springing at the ball, but failing to reach it. Although the game continued to be fairly evenly contested in the open, Aberdeen were more dangerous close in, and but for weakness in the centre and bad shooting all over the First Leaguers would have increased their lead. Lennie's cleverness and Gault's tackling and clean, powerful punting redeemed a poor display by Aberdeen in the first half, at the end of which the score was - Aberdeen 1, Dunfermline 0.

In the second half Aberdeen at all points outplayed their opponents, and the Dunfermline goal underwent several prolonged periods of severe pressure, in which Foster and the two backs, particularly Pitblado, gave a good account of themselves. The Northern Leaguers played a desperate defensive game, and risked their limbs unnecessarily with the result that several of them were laid out in hot scrimmages in front of the Dunfermline goal. Lennie was the hero of a somewhat featureless game, and the remarkably agile way in which, though closely watched by several opponents, he dodged about, always working goalwards, excited the whole-hearted admiration of the spectators. At times his movements as he dodged in and out, and, although knocked down, always emerged from a scrimmage with two or three of the Fife men chasing him round and round and backwards and forwards, was extremely mirth provoking, and the crowd, if they did not get the worth of their money in the exhibition of football, had it in fun, to which a dog and the Dunfermline goalkeeper occasionally contributed. Aberdeen scored their second goal from a penalty kick. In a hot attack, Pitblado fell upon the ball inside the penalty line, and as Mackie rushed in he seized the centre's legs and pulled him down. Henry Low took the kick and placed the ball in the net well out of Fosters' reach. Strang scored Aberdeen's third goal in a scrimmage, the centre half dashing in and banging the ball through a crowd of players past Foster. Macfarlane was seldom called upon to handle, and it was well on in the second half before Dunfermline secured their fist corner. Foster performed well in goal for Dunfermline, his saving of shots from Mackie and Edgar being marked by coolness and resource. Towards the close of the game Macfarlane held a fast low shot from far out, but he was practically a spectator during the greater part of the game, so ineffective was the Dunfermline forwards' play made by Gault and Boyle, notwithstanding the praiseworthy efforts of Low and McClelland, the two extreme wing men, who, after Lennie, were the best forwards on the field. There was no further scoring.

Lennie was the most outstanding player on the field - a veritable star. Gault was the best of the Aberdeen backs, and Wilfred Low in the fist half and Halkett in the second were more frequently noticeable than Strang. Wilfred Low marred his good work somewhat by his tripping up of the Dunfermline outside right when he was set in a run for goal. On Saturday's game, at all events, it was demonstrated that Charlie Mackie, unless he improves immensely, is not the player to solve the centre forward problem, which has puzzled the Aberdeen directors so long. Mackie has plenty of dash, and puts in many clever touches, but he lacks judgement and finish. For Dunfermline the best performers were Foster, Pitblado, Lambie, Low and McClelland. The divisable gate amounted to £120.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 29th January 1906

At Pittodrie on Saturday, before 5000 spectators. Dunfermline played better in the first half, but as time wore on they had to adopt safety tactics. Mackie opened the scoring, and in the second period Henry Low and Tom Strang put Aberdeen further ahead. A rather one-sided game ended:- Aberdeen, three goals; Dunfermline Athletic, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 28th January 1906