East Fife 2 - 1 Aberdeen

An Ancell or a Dyer in defence would have saved the Dons at Methil, where East Fife rather luckily won by the odd goal in three.

it was hesitation the part of Thomson which led to the Fifers getting the winning goal. He should have cleared the ball easily before the home centre-forward was given the chane to score.
Yet, the Dons had a perfectly good goal disallowed in the first half. Stewart, the I.T.C. player, who was centre-half for East Fife, headed the ball out to Pattillo, who promptly netted. The referee blew for offside against Battiillo, notwithstanding the fact that there were three home players standing on the goal-line at the time.
Territorially, the Done held an advantage in this game, and for long period in the second half the Fifers' defence underwent a terrific gruelling, but the Pittodrie forwards could not find an opening.
There was however, a lack confidence in the Aberdeen defence. Their positioning was not good, and the half-backs were inclined to wait for rather than go for the ball. The attack was not a well-balanced line.
Johnstone could not be blamed for the defeat. He had no chance with either goal. Cooper was the better back. Dunlop was best in the middle division. Anderson and Taylor were weak in tackling.
The new centre-forward did not impress. He opened promisingly, but finished a very moderate player. Armstrong did some grand scheming, and opened out the play well, while young Buchan executed some very clever moves. Pattillo was lively when at outside right, but got no chance when he went to centre. Dryden was moderately good.
The best footballer on the field was Brown, the Chariton player, at inside left for the homesters, while Stewart, I.T.C., also rendered good service to the winners.

Source: Press & Journal, 24th January 1944