Aberdeen 0 - 2 Third Lanark

The Aberdeen Football Club opened their home League program on Saturday afternoon, when the met Third Lanark at Pittodrie. There was a good crowd present when the teams lined up as follows:-
Aberdeen: Mutch; Boyle, Gault; Halkett, Strang, W. Low; Ford, Ward, H. Low, Edgar, Lennie.
Third Lanark:Brownlee; Barr, Hill; Wilson, Neilson, McIntosh; Johnstone, McLuckie, Fairfoul, Munro, Dewar.
Referee - Mister J. Faichnie, Falkirk.

Aberdeen lost the toss, and kicked off against the breeze. They soon made ground, and the first two minutes so the sphere hovering in front of Brownlie. Aberdeen were soon sent to their own end. Wilson and Lennie had a short bout, but Aberdeen's little left-winger left his opponent behind, and sent the ball smartly across. Before Low could get up, Hill punted down the field. Dewar and Munro fairly showed signs of being a well-matched pair. After getting round Boyle in fine style, Munro sent across a well-timed pass, but Mutch run out of his goal and cleared before an opponent got up. Play was evenly contested, and what advantages were going fell to Aberdeen, but when near goal they failed miserably. H. Low opened out his wings exceedingly well at first, but he gradually fell away. Edgar and Lennie made ground fast, and proved themselves to be a very dangerous wing. They repeatedly took the ball to the visitors' end, but the passes to the centre forward, as well as to the right wing men, were not fully taken advantage of. Aberdeen forced two corners, and the visitors' goal had a narrow escape through Barr clearing weakly. H. Low could have opened his account with an open goal in front of him, but he declined to do so, and only a corner resulted. The visitors' defence was at times sorely tried. Brownlie in goal was quite safe, however, while the backs were also in good form. Ward and Ford picked up several long passes with fine accuracy and judgement, and generally finished by giving Barr and hill considerable trouble. Not for long, however, were the locals allowed to press. The "Warriors" intermediate line kept their forwards going in splendid style. The van, headed by Fairfoul, swept down in a body to the other end. McLuckie sent in a hard shot which Mutch caught and cleared. Aberdeen had a run to the other end. H. Low outwitted Neilson in fine fashion, and crossed to Lennie. This player proved too much for Barr, whom he left behind in a race to the corner flag. Lennie, however, could not get the way altogether from Barr. As he was making at an angle for goal, Barr caught up with him. Lennie danced around him, and when he was free from attacks sent in a shot which brought Brownlie to his knees. The ball was soon at the other end, and the Aberdeen backs had to work hard for a few minutes. The managed, however, to prove equal to the occasion, and Gault placed nicely to Strang, who in return placed to H. Low. The centre forward made off, and after taking the ball into the penalty area, was about to shoot with an open goal in front of him when he was brought down by Neilson. Aberdeen claimed a penalty, and the referee without any hesitation granted it. Lennie was appointed to take the kick. The crowd remembering, no doubt, H Low's "miss" on Wednesday evening when the locals were granted a penalty kick against Dundee, in an East of Scotland league capitalize match, shouted "Lennie." Lennie stepped forward in answer to the repeated calls, and carefully placed the ball in position. The spectators were in high equal E at the prospect of our goal, but they were soon groaning with disgust and displeasure. Lennie shot hard, but instead of the ball going into the net with lightning force, it flashed past the south goalpost. Aberdeen came away again, and Lennie, no doubt wanting to make amends for the point he lost, bounced round several opponents in grand style, rushed to the corner flag, and sent across a beauty of a shot to Ford. The right winger was set upon by Hill, who was eventually got clear of. Ford, now having a three field sent in a lightning shot, which Brownlie cleared. H. Low caught the rebound, but sent the ball high over the bar. The locals maintained the pressure in surprising fashion, and the efforts deserve success, but it was not to be, as the strangers were the first two draw blood. Fine swinging pass is characterized the play on the visitors' left wing. Dewar crossed quickly, and in a flash the ball was returned, and Munro shot a capital goal, giving Mutch no chance whatever to save. Lennie was in grand form, but his cross is we're not seize the pond by his comrades. Aberdeen bombarded Brownlie with many shots from all quarters, but not a goal could be got. The Third Lanark swept eastwards in a body. Munro crossed with a high shot. McLuckie was standing a few yards from goal with his back to it, when the ball rebounded off the back of his head into the net. Aberdeen after this second reverse worked hard, and attacked continually, but their efforts were of no avail.

After eight minutes' rest the teams reappeared, the Third being received with loud cheers. The visitors made off towards Mutch, but Boyle and Gault were in their best form. Gault sent well down, and Strang seizing the ball had a shot of his own for goal, which was a little too high. The first excitement in the second period was raised by Lennie, who crossed the ball in front of goal. He again got the sphere, and Brownlie, in saving Lennie's parting shot, had to throw himself at the ball. For a time Aberdeen maintained the pressure, and forced three corners in quick succession, every one of which, however, proved fruitless. The Glasgow half-back line kept their forwards well supplied with the ball, but when the backs were pressed they all fell back, and blocked the goal. Aberdeen on play were now are certainly worth a goal, but Brownlie would not take any risks. This young goalkeeper gave a capital display, and cleared his lines time and again. Play at this stage was very uninteresting. First Aberdeen attacked, and then the Glasgow men. Play swept from end to end, after which the backs of both teams had a game to themselves. The kicked the ball high over the heads of the forwards and half-backs to each other. The ball was always returned, and this state of affairs lasted for a time the other players no doubt enjoyed the Short rest, for when they once more commenced the real business, they went at it hammer and tongs. Aberdeen pressed continually, and six corners were forced in as many minutes. The ball on each occasion, however, was got away. The half-backs and many tries at goal. Halkett, Strang, and W. Low all had shots, but as they were taken at long range, Brownlie always managed to get them. Aberdeen were having matters all their own way, but the forwards would not shoot when near goal. Had they followed up all their opportunities as they ought to have done, they would have been rewarded with three or four goals. The spectators expressed their displeasure at the poor exhibition in front of goal in not very complimentary language, but the Aberdeen forwards would not, or could not, shoot. Third Lanark occasionally broke away, but their forwards, like the Aberdeen forwards, were weak in front of goal. Johnston to on the right had many smart runs but as a rule he was kept well in hand by W. Low, of whom he appeared to be afraid. Johnston would not Rush W. Low, and Low observing this practically did as he liked. Aberdeen forced more corners through Lennie, but the Third Lanark when hard pressed blocked the goal. In the closing minutes of the game Aberdeen came away with great dash. Although the game had been uninteresting in the second half, Aberdeen in the closing stages tried hard to secure even a point. Third Lanark were certainly lucky in managing to maintain a clean sheet. Barr and Hill were none too particular as to the methods they used to secure the ball, and several fouls were granted against them. Until the whistle blew for time Aberdeen pressed, but their efforts went on rewarded.

The gate money amounted to £170.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 27th August 1906