Aberdeen 0 - 0 Falkirk

Played at Pittodrie before 3000 spectators. The visitors had slightly the advantage in play during the first half, in which Macfarlane distinguished himself by two miraculous saves. The "Bairns" were pumped out in the second period; with bad shooting and clever saving on the part of Allan, Aberdeen were unable to score. The game ended with no scoring. Aberdeen - MacFarlane; Boyle, Gault; W. Low, Strang, Robertson; Simpson, Ward, McKinley, Edgar, Lennie. Falkirk - Allan; Hotchkiss, Gordon; Reid, Anderson, Raisbeck; Simpson, McTavish, Logan, McAuley, Davidson. Referee: Mr G. B. F. Stark, Cambuslang

Source: The Scotsman, 1906-10-08

With the Falkirk "Bairns" at Pittodrie on Saturday, there were few who did not sanguinely look forward to an augmentation of the local clubs points. There were changes in the home ranks, however, was raised some little doubt as to the result of the match, Henry Low and Halkett being absent ease to illness. The teams were:-
Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Boyle, Gault; W. Low, Strang, J. Robertson; R. Simpson, Ward, McKinley, Edgar, Lennie.
Falkirk: Allan; Hotchkiss, Gordon; Reid, Anderson, Raisbeck; Simpson, McTavish, Logan, McAuley.
Referee - Mr. J. B. F. Stark, Cambuslang.

The spin of the calling favoured the strangers, and Aberdeen kicked off in face of a blinking sun, but the "Bairns" almost immediately invaded the home territory. A promising run by the extreme right winger all but resulted in a corner though W. Low intercepted the flight of the ball on the line and gave Simpson chance of getting at Allan. "Bobby" was well in front of the backs, but was brought to the grass, and nothing but accrued from the free kick. There was no lack of excitement, and the local crowd had a minute's suspense when the visiting pivot drove low and straight for the corner of the net. Macfarlane, however, threw himself to the turf and just managed to slip behind, the resultant corner being easily cleared. The venue changed, and a struggle ensued beyond the Falkirk penalty line, where Edgar and Lennie literally forced a passage through the opposition, but only to be baulked by shady tactics. The game was constantly swinging from end to end, and in the course of a brief siege, McTavish to sent a yard wide, when he had the ball had his feet about 20 yards from Macfarlane. Even the most rabid Aberdonian had to admit that the Falkirk van were having the best of the encounter so far, and that the home defenders had as much to do as they could comfortably accomplish. A fouled close in at McFarlane's end did not improve matters, but Rab got the leather sent direct to his hands, and easily returned. The most strenuous efforts of the black and gold brigade seemed to be easily repulsed by the blues' defence, and during the initial half-hour the honours of the game fell to Falkirk. McTavish was again conspicuous for weak shooting at goal, and then there came a bombardment of Allan's citadel, that was only prevented, by the hardest of luck, from culminating in the first point for Aberdeen. The ball home in front of the goal, and Lennie gave a neat display of diddling, which quite nonplussed the strangers and elected the spectatorate. The little winger ultimately got round and sent the sphere skimming across the line, when Wilfred Low one dashed in, and with a heavy punt made the cross-bar rattle like a ship's rigging in a gale. Half an inch lower and the shot must have found the haven; but even yet danger was not past, for Lennie caught the rebound with his head, and has tried just dropped the sphere on top of the net, behind the bar. McAuley only flashed into prominence now and then, but his play on the whole showed a good touch of science, and opened up the game for his partners. The Falkirk shooting, however, was poor at goal, and in the closing stages of the first half Aberdeen were undoubtedly the superior lot. Lennie found Hotchkiss a stout and fleet defender, but the back was frequently the left. End-to-end play of an uninteresting nature followed, but just before the interval whistle sounded, Simpson made inroads on the visiting defence, though the corner which was forced was tipped over.

The second period opened with Aberdeen pressing, but the forwards were to anxious, and failed to steady themselves at the crucial moment. The backs at both ends were operating well against the attack, but in a rush up the field the strangers almost got through, though a foul by Logan turned the venue to the other end. Lennie forced a passage by himself, and, while severely harassed, succeeded in forcing a fruitless corner. Lennie was easily the first of the forwards, and a clever twisting shot sent in to Alan from the line, off the winger's foot would have brought desired point to the locals had McKinley been closer in. The home front line began to give more attention to the Falkirk backs, and the result was at once obvious, Gordon especially being flustered, and giving away corners. Wilfred Low had to be cautioned for rough play. Macfarlane was called upon to scrape clear, and in the melee that ensued, McAulay ought to have guided a neat cross into the net. A similar scene was enacted at Allan's end a minute later, when both Lennie and Edgar bungled five yards from the goal line. Keeping at it, Ward was the next to have a try at close range, but the custodian was equal to the task, and the first point had yet to be got. These lost opportunities led to a recklessness creeping in, and played became fast and into resting, though science was in great measure disregarded. As showing how the game was divided, it may be stated that Macfarlane had only to handle twice in half an hour. Perhaps the most sensational incident of the day was the save by Allan from a grand shot by McKinley, and though there was some doubt as to whether or not the ball was over the line, the referee decreed otherwise. On the nearer approach of time the players appeared to lose heart, and while Falkirk offered a stiff resistance to the incursions of the home quintette to, there were numerous chances that went abegging. To finish up with, Aberdeen secured a corner, but like all preceding advantages of this nature nothing was made of it, and the teams left the field without either citadel having fallen.

The drawings amounted to about £130.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 8th October 1906

The Right Wing Problem.

For some weeks past we have been informed that this part of the team was being attended to and would soon be put right. To all who take an intelligent interest in the game and who have the welfare pf, the local club at heart this right wing problem has been the failure since the season began. On Saturday we expected to see something new, but instead had a reshuffling of the forwards with the inclusion of an A team man to fill the breach. If the management are not going to give us a class man we do not think; they are making the best use of what they have got at their disposal. Have they never thought of giving Edgar the outside right wing place along with Haxton, and putting Ward to partner Lennie? In our opinion this would make a stronger front line than any they have yet tried. It was given out at Pittodrie on Saturday that a new man was being tried at Hill of Beath, but it turns out that the player for some reason or other failed to turn up, and the problem seems as far off as ever from being solved. The present state of the club won't last long, and the management must be alive to the necessities of the situation, and ought to put the front line in as good order as the other-parts of the team.

"The "Bairns" Win a Point.

One team was neither better nor worse than the other on Saturday so far as the fundamental rule for scoring goes in football. During the first half McTavish and McAulay missed dead pinches with Macfarlane stretched on mother earth like a log of wood. "Mac" made some daring saves in this moiety, which, if anything, favoured the "Bairns" in outfield play. On completing their toilet, and resuming, Aberdeen burst through the defence, and a goal seemed imminent when Hotchkiss conceded a corner, to be followed by another, but not a goal. It was Mr. Stark's first appearance at Pittodrie, but his notions on the offside rule were new to me, especially when he pulled McKinley up after dashing for the ball, which had rebounded off an opponent. Nor were his decisions correct as to charging. Raisbeck made a fair shoulder-burst on "Gowie" Robertson, and a foul was given against the Falkirk player. There was far too much whistle-blowing for petty things, while more flagrant breaches were unnoticed. Anyhow the decisions did not assist either team in scoring, Aberdeen having the play, but their shooting was dead off the mark. It was a welcome relief to Falkirk when the whistle sounded, with the game level - no scoring.

The Players.

The visitors have a couple of good backs and an excellent custodian, who saved the situation several times, also a trio of fine halves, and, their wing forwards impressed us as the best of the five. Macfarlane fielded very safe on Saturday, and some of Gault's work was very fine in the first half - far outshining the others on the field. "Gowie" stuck to the Falkirk flier like glue, and along with Tom Strang shared the honours in this division. W. Low came away several times with good things, but was left too often by the opposing wing. Of the forwards, McKinley and Lennie stood out prominent. Edgar was good in the open, but did not get in the crowd often enough. Simpson squared well, and was an improvement on anything we have seen, his only fault being the want of weight. Ward might have done better, but shaped better than he has. The absence of Halket and Henry Low was felt by the home team, who put this as the reason to their want of success on Saturday.

Chatty Bits

Had Aberdeen had on their usual half-back line we question if Falkirk would have had so much of the play in the first half.
It took "Gowie" a little time to weigh up Simpson, and then he stuck to him.
W. Low was nonplussed a bit with McAulay in the first half, but he gave the ex-Pittodrie man no rope in the second.
"Ecky" Halket was a spectator on Saturday. As the day was fine the doctor allowed him out.
Not so with Henry Low, whose trouble is much more serious. He is improving, but it takes a little time to get over inflammation.
McAulay is still the same old chap. He fed his outside man to a nicety, but he could not score with an open goal.
All the oratorical powers which Tom Strang possesses could not convince the referee that he was wrong in some of his offside decisions.
Aberdeen will have to go in for strict training this week if they mean to make a decent show on Saturday against the Celts, It will be Adams and not Sinclair this week.
Halket will be fit to play, but it will be the end of the week before it is known if Henry Low will, be able to strip.
It is not correct that Jameson of the Maryhill has signed for East Stirlingshire.
This lad has decided to remain a junior to the end of the season, and has refused all offers to become a senior.
It is expected that the lad who was to have played at Hill of Beath will be up to Aberdeen this Saturday to play against Montrose.
We understand that Aberdeen were making enquiries after Bennett of the Celtic, but the club would not part with him.
We heard that the gate on Saturday at Pittodrie had dropped about £40. This was due to the early kick-off.
Why should Aberdeen oblige by kicking off early, when they don't get the same privilege when they travel?
Henry Low is now out of danger and progressing favourably, but will be too weak to play on Saturday.
We would suggest that W. Low be played against the Celts on Saturday instead of "Gowie," who is on the light side for the Celts heavy weights.
Montrose usually provide a warm ninety minutes for the A team, and we expect it will be hot on Saturday.
Considerable interest is attached to the game on account of so many Aberdeen juniors being amongst the "Gable Endies," and they have all played on Pittodrie before, and know it well.
By last Saturday's win the A team go up to second place, but Montrose are badly in want of points, and mean to secure them al Pittodrie. We shall see.

Source: Bon-Accord, 11th October 1906