Hamilton 3 - 3 Aberdeen

Slender Chance of Second Place

ABERDEEN may have to be satisfied with third place in "A" Division instead of second. They dropped a valuable point at Hamilton, where they drew with the Accies in a game which they should have won comfortably.
Hibs, on the other hand, beat St Mirren at Paisley, and are now level with the Dons in points, and have still to play Queen's Park at Hampden. Meantime, it is a question of goal average between the Dons and Hibs, but the odds are in favour of Hibs finishing second to Rangers.

The Dons blundered badly at Hamilton. Actually they were leading 3-1 up a quarter of an hour from the finish, and at that time the homesters had only ten men, Steel, their centre-forward, going off with an injured arm. With a comfortable lead, and only a short time to play, the Dons took it into their heads that the game was won. It was a serious mistake.
Hamilton's handicapped team put everything they had into the closing quarter, and they got their reward, but the Aberdeen defence, and particularly Kelly, helped them to get a division. Still, the Accies must given credit for a great fight. The Dons' defence was not at all confident during the last fifteen minutes. There was uncertainty in the work of several of the defenders. Their tactics against ten men were wrong.

Kelly at Fault

It was a disappointing result from an Aberdeen point view. Kelly did not inspire confidence in goal. He should have cut out the cross which led to the first acore for the homesters. He was badly at fault with the second goal, but in the case of the third and equalising goal the ball should have been cleared long before McLaughlin got in a shot.
Cowie and McKenna were reliable while the going was good. The same be can said of the half-backs. One thing is certain; very shortly Waddell will command a regular place In the first team.
The attack was at its best up to the time the Accies got their second goal. Geo. Hamilton, who was none too fit, played grand football in the half, but he slackened off after the interval. Baird was consistently good throughout. Williams took a lot of watching, and McCall and Kiddie were serviceable wingers.
Hamilton are not a good team, but they showed great fighting spirit.

Source: Press & Journal, 18th February 1946