Aberdeen 4 - 1 Kirkcaldy United

The "A" team for the second week in succession showed their paces at Pittodrie when Kirkcaldy United was met in a friendly fixture. The visitors lost the toss and kicked off towards the city. In the opening minutes, of the game, play was, if anything, slightly in favour of the United, but Moir and Brebner kept them from being really dangerous. The right wing men got away for the homesters but weak finishing spoiled the chance. The homesters still kept up the pressure, but the shooting of the front rank, together with Macdonald's uselessness in centre, kept them from opening their goal account. Thomson and Robertson from half had a try at Dorward, but found the visitor's custodian on the alert. The visitor's left wing were giving the home defence no little anxiety, but like the home quintette their shooting was off the mark entirely. On one occasion, however, Shaw, the visitor's centre, got off, and through a misunderstanding, got between the backs, and looked like scoring, when Brebner tackled him and cleared successfully. Skinner at the other end dashed between the backs and beat Dorward with an unsaveable shot. Not long after, the same player again beat the visitor's custodian with a hard drive. The United tried frequently to break through the Reserve's defence but found it difficult to pierce - Ritchie being seldom troubled. Half-time arrived with the "A's" holding a two goal lead. On resuming, the United started with great dash and looked like decreasing their opponent's lead, but their finishing was poor, and one or two grand chances were lost. The homesters then took up the running, and during a scrimmage Fitzpatrick was laid low within the dreaded line. Skinner took the kick and made no mistake. From a break-away by the visitors' left wing, Ramsay had a try to find the net, but Ritchie saved well. However, "John" rushed in, and, catching up the rebound, beat Ritchie from close in. Unfortunately the custodian was hurt in the melee and had to retire for the rest of the game. Notwithstanding the fact that the homesters were a man short, yet before the close another point was added, and they ran out winners of an interesting game by 4 goals to 1.

Points from Pittodrie.

There was a gratifying attendance at Pittodrie - the gate amounting to £24.
The visitors' looked a likely lot in their smart jerseys - the Q.P.'s colours, by the way.
They started well, but their play deteriorated as the game went on.
Dorward, in goal, kept up his reputation as a keeper. He was, however, poorly supported by his backs. They were a poor lot.
The halves were the mainstay of the visitors' eleven. Collier, left half, is a very fine player indeed and should come out in better company.
Shaw and "John" were the best of a middling front rank. If the former had more height and weight, he would be most effective.
The outside right has a nasty temper which needs toning down.
Ritchie, in goal, was very safe, and cannot really be blamed for the point registered. His accident was unfortunate. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Both Moir and Brebner played well at back.
The halves played a very hard and effective game. We should like to see them place the ball more to their forwards and not merely bang it in front of them.
The forwards, with the exception of Macdonald, who was a dead failure, played well together.
Ritchie, however, is not an outside right.
Shinner still keeps up his reputation as the "Penalty King." We forget where the title came from.
This is the best eleven which has turned out for the Reserves as yet, and with two alterations would do.
The referee, Mr. J. H. Russell, was very fair but rather free in his decisions on the offside rule.
C.

Source: Bon-Accord, January 28, 1904

The first string of the Aberdeen Club being at Alloa, the A team had Kirkcaldy United at Pittodrie for a friendly game. The teams were:- Aberdeen A: Ritchie; Moir, Brebner; Murphy, Thomson, Robertson; R. Ritchie, Shinner, Macdonald, Fitzpatrick, Shiach. Kirkcaldy: Dorward; Dair, Hutcheson; Ramsay, Manning, Collier; Rankine, "John", Shaw, Walker, Bell. Referee - Mr. J. H. Russell.

Play opened quietly, and the visitors were the first to become dangerous. Their attack, however, was short lived. and the "A's" asserted themselves. After half an hour's play, Shinner opened the scoring, giving Dorward no chance to save. Immediately after the kick-off the "A's" again took the game in hand, and Shinner added a rather easy second point.

The United opened the second half more promisingly, but erratic shooting nullified several likely chances. Moir and Brebner offered a stubborn resistance, and consequently it was seldom that the visitors got into close proximity to Ritchie. After a period of midfield play, however, they succeeded in piercing the defence, and "John" netted the ball from close in. Ritchie in attempting to clear the ball from the feet of the inside right, sustained injury to his side, and had to retire, and they were deprived of the services of their custodian. Aberdeen again got the upper hand, and in a body the front rank rushed southwards, and for illegal tactics towards Fitzpatrick, the visitors were penalised. Shinner, who took the kick, converted somewhat easily. Play up to the close was evenly contested, and just on time Aberdeen scored again.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 25th January 1904