Aberdeen 4 - 0 Falkirk

Played at Pittodrie before 2000 spectators. There was a fairly strong wind blowing towards the east goal, and Falkirk had the advantage of this in the first period, but failed to make use of it. Aberdeen pressed continually in the second period, Lennie, Low, Boyle and McAulay scoring goals. Result:- Aberdeen, four goals: Falkirk, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 1906-04-16

The football season is nearing its close, but there seems to be little falling off in public interest in the game in Aberdeen, for on Saturday there was a crowd of 3000 people at Pittodrie witnessing an East of Scotland League match between Aberdeen and Falkirk. The weather was excellent. The teams were:-
Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Boyle, Gault; Halkett, Strang, W. Low; R. Simpson, Ward, H. Low, McAulay, Lennie.
Falkirk: Grant; Leishman, Gordon; Reid, Penman, Raisbeck; Smart, McTavish, McInnes, Mitchell, McArdle.
Referee - Mister D. Philip, Dunfermline.

Aberdeen lost the toss, and kicked off towards the west goal against a fluctuating wind. On the hard, dry pitch the ball travelled fast, and was difficult to take on the rebound. Falkirk went in for rushing tactics, and soon had the Aberdeen defence shaky, Wilfred Lowe and Gault being the only two who were able to beat Falkirk at their own game. The Aberdeen forwards were all at sixes and sevens, Henry Low, owing to his selfishness in refusing to part with the ball, completely nullifying good work by both wings. Low's passes, too, were badly judged. To the left they were slow and short, and to the right fast and too far ahead. Low's shooting was also off the mark. Falkirk, although constantly pressing, were seldom really dangerous. Macfarlane was first called upon to save. McInnes dashed through between the Aberdeen backs and shot, Macfarlane rushing out from his goal, and making a wild kick at the ball, which went to Smart, the Falkirk outside right sending it over the line. Twice in succession after this Macfarlane had to kick out, and then McInnes had a fast drive for goal, grazing the post on the wrong side. Boyle's kicking was very fluky, but he was well covered up by Gault, and occasionally by Halkett. McTavish was conspicuous for clever dribbling. The Aberdeen forwards went to the other end, where Simpson finished weakly, and MacAulay tried a long drive, the force of a shot being fully spent ere it reached Grant. Low was making desperate efforts to break through and score, but he was always harassed and knocked off the ball. The Falkirk goal had a narrow escape from downfall during a hot attack in which H. Low, McAulay, and Ward all had pot-shots at goal, the legs of one or other of the crowd of Falkirk defenders always stopping the ball. Ward, who was, in this half, the hardest-working and most judicious of the Aberdeen forwards, got the ball in front of an empty goal, and he sent in a fast oblique shot, which flashed past the post a few inches on the wrong side. After Macfarlane had saved a long, low shot from Mitchell, he made a mistake, which nearly cost his team of goal. The ball was driven in, and Macfarlane kicked it straight out against the legs of Mitchell, who was standing three yards from him. On the rebound the ball almost went through the goal, but was luckily scraped to the right, where it was sent over the line. A minute later the Aberdeen goal had another remarkable escape, Smart, after the defence had been beaten, spooning the ball high over the bar, four yards from goal, with Macfarlane at the other side. Raisbeck, the Falkirk left half, worked hard for his team, and gave Simpson, Ward, and Halkett a lot of running. For a long time the Aberdeen forwards seldom crossed the midline. The only time Grant was really tried in the first half was when he cleared from Lennie and Low in a scrimmage. A cornered against Aberdeen, the first of the much, close on half-time, was well taken, but Wilfred Low kicked out. Just on half-time Macfarlane made a daring and clever save. Raisbeck placed to smart, who was about to shoot when Macfarlane sprang out of his goal and fisted the ball from the forwards toes.

After the first ten minutes in the second half, Aberdeen took the game in hand and forced Falkirk to act on the defensive. Although over, there was a decided improvement in the Aberdeen team's play. Macfarlane was the first of the goalkeepers to be tried, scraping the ball from McInnes's toes in a dangerous scrimmage in the goalmouth. Henry Low was keeping his wings better supplied with the ball, although his passes to the left were still badly judged. Twice Henry, dashing in, shouldered off the back and almost scored. Grant held the ball high up from a clever overhead shot by Ward. Lennie, who had had several tries, scored the first goal. Low was in the act of shooting when he was blocked, and the ball went to Lenny, who, from a difficult position, lifted it over Grants head, the goalkeeper being close to the post, and giving Lennie no room to slip the ball past. It was a cunning shot, and completely beat the Falkirk goalkeeper. Grand saved a great shot by Ward, and a fast grounder by Simpson was just a few inches wide. At last Henry Low got what he and worked hard for since the beginning of the game - a goal, as the result of his own individual efforts. Closely attended by Gordon, 15 yards out he got in his shot, and sent the ball along the ground and into the net with great force, Grant being beat all the way. Falkirk were from this point on words completely eclipsed, and seldom got past midfield, Macfarlane being an interested spectator. A long, drooping shot by Lennie all but found the net high up off the corner, and Simpson, dashing in to put on the finishing touch with his head, was given offside. A header by Low was also near the mark, and a fast shot by McAulay, from 15 yards out, was a few inches wide. A 'cute piece of play by Boyle and Lennie was loudly cheered. Boyle took a free kick about 20 yards from Grant's goal, and the Falkirk men, lining close up with the intention of putting the Aberdeen forwards offside, left Lennie, a way out on the touch line, uncovered. Boyle, judging the situation to a nicety, kicked to Lennie, and the outside left, dashing in with a free field, sent in a hot shot, which Grant held with difficulty. A sharp attack by the Aberdeen forwards ended in Ward, who got a pass from Simpson, shooting into the net at short range. This was a smartly-taken goal, and was in keeping with Ward's well-judged play. MacAulay scored a fourth goal for Aberdeen. Ward headed across, and McAulay, on the run, shot, the ball passing close under the bar and striking the top of the net. Ward was running in and about to shoot when the whistle sounded.

Up to the money drawn at the gates and stands amounted to over £90.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 16th April 1906