Aberdeen 0 - 1 Forfar Athletic

Aberdeen A played off their undecided northern League match with Forfar Athletic at Pittodrie on Saturday afternoon. On the occasion of the teams' last engagement the game had to be stopped before time owing to darkness, with Aberdeen leading by 2-1. A fairly strong breeze blew down the pitch towards the sea, but otherwise the weather conditions were excellent. Teams:-

Aberdeen A: Mutch; Hanna, Brebner; Davidson, Simpson, Drain; Wilson, McKinley, Collins, Robertson, Toman.
Forfar Athletic: Orr; Harvey, Gibb; Stewart, Gowans, Bruce; Downie, Docherty, Langlands, Troup, Robertson.
Referee - Mister D. Jackson, Montrose.

Aberdeen won the toss, and Lang lands kicked off against both sun and wind. The locals pressed from the outset, and Collins fumbled our rare opening in the early stages of the game. Orr gave away a corner, but it was unproductive, and a minute later the goalkeeper saved smartly a long shot by Davidson. Though playing against the elements, Forfar were as much on the aggressive as on the defensive. Their forwards were very smart on the ball, and were far more dangerous at goalmouth than the Aberdeen van. An excellent cross by Robertson was rendered useless, by Langlands fouling Mutch, and then Aberdeen attacked through Wilson. A great shot from the winger struck the crossbar and rebounded into play. Collins secured, and again the ball hit the bar, a foul off Wilson eventually bringing relief. Chances innumerable were thrown away by the Aberdeen centre, and his ineffectiveness spoiled the work of the local forwards completely. Troup beat Davidson in a tussle for the ball, and a hard shot from Lang lands went over the bar. At the other end, Toman drove into Orr's hands, but the interval arrived without either team having scored.

On the resumption, Aberdeen infused any amount of energy into their play, and Wilson had some excellent tries for goal. Orr, however, was very safe, and saved repeatedly. A burst away by Downie gave Forfar the lead. Securing the ball from the left, the outside right raced past Drain like a deer. Mutch, who was half way up the field, could not get back to his charge in time, and the winger simply ran the ball into the net. Aberdeen strove desperately to equalise, and shots rained in on Orr from all sides. The goalkeeper was in brilliant fettle, however, and could not be beaten. One save in particular was a good piece of work, a terrific drive from McKinley being deftly turned round the post by the custodian. Forfar nearly scored again through Troup, Mutch clearing the visitors shot in none too reliable a fashion.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 17th February, 1908

The A Team Defeated.

After the first announcement was posted on the board at Pittodrie, announcing that Aberdeen were leading at Dundee, the A team, who were playing Forfar Athletic in a Northern League game, seemed to catch the infection of the crowd, and were more interested in other things than their own game. It was a miracle how they failed to score in the first few minutes, for they went off with great dash, and simply bombarded Forfar's custodian - Collins, McKinley, and Robertson having good tries. Langlands was the first to test Mutch with a good grounder, this period finishing with honours even, the play being ragged and lacking exciting incidents. Aberdeen were having slightly the pull of Forfar when an untoward incident occurred, which won and lost the game. The home forwards were having a spell of pressure, when the ball was punted down the field. Eluding the backs, Langlands fastened on, and meeting Mutch twenty yards or so out of goal, the centre had no difficulty in scoring. This proved all the scoring, Forfar winning both points after a very so-so game.
The A's would have bagged one point on Saturday, but for that mistake which Mutch made in leaving his goal. We have no hesitation in saying that it was a bad blunder to make, and one which may do the lad a deal of harm. In Langlands Dundee have secured a good 'un, whose display on Saturday was above any of the others. He knows how to keep his wing going, lies well up on the backs, and is a good shot, much above the average in Northern League circles.

Source: Bon-Accord, 20th February 1908