Arbroath 3 - 1 Aberdeen

Played in Gayfield, Arbroath, on Saturday. Teams:- Arbroath: Palmer; Ferguson, Lorimer; Guild, Taylor, Fullerton; Black, Willox, Thomson, Dorward, Meikle.
Aberdeen: King; Hannah, Forbes; Davidson, Macfarlane, Low; Hay, Towns, Wilson, Roberts, Ritchie.
Referee - Mr. Deans, Dalkeith.

Play inclined to wards the Aberdeen goal in the opening stages, and the defence was forced to kick out more than once. Dorward raised the excitement when he sent in a stinging shot, which grazed the bar. The next minute Meikle had the ball passed nicely to him, and the left winger forced King to handle, this being followed by another lovely shot from Dorward. Aberdeen then carried the ball to the Arbroath end of the field, and Ferguson failing to clear allowed Ritchie to get away. The left winger crossed nicely into goal, and Davidson scored. There was an apparent understanding on the Arbroath side that the Aberdonian was off side, but referee Deans ruled otherwise. Arbroath men showed determination, and soon met with success. Thomson got the ball well down, and when between the backs passed out to Black, who returned the leather to the centre, thus enabling Thompson to score the equaliser. Willocks raised a cheer when he drove in a good shot, King only managing to clear at the expense of a corner. Arbroath were doing most of the pressing at this stage, and another surprise shot by Willocks was stopped by King just in the nick of time. The home forwards were playing with great dash, and gave the Aberdeen defence no end of trouble. Thomson headed the ball nicely into goal, but King was again there, and managed to nip the ball up before it crossed the line. Macfarlane, the Aberdeen centre-half, came in violent collision with Taylor, and as a result the Aberdonian had to be carried off the field. Hannah almost gave away a penalty.
Arbroath, after strenuous effort, succeeded in securing the lead. Black obtained possession of the ball in midfield. He centred beautifully to Thompson, who, clearing the backs, rushed off at great speed. When about a dozen yards out he drove, and with a terrific shot landed the ball in the net. The Maroons were certainly having the best of the game, and Hannah and Forbes were being kept continually on the alert. Several times Aberdeen made tracks for the home goal, but offside infringements spoiled their efforts. Arbroath kept up the pressure.

Aberdeen resumed with only 10 men, but Macfarlane resumed later. Black wrote off some smart work on the line. King was so hard pressed that he had to give away a corner. Meikle gave Willocks a rare chance to score, but the latter missed practically an open goal. Aberdeen, led by Ritchie, made a rush for the home end. Palmer in attempting to clear was interfered with by an opponent, and a foul resulted. The referee at this stage was apparently annoyed at the remarks which he heard coming from behind the ropes, and he approached a section of the crowd and briefly addressed them. A dangerous rush was made on the home goal. Aberdeen were now playing with great vigour, and were evidently determined to equalise. Meikle forced a corner, and although some exciting play followed the Aberdeen defence stood it well. Just before the close Arbroath scored.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 9th November 1908

Arbroath have Revenge.

Without McEachran, Scott, and Dalgarno. who had no small share in beating Arbroath at Pittodrie, Aberdeen A wont to Gayfield on Saturday and played their return League fixture. The score at the finish was exactly reversed from the previous week. Arbroath running out victors by 3-1. The A's played a good game, but were unforiunato to lose the services of Macfarlane. This had a disheartening effect on the team, who played spiritedly all through, and were often beaten by sheer bad luck. George Wilson and Ritchie were the best forwards, while Macfarlane shone in the middle line till his injury. The backs were good, and King could not ho blamed for the soore against him.

Source: Bon-Accord, 12th November 1908