Dundee 1 - 3 Aberdeen

The first of home-and-home matches played between these clubs, on behalf of the unemployed, was played yesterday at Dens Park, but boisterous rainy weather affected the attendance. Both sides were at almost full strength, and a capital game was witnessed, notwithstanding the soft pitch. Aberdeen were the smarter side, but they were fortunate in crossing over leading by two goals, got by Lennie and McNair. Play was quieter in the second period, when Aberdeen did most of the pressing, and scored through O'Hagan, Dundee replying with one point, secured by Lee. The game ended :- Aberdeen, three goals; Dundee, one goal. The sum of £45 will be available to the unemployed fund as the result of the match.

Source: The Scotsman, 26th November 1908

Those noted rivals in the football world - the Dundee and Aberdeen teams - met at Dens Park yesterday in the first of two matches in aid of the unemployed. The farm match will be played at Aberdeen. In each case the sum drawn will be disbursed in aid of the unemployed of Dundee and Aberdeen. The ground conditions were very bad. Both teams were strongly represented, Dundee giving a trial to the new right wing, Kemp and McCann, in place of Langlands and Bellamy. There was a disappointing attendance of spectators. The teams were:-

Aberdeen: Mutch; Colman, Hume; Halkett, McIntosh, Roberts; Blackburn, Simpson, McNair, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Dundee: Crumley; Dorward, Chaplin; Lee, mayor, Neal; McCann, Kemp, Hall, Macfarlane, Fraser.
Referee - Mister T. Robertson, Glasgow.

Dundee had the better of the opening exchanges, but were unfortunate in front of goal. They found Mutch a stumbling-block, the Aberdeen goalkeeper being in great form. When about a quarter of an hour had gone, Lennie burst away on the left, I and, beating several opponents, he scored a magnificent goal, his shot completely surprising the Dundee goalkeeper. Inspired by their success, the Aberdeen team played with greater dash, and gave the Dundee defence plenty to do, the left wing being particularly active. The Dundee forwards played smart football, but they met a stubborn defence.
After a quarter of an hour of fairly even play, the Aberdeen forwards had a nice combined run, in which the outwitted the Dundee defence, and McNair, getting the ball in good position, found the net with a hard drive, which had Crumley beaten all the way. Nettled by this second reverse, the Dundee team pressed, but they failed to beat Mutch, who was giving a good display of sound goalkeeping. O'Hagan and Lennie, by clever passing, then carried the ball into dangerous proximity to the Dundee goal, but when making for the goal Lennie was fouled. Nothing came to Aberdeen from the advantage of the free kick. The weather continued of the very worst description, rain having fallen heavily during the whole progress of the game, while the ground was a perfect quagmire. Dundee, playing strongly, but still the worst of luck, and were unfortunate in not reducing the leeway, although account must be taken of the steadiness of the Aberdeen defence. The Dundee forwards could do everything but get the ball into the net.

Good football was impossible with the ground in the condition it was in the second half. The play was very level, neither team appearing dangerous. Macfarlane and Fraser both had good tries for Dundee, but failed to score. Dundee pressed, and secured a corner, from the kicking of which the ball was sent behind. Lennie and O'Hagan cleverly transfer to play, and forced a corner, but without result. Fraser had hard lines in not scoring from a low pass by Macfarlane. Dundee for a time continued to do most of the aggressive work, but look was dead against them. Aberdeen then got the upper hand, and from a run down by the left wing, O'Hagan again found the net with a splendid shot far out of Crumley's reach. Shortly after, Dundee made a raid on the Aberdeen goal, and forced a corner, from which will Lee scored.

The gate amounted to £45.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 26th November 1908