Aberdeen 1 - 0 Partick Thistle

At Aberdeen, before 5000 spectators. Aberdeen did most of the pressing and after thirty minutes' play Lennie scored. Splendid defence kept Aberdeen from increasing their score in the second half. Massey playing splendidly in goal for the Thistle. Towards the finish the Thistle made a rush for MacFarlane, who got the ball away cleverly. Result:- Aberdeen, one goal, Partick Thistle, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 30th September 1907

Between 7 and 8 thousand spectators turned out at Pittodrie on Saturday to witness the match between Aberdeen and Partick Thistle. Mr. J. A. Faichney, Falkirk, had charge of the teams, which were as follows:-

Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Colman, Hume; Mcintosh, Halkett, Low; Macdonald, Murray, Wilson, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Partick Thistle: Massie; Lyon, McKenzie; W. Gray, Gallacher, Allan; Callender, A. Gray, Robertson, McGregor, Ferguson.

Aberdeen's started operations facing a strong sun, and the strangers immediately worked down on the left, forcing Low to kick into touch. A movement on the Partick centre looked dangerous, but the tries were cleared, and Lennie made tracks for Massie's end on the left. He dodged with Lyon, but the attack was turned for the moment, and this was followed by a bit of supreme diddling on the left, in which Lennie and O'Hagan were joined by Wilfred Low. This, however, was not the paying game, and the halves made a successful effort to open up the play. Macdonald on the right forced a corner, and the resultant kick was nicely taken, although Wilson lifted the ball over the bar. Lennie made a spirited dash across to the centre of the field, and tried to "cleek" the ball into the net, but his direction was just sufficiently at fault to miss the mark by a narrow margin. There was considerable excitement in the Thistle's quarters, but the Aberdeen attack was lacking in organisation, while Wilson repeatedly contrived to block good tries by his colleagues. Once more Lennie scampered off on the wing, and finished with a beautiful cross which Wilson just failed to get at with his head, while a minute later Macintosh game near scoring with a find strong shot at close range. Macdonald was decidedly weak on the right wing, and lost some good opportunities by failing to get rid of the ball but he improved as the game proceeded, and had a particularly fine shot at a difficult to angle. Undoubtedly the local men were having all the game, but the lack of uniformity in their attacks lost and some good chances. Wilfred Low banged in a shot which tested Massie, and then a lightning shot from Lennie's foot rattled the crossbar with terrific force. This shot was beyond doubt the best of the match, a muster defeated Massie had it been a few inches lower. When the Partick forwards did take a share in the attack they were well supported by the halves, but the Aberdeen middle line was strong, with Halkett and McIntosh working like Trojans, so that the strangers' rambles to McFarlane's end were of beef duration. On one of these infrequent occasions the ball was sent out to Lenny, who responded with one of his characteristic races down the field. He beat the halves, and run round Lyon like a flash, and made obliquely for Massie's citadel, finishing with a fine drive which landed the sphere in the corner of the net. It was strong and clever work on the part of the winger, and it's result was hailed with an outburst of enthusiastic cheering. Even this reverse did not seem to have an improving effect on the Partick men, for they continued to get the worst of matters. There was a continuous hammering that the visiting defence and Massie had to hold a hot shots every other minute. Lennie was repeating his exhibition of last Monday, and kept his partners well supplied with nicely-judged crosses, but these were not taken advantage of; Wilson, in particular, missing a glorious chance when he had little more to do than scooped the sphere into the net. Barr ticks most dangerous invasion of the day came rather simply, and Macgregor gave Macfarlane a warm shot to hold. It was a fast game, all in Aberdeen's favour, with the Thistle completely mastered. McGregor got a bad knock on the need through falling over McIntosh's foot, but after a short interval he was able to resume and the strangers at once made off on the right, a good shot from Callender just sailing over the crossbar. Once more the game swung around to the other end, and Macdonald came in violent contact with McKenzie when on the point of shooting for goal. The Aberdeen man fell on his head and was so badly stunned that the game had to be stopped for a few minutes. There were loud cries for a penalty, which the referee disregarded. The position, however, was a difficult one to decide. Lennie once more distinguished himself, but before half -time, and sent in a great cross was Lyon pounced upon in time to prevent Wilson netting with his head.

Partick commenced the second period as if they meant business, the forwards lying down on the Aberdeen defence, and well supported by their middle line, but a sound punt by Hume let Lennie off, and the little winger finished a nice solo by delivering a strong low shot into Masse's hands. Colman made a bad mistake when he miskicked and let Callender and Gray away, but the back effected a splendid recovery, and kept the wing at bay till reinforcements came up and relieved the pressure. It was a tame half compared to the first period. Partick had a little more of the aggressive work, but clever manoeuvring by the Aberdeen halves resulted in the Pittodrie van once more getting at close quarters with the Partick defenders. Wilfred Low, who had previously been somewhat in the shade beside Halkett and McIntosh, tried a long shot with plenty of sting in it, which Massie lifted off the turf with difficulty. For a time little of nodes transpired, there being a monotonous spell of strong punting and midfield work, but Lennie again came to the rescue with a good drive from the wing. An exciting. Ensued in front of the Partick goal, in which nearly the whole of the Aberdeen forwards struggled to get at the ball. The scramble ultimately resulted in the leather coming out, where Lennie was lying handy, and sent in a rocket shot. The sphere flew straight and true, but Massie and literally flung himself at it, and effected a brilliant save at the expense of a fruitless corner. Partick came near the equaliser through Robertson. The home backs appeared to muddle an invasion by the visiting front line, and when the pivot shot Macfarlane stumbled, although, luckily, the ball rolled past the upright. Subsequently, Macdonald, Lennie, and Low had tries in quick succession, and then Partick claimed a share in the attack, making things pretty hot for the Pittodrie backs in an effort to get the equaliser as time drew near. It was not to be, however, and the whistle sounded with Aberdeen's still maintaining their lead by the only goal of the much. The result in Aberdeen's favour was fully merited, for the thistle eleven were unbeaten team in every department.

To the drawings amounted to £170.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 30th September 1907

Another Brace to Aberdeen.

Following their success last Monday over the Celtic, Aberdeen were confidently expected to beat Partick Thistle. The local men did not belie this confidence, though, if they had won by 3 or 4 clean goals, it would have been nothing short of what their play deserved. Partick Thistle were seldom or ever dangerous. They were never allowed to get so far as that, for the halves or backs were able to account for every raid they made. Macfar¬lane had the easiest task he has had this season; only one shot troubled him, and that he cleared nicely. After a succession of corners, granted through the persistency of the attack of the home side, the Thistle made a rush towards Macfarlane, and as they stayed for a minute or two in that quarter, Lennie was leisurely waiting at the midfield line, where Hume sent the ball. Under the old rule Lennie would have been given offside at once, but he waited till the- ball had crossed the line, and pouncing on it made off for goal. Having only Lyon to beat on the way, the left-winger cleverly circled round him and shot with great force into the corner of the net. Massy had no earthly chance of saving, and it was only by sheer luck that he was able to keep out shots from Murray and Wilson a little later. The first period concluded with Aberdeen having the one goal lead, and as they had been playing- against sun and wind, hopes were entertained that they would increase their total. Attacking strongly at the start of the second period, Massy was troubled several times, his saving at this stage being simply perfect. It was by too persis¬tently pinning their opponents to their own quarters which spoiled Aberdeen's chances of increasing their score, shots of an unsaveable kind rebounding off some of the defenders who were packed in the goalmouth. A very glaring case of fisting by one of the backs occurred, in which the referee thought it was the goalkeeper who punched it, but still through the ball would not go. Towards the last five minutes the Thistle made some pro¬gress through Aberdeen's halves fiddling with the ball till they got it taken from them. Had Thistle equalised at that time it would have been due entirely to the halves, who overdid some fancy work to the detriment of the forwards' play.

The Players.

The play on Saturday, was not up to the Celtic standard, but this was due to the opposition, who could not raise the same excitement, nor were they moved with the same spirit of eagerness as were the Celts. The chief object of the Thistle was to prevent Aberdeen scoring at all, and but for Lennie's cleverness they would have succeeded, and gone away with a point they did not deserve. Their outstanding player was Massy, whose saving was smart, if at times lucky. Gallacher is a fine centre-half, and kept a watchful eye on Wilson, and robbed Murray, too, when it looked odds on his getting away. Lyon was the better of the two backs, though he would have preferred not to have met Lennie so rampant. Robertson, as a centre, shaped well and shot bard, but the others were terribly off colour. On the home side the backs were as good as backs could be, both covering up one another superbly, while their kicking was strong and healthy. The halves did remarkably well in the first half - nothing could have been better - but in the second period they spoiled their good work by indulging in too much fancy work. They must stop that before they get into trouble over it. We cannot get away from the fact that Lennie was the star of the front line, while O'Hagan backed him up splendidly. Wilson was not a success at centre, his eagerness nullifying some good efforts. Murray we thought too selfish at times, and stuck too long to the ball. Macdonald did some good things, but invited McKenzie to shady tactics by trying to get round him. Mac¬donald would have done better had he crossed sooner at times, and thus prevented the back getting at him.

Chatty Bits.

Aberdeen scored their-first double victory on Saturday, winning at home and away.
This ought to satisfy the supporters, and we hope to see many more ere the season closes.
Saturday's drawings at Pittodrie amounted to £164 all in.
The Lifeboat collectors were present again on Saturday, but did not get such a big haul as they had on Monday.
George Wilson has not touched his last season's form in the way of shooting. The reason is to be found that the crosses are too far forward for him to reach.
The wing men are inclined to take the ball too far up before parting with it, hence the backs have always the centre marked. However, we can hardly expect to see perfect play week in, week out. There will always be a weakling.
Aberdeen have now taken full points from the Partick Thistle at Pittodrie, and if the latter do not improve on Saturday's play it should not be difficult to get points at Meadowside.
The next two Saturdays will see the Aberdeen stretched to their utmost. Kilmarnock will be a stiff nut to crack, and the follow¬ing week they are due at Falkirk.
Gault is still keeping his place in the West Ham team. Boyle is also being played regularly for Bristol Rovers, but Tom Strang is relegated to the Reserves.
Henry Low was in the middle line for Sunderland on Satur¬day. Though on the losing side on Saturday, Henry gets credit for his play.
It is -reported that the once famous Stenhousemuir Football Club is to be wound up. The-'Muir have produced many good players in their time. They held the Qualifying Cup for two years in succession and were always great in this competition.
Falkirk having monopolised the attention of the public, Stenhousemuir have failed to draw the crowds to their games, with the result that financial straits have overtaken them.

Source: Bon-Accord, 3rd October 1907