Aberdeen 2 - 4 Hamilton

With the first team away at Hamilton, the Aberdeen A had the Hamilton Academicals eleven at Pittodrie in a Scottish reserve league much. The weather was cold, and there was a small turnout of spectators, not more than about 700 or 800. The flag to at the pavilion was at half-mast as a tribute of respect to the late Harry Wylie, ex-chairman of the club. Teams:-

Aberdeen A: King; Hannah, Low; Davidson, Macfarlane, Robertson; J. Clark, Scott, T. Murray, Edgar, Neilson.
Hamilton A: Mason; Stephenson, Roxburgh; Black, Stewart, King; Devlin, Lee, McGraw, Glasgow, Muir.
Referee - Mr. J. C. Henderson, Dundee.

Aberdeen attacked strongly at the start, and Mason repeatedly handled. He was beaten after five minutes' play by a smart foot-in at close range by Tom Murray. The ground's team maintained their superiority until an accident to Low deprived them of that player's services, and with 10 men the play of the Pittodrie reserves degenerated. McGraw, the Hamilton centre forward, equalised in easy fashion. He got clear away past the backs, and while the Aberdonians vainly appealed for offside, he can allay shot into the net, King making a feeble effort to save. Low was offered for a quarter of an hour, but his return did not improved play, which was poor indeed. Hamilton got on the lead through a faulty clearance by King. Stopping a fast grounder from the left, the Aberdeen goalkeeper overbalanced, and before he could recover, Devlin, from a bunch of players, popped the ball into the net. Hamilton did not deserve the lead. The out played Aberdeen for a time, until the home team bestirred themselves and played desperately for the equaliser, which they got a minute from the interval. Roxburgh was slow in clearing, and Edgar and Scott bustled the ball from him, Edgar kicking softly into the net - a soft goal.

In the first portion of the second period of the game the visitors were easily superior, and indeed at one time they made rings round the Pittodrie men. The third goal, got by Hamilton, was the best of the match. Muir, in a dashing run, passed all opposition. He flew down the touch line to the proper distance, and crossed a rare fast ball behind the backs. McGraw rushed in, and on the run got his foot on the ball, and banged it into the net. King could do nothing with a shot, so quick was McGraw, and so close the range at which the shot was taken. Hamilton with their lead played confidently, and looked like scoring again. Some of the Aberdeen play at this time afforded the crowd great amusement, judging by the laughter around the arena. Chiefly through strong play by Macfarlane and Tom Murray, the Hamilton men were forced into the defensive, and for 15 minutes their backs and goalkeeper had no end of dancing about, and twice raking shots from Edgar had Mason beaten, but struck and rebounded off the upright. Edgar had the hardest of luck with his efforts. Tom Murray made repeated efforts to rush through the Hamilton defence, but he was invariably bundled off the ball, and several times grassed. Mason saved repeatedly from all directions, and baffled Aberdeen's determined attempts to again get equal. In the closing minutes the game was played in failing light, which made it difficult to follow the flight of the ball. Almost on the whistle, Hamilton increase their lead through Lee.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 15th November 1909

HAMILTON "A" AT PITTODRIE

Aberdeen "A" had a lot of experiments on view through injuries to several of their players. Out of the bunch, young Low, who played at back, may be considered the only success, the others being only so-so, though it was difficult to judge them after Davidson went lame. The home side held their own till the closing half was entered on, and but for rank stupidity on the part of King should have had a clear lead in the first portion. Two more glaring blunders we have not witnessed for some time than that which gave Hamilton their goals in the first half, when they had anything but the best of matters. In the second half there was only one team in it and that was not Aberdeen. The "Acas" were worth their two goals in this half, and finished strongly, their only weakness being in bringing the ball too close in before shooting. Play was by no means interesting in the second half, especially when Aberdeen could do nothing right. One thing we are certain of, and that is a new goalkeeper for the Reserves is badly wanted, and the sooner he is got the better, for the team seem to have lost confidence in the present custodian.

Source: Bon-Accord, 18th November 1909