Aberdeen 3 - 0 Hamilton

At Aberdeen, before 3000 spectators. Aberdeen had most of the play in the opening stages, and O'Hagan scored. Towards the close of the first period the visitors gave MacFarlane one or two hot ones to stop. On resuming, the Hamilton players shaped up better for a time, as Simpson, Aberdeen's inside right had to retire hurt. After ten minutes' absence Simpson returned, and scored twice before the finish. Result:- Aberdeen, three goals; Hamilton Academicals, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 4th November 1907

Hamilton Academicals were the visitors at Pittodrie on Saturday in a Scottish League match, and the game and was witnessed by nearly 4000 spectators. The team's work:-

Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Colman, Hume; McIntosh, Halkett, Low; McDonald, Simpson, Murray, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Hamilton Academicals: Slavin; Brownlie, Garrett; Watson, McIntyre, Cowan; Maclean, Glasgow, Arnott, Wardrop, Atkinson.
Referee - Mr. A. A. Jackson, Glasgow.

Hamilton had the wind in their favour, but Aberdeen started pressing right away, Lennie getting up on the left, where some stiff pressure was relieved by Slavin kicking well out. Aberdeen's right wing, assisted by Halkett, next had a try for goal, but after a fruitless corner the Hamilton van got up, and a foul by Macintosh gave the strangers a difficult chance, which brought no result. Lennie rushed past Brownlie, after which Low tried a long dropping shots, which was carried off the mark by the wind. A few minutes later Low was robbed of the ball by MacLean, who sent in a car when shot, which Macfarlane cleared in rather weak fashion. Once more Aberdeen swung up the field, and Simpson sent in a straight shot, which the custodian had little difficulty in dealing with. There was little of note in the play so far, the ball travelling from end to end, but the strangers came near to opening the scoring. Arnott, Wardrop, and Atkinson were all in front of Macfarlane, but the inside man lifted the sphere over the bar, and a great chance was lost. At the other end some excitement prevailed as the result of smart work by the Aberdeen right wing, but Murray headed over. There was little between the elevens up to this stage, Hamilton responding gamely to the attack of the homesters, but Lennie and O'Hagan sprang into prominence again, and although their tricky operations were not rewarded at first, O'Hagan had the satisfaction of registering the first goal of the match. It was a well worked for point and the winger's shot went straight and true, landing the ball in the corner of the net. Aberdeen rushed to wards Slavin again, but the backs cleared, and at the other end a miskick by Colman resulted in a corner. This advantage looked like producing the equaliser, but the strangers had bad luck, the ball bounding off the bar on one occasion, all subsequent shots were accidentally blocked by players on both sides. Lennie tried to make off repeatedly, but the wind spoilt his efforts, and Hamilton returned to the attack, Wardrop again misjudging from a difficult position. From a foul the visitors got well up, but Macfarlane returned a long shot, and Lennie scampered up the margin of the field, meeting Brownlie all the way, and finished with a terrific grounder. Slavin, however, pounced upon the ball, and effected a really brilliant save, but the pressure was not relieved till Simpson sent over with a wild shot. Then the game veered round to Macfarlane's end, and Aberdeen had to put in some defensive work, the ball bobbing about from head to head in a most tantalising fashion. No practical result came of this, and the local right wing rattled off in fine style, Simpson sending a lightning shot across the goalmouth. The Academicals were making a good show, the forwards being all clever, and well-supported by their halves, but the home defence was strong and safe, Colman playing an exceptionally fine game. The visiting van came down the field at a great pace, and after Macfarlane had fisted out from MacLean, McIntyre had a good try for goal, but his shot was high. Yet again Macfarlane was called upon to save and he had all that he could do in returning a hot drive from McIntyre; while this was followed by a continuous pressure till the interval arrived.

With the wind at their back, Aberdeen commenced to press immediately the second period opened, and after Halkett had had a somewhat wild try, Macdonald just missed the mark by inches. A Hamilton were keeping the ball rather high, and the result was that the game ruled almost continuously at Slavin's end. Lennie had a bout with several of the strangers, and almost found the net, and I and Simpson followed this up with another sound shot. The excitement was keen and Aberdeen pressed with full force, but the Hamilton defence worked hard, and Slavin saved a rocket shot from Lennie which was well worth a point. Aberdeen brought their full strength to bear on the Academicals' defence, and looked like scoring every minute. On one occasion O'Hagan got in between the backs and had only the custodian to beat, but the latter prevailed, catching the Aberdonian's shot in his arms and sending well out. Lennie rushed down the field, but he was fouled by one of the halves, and the resultant kick proved fruitless. The game was hard, and Aberdeen did all the aggressive work, the Hamilton men only getting up the field on rare occasions. A combined rush by the home front line, at last brought an additional goal, a splendid straight shot by Simpson when on the run completely beating Slavin. Aberdeen's overwhelming rushes gave the visiting defence a hard time of it, and but for the marvellous saving of their custodian the score must have been much greater than it was. Hamilton were completely out of the running, and for a spell, shots were rained in upon their citadel, fill a third goal came to Aberdeen through Simpson, who got his foot on the sphere when it was stationary, and shot with terrific force. The custodian made a great effort to stop the ball, but the speed at which it traveled was extraordinary, and it reflects no discredit on Slavin but he failed to avert the disaster. There was no doubting the complete rout of the Academicals, for in every department they were outplayed by the Pittodrie men. The home forwards were smarter on the ball, the halves tackled with superior skill, and the local back division kicked with better judgment and accuracy, while Macfarlane, who had pretty much of an "off time" in the second half, never failed to rise to the occasion when called upon. The visitors did make a weak attempt at retaliation to wards the finish, but their attack was heartless, and easily repelled. In the closing minutes Aberdeen maintained the pressure, but the forwards took up things rather easily, and the game ended with the locals leading by three goals.

The total drawings amounted to £120.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 4th November 1907

Fine Play at Pittodrie.

Not since the Autumn Holiday, when Aberdeen defeated Celtic, have we witnessed a game which delighted us more than that of Saturday last, between the local club and Hamilton Academicals. Aberdeen were in rampant form from the start, every movement being carried out in a way that inspired confidence all round the enclosure. There was a troublesome wind, which had to be carefully negotiated, in favour of the visitors during the first period, and though it put the ball more to one side than the other, the play did not suffer to such an extent as it some¬times does. This was due to the centre's work, who, with all his faults at goal, kept his wings, going very well. Prominent at -the start was Macdonald, with two lovely crosses. Each could have been netted with ease had the inside men been on the move earlier. Our idea was that they were afraid of being penalised for being offside. In any case the forwards made splendid progress during the first fifteen minutes, and when O'Hagan's goal did come it was only a just reward for very fine play prior to that. The Academicals were not idle all this time, but their runs towards Macfarlane never appeared to have that cohesion in them which means success. As the game progressed they seemed to lose all spirit of attack, and put themselves out to pre¬vent the home side from scoring at any cost. During a temporary absence from the field of R. Simpson the "Acas." made several good attempts at Macfarlane's goal, but their shooting was wild and erratic. It was at this time that they threw away any chance they had of getting level. Immediately on Simpson returning he scored, then O'Hagan burst through and got penalised, while another shot of his was worth a goal. Murray had a likely try, and then Lennie, who had been doing great things on the wing, cut in with a beauty. Simpson put on a third, and the game, to all intents and purposes, was finished. Aberdeen gave a very fine exhibition all over and were easily the best side on the field.

The Players.

On the "Acas'." side there was only one out-standing man, and that was their goalkeeper, Slavin. He put in some very fine work, but was poorly assisted by the backs. The halves were robust in their actions, often bordering on the rough side, while the forwards were, all over, the poorest five we have seen at Pittodrie this season. Every man jack of the Aberdeen side played well. Macfarlane did anything he got to do in a masterful way, while his backs were coolness and pluck personified. The halves were tip-top, and we think the change at half-time was a wise move, and should now be made permanent. The left wing. were dazzling in their work, and the right wing, though not so tricky, were effective, while the centre, bar a hesitancy to shoot on his own, was better than we have yet seen him.

Chatty Bits.

There was more life in the play of the Aberdeen on Saturday than we have seen for some weeks back.
O'Hagan had the honour of scoring first goal, but it was really Lennie that brought off the coup.
We admired " Charlie" for the sportsmanlike way he gave his partner the honour by a hearty handshake.
Macintosh was the surprise packet in Aberdeen's half-back line. We have never seen him put so much practical pith behind his work.
It would be a difficult matter to displace any of Saturday's team after their display, though we heard murmurs that such things were to happen.
The changing of Macintosh to centre-half is a good move, and was the means of two goals.
There is no getting away from it that Halket is better on the wing than in the centre.
Hamilton Academicals are strong on winning the Qualifying Cup, and they ought to do it now.
They have been strengthening their cup tie team in order to do so, and have not been able to play their full league team every week in consequence.
A new life seems to have come over the Queen's Park, and once they get properly into their stride, they will make a few sit up.
The Rangers have no great love for Hampden Park. Their past few weeks' experience on the classic sward has been any¬thing but profitable from a playing point of view.
Southern'Clubs have not exhausted all the junior resources of Aberdeen, Leith Athletic would like to have a deal with a player or two for that matter: Paterson, of the Shamrock, was their object, but as he was ill in bed there was no business done.

Source: Bon-Accord, 7th November 1907