Source: The Scotsman, 18th November 1907
Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 18th November 1907
A Reversal.
Last year, at Fir Park, Motherwell defeated Aberdeen by 3 goals to 2. Saturday's result gave Aberdeen the same verdict, with a somewhat different tale which has to be recorded. Sat¬urday was anything but a pleasant day when the men from the north set foot in Motherwell. There was a strong wind, amounting almost to a gale, while there had been plenty of rain, which left the pitch very greasy and heavy. When the spin came Halket named the right side and chose to play with the hurricane and rain behind his men. Slackness prevailed at the start, the home side showing the best form. The backs coped ably with the first rush and then Aberdeen carried play to the other end. Lennie and O'Hagan were so tantalising in their kicking that Robertson and McLean began to throw their weight about. A beautiful bit of work on the left, right down to within a few yards from goal - a lovely cross from the foot of Lennie, which Macdonald snapped up and the ball was in the net. A few minutes after this another successful run was initiated in which Murray put on a second goal with a fast drive, the ball keeping low all the time. Macfarlane next distinguished himself by picking up a good shot from Reid, Motherwell exerting themselves to the very utmost to keep down the score, which finished till half-time. It was a funny second half. Aberdeen were expected to fall away when they had to face the elements, but instead they went off as fresh as at the start, and were round the home goal in a cluster, Macdonald saving twice in as many minutes. Up till a certain point Aberdeen were doing better than in the first period. Motherwell could not help getting away now and then, but their efforts were weak. From a miskick by Colman, the ball sticking in the mud, Donaldson, the inside left, dashed in and scored. Worse luck followed, for a hard drive from Reid, which Macfarlane only was able to scoop out to Hume, who intended to drive into touch but instead put the ball into goal out of Macfarlane's reach, looked as if Aberdeen's defence were going to nullify the fine forward play. A little steadying up at the right time and Aberdeen were away again, and they held the whip hand till the finish, Lennie scoring the winning goal, amidst great cheers, for the home crowd recognized that their side had been gifted with the goals they got. A fine game ended Aberdeen 3, Motherwell 2.The Players.
Aberdeen did not carry a passenger on their side on Saturday. Every man seemed to rise to the occasion and play up to their very best. There were one or two outstanding features in which more work had to be given than by the others. Macintosh had a difficult man to hold in Reid, and came through the ordeal capitally, while Halket had the strongest wing to deal with, and did it well. Colman and Hume made two bad mistakes, and were a bit unsteady for a time; still they did some smart things to cover the bad ones. Macfarlane could not have been better. Macdonald saved Motherwell from a big beating. The backs were none too safe, while the halves were not above stopping a man in any way. In Reid and Donaldson, they have two for-wards that require watching, for they are good marksmen.Chatty Bits.
It is not often that, Aberdeen have a couple of wins in one afternoon. No wonder that there is some elation, on the part of the management, over this success. The forwards were all in great trim at Motherwell, and it would have been a task to have picked out a weak one. Murray gave the best display at centre he has yet done since he joined the team. Hume's face was a study when he scored the second goal for Motherwell. A snapshot of the episode would have been a treasure to the spectators. Rab's cheery rejoinder put Hume right and steadied him up for further effort. Colman was keenly watched by the home crowd, who were pleased at his display. Still; we have seen him in better form. Aberdeen A are in great scoring mood just now. Four goals off East Fife is a fine performance. East Fife seem to be an unfortunate lot for weather, for they seldom get a good day when they visit Pittodrie. They have several good men, too, in their eleven, their left back being a class man. Aberdeen's new centre, Collins, is a much improved player since he last appeared at Pittodrie. There is word that Aberdeen want to fix him up permanently. They could be doing with a worse recruit for that position meantime. He will require to get some training in the spikes. Now that both teams are going well, the management will require to safeguard some of the players and not overwork them. A judicious rest at intervals would do some of them a world of good when heavy grounds are the order of the day. Henry Low was in the Sunderland team on Saturday against Manchester United. The injury which Gault received the other week has not been so serious as at first thought, for he was out for West Ham, on Saturday. The topic this week is N'ewcast1's capture of Geordie Wilson, the left winger of many clubs. The transfer fee is reported to be above anything ever paid for a player in previous seasons. Just fancy paying anything above £1000, when the new rule, which comes into force on 1st January, limits the price to £360. Will this rule be observed strictly ? If it is, it will hit some clubs very hard. If Wilson does not prove a more tractable player to Newcastle than he has been to some of his other clubs, they will have made a dear bargain. R. S. McColl was greatly missed by the amateur forwards at Parkhead on Saturday. Clapton Orient have taken on W. Stead for a month's trial. This is the goalkeeper who only put in a few practice games for Aberdeen at the commencement of last season.