Aberdeen 3 - 1 Port Glasgow

At Aberdeen, before 4000 spectators. Play was ragged in the first half, and each side scored once. On resuming, however, Aberdeen had easily the better of the visitors, and scored twice through Lennie and Murray. Result:- Aberdeen, three goals; Port Glasgow Athletic, one.

Source: The Scotsman, 25th November 1907

Port Glasgow were the visitors at Pittodrie on Saturday, when they met Aberdeen in a Scottish League fixture, before nearly 7000 spectators. The teams were:-

Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Colman, Hume; Halkett, Macintosh, Low; Macdonald, Simpson, Murray, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Port Glasgow: Cleland; Martin, Dunlop; Cunningham, Ross, Bulloch; Hamilton, Macdonald, Ruddiman, Steel, Craig.
Referee - Mister R. Davie, Edinburgh.

Aberdeen set the ball agoing, but the Port made a good effort to get up, which was stopped by the local backs, and the tide turned in Clelland's direction. Simpson manoeuvred nicely against Dunlop, who failed to get the ball away with his head, and passed to Macdonald, who tried a long shot from the margin, which, however, went into the side net. Lennie and O'Hagan initiated a run down on the left, but the inside man misplaced, and Martin kicked out. A few minutes later Lennie created some merriment by using his weight against Martin, for which he was promptly penalised. Port had an invasion, in which Hamilton tried Macfarlane with a soft shot. Some great work was witnessed in midfield between Halkett and McIntosh, who circumvented the opposition forwards, and placed forward to Simpson, who in turn parted to Macdonald. The wing man sent across to the centre, and Simpson dashed in and shot, but his drive went wide of the mark. Dunlop brought Macdonald to grass rather roughly, and Murray headed over from the foul kick. The strangers seldom got out of their own end of the field, and some good combination by the home front line fought the first goal to Aberdeen in rather a simple fashion. The ball was neatly worked down the right and centred to Murray, who placed out to Lenny, in fine position for shooting. Little winger drove straight and true, and Clelland fisted the ball to the ground, but O'Hagan's foot was in the way, and the sphere, rebounding from his boot, roll the easily into the net beyond the custodians reach. There was little of note in the game for a spell, the ball travelling pretty much from end to end, but a judiciously placed return from Halkett worked up the excitement. Murray caught on at the goalmouth and headed past the keeper. The ball was just on the line when Martin cleverly hooked it out with his foot and saved the situation for the time being, while Halkett settled matters a second later by driving the ball over the bar. The relief was not of long duration, however, for Macdonald flashed down on the right and crossed in front of goal to Murray, who placed behind. The left wing had a turn, and O'Hagan and Lennie were seen forging a way through the port defence, but again nothing came of the effort. Once more Lennie got off, and leaving Martin in the race, drove hard at Clelland, off whom the sphere rebounded. Simpson failed to recover in time, and the Port men made off towards Macfarlane. The whole van worked neatly, and then from a scramble in front of the Aberdeen citadel Hamilton stepped in and equalised. The Glasgow men were more dangerous now, and the Pittodrie players were not only well kept in hand, but the defence was also kept busy, Craig on one occasion giving Macfarlane a hot shot to hold from the left. Two successive corners, which proved fruitless, fell to the visitors, and then Lennie, catching a clearing kick, Kim pelting a long on the wing. Dunlop raced across to intercept, and Lennie made a great try from far out, his shot just skimming the bar at a terrific pace.

The commencement of the second period saw Port pressing round the Aberdeen defence, and although the local men retaliated, they were not dangerous. Indeed, Port were more likely to score for a time, but the home defence was sound. After some end to end play, Aberdeen pressed on the right, and a long cross was captured by Lennie, who tried for goal. Martin trapped the shot, but Lennie was ready for the rebound, and drove hard passed Clelland into the net. The visiting backs went in for strong punting, and this kept their lines fairly clear. The home forwards frequently got close in, however, and from a surprise invasion Murray put on a third point for Aberdeen. The Port played a plucky game, for the leeway against them was heavy, but after securing a corner, which gave them several chances, the gave an extraordinary display of miskicking. The light was from waning fast, and the game was proceeding in a thick mist, through which Aberdeen could be seen indistinctly pressing and Clelland's end. Lennie tried one of his characteristic rushes, but the close in attentions of the backs forced him to try a long shot, which the custodian easily captured. Following upon this Craigie made a similar effort on the Port's left, with no result. Ross game near scoring for the visitors with a long drooping shot, and Macfarlane only averted disaster by jumping and turning the sphere over the bar. The second period was not nearly so interesting as the first half, but probably this was accounted for by the fact that the finer touches, if they actually existed, were lost to the spectators in the gloom which hung over the field. The Port men, too, were inclined to take advantage of their superior weight, and the closing stages were occasionally characterized by a certain degree of unnecessary roughness. All over Aberdeen were worth their win, which might have been even more substantial had the home forwards avail themselves of all the opportunities that offered.

The drawings at the gate amounted to £120, and at the stands to £15.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 25th November 1907

Another Brace.

Aberdeen never looked like going down to Port-Glasgow on Saturday, except at one portion of the game, towards the end of the first half, when the visitors not only crowded round Macfarlane, but missed several easy chances of scoring. At the start the home forwards put in a lot of work, Dunlop, by his length and bulk, stopping several good efforts in the way of shooting. The Port's game was to stop scoring, and they took the necessary steps by throwing themselves about, and doing any amount of running at the men, which proved effective for a time. First blood came to Aberdeen through a brilliant run by Lennie and O'Hagan on the left, the outside shooting hard and true. Clelland saved and nothing more. O'Hagan, picking up the rebound, put the ball beyond the custodian's reach. Murray or Simpson ought to have increased the score after this, both muddling an open goal between them. A little slackness by the home defence let the Port's forwards in for a time, and their play deserved some reward, but how they missed can best be explained by themselves. With five minutes or so to go, there was a regular muddle at goal-mouth, when the ball lay for anybody to kick away or to score. The latter course was chosen by Steel, who beat "Rab" easily. It was a good effort and deserved at that time. Port had slightly the best of exchanges till the half-time whistle sounded.

On restarting, Murray all but scored from the run down which was a well-concocted effort, the centre just missing by inches. It was only a matter of time for Aberdeen to increase their lead, and it was only meet that Lennie should be the medium of the goal. Tricking Bulloch neatly, Martin was as easily left at the corner, and, shooting at an angle, the goalkeeper was only able to fist out, and Lennie fastened on, and shook the net with the second effort, which was as good as we have seen for a long time. Within a couple of minutes Murray put on a third goal, and the Port's fate was sealed. Aberdeen's play was in striking contrast to that of the first half. They held the whip-hand, and it appeared to us that if they had cared to pile on the agony the could have done so. It was evident that the visitors had suffered from their exertions in the first half, for they looked a worn-out team at the finish. To win by 3 goals to 1 was quite enough for the points, and as there was no element of luck in them the best team won.

Among the Players.

Port's defence, especially Ross and Dunlop, with Clelland behind them, kept their side from a heavy defeat. Hamilton and Steel seemed their most dangerous forwards. Tom Ruddiman was too eager to shine, and spoiled his work in the open by bad finishing. The centre, as of old, works hard all the time, whether he meets with success or not; and only his impetuous rushes spoiled at least one chance he had on Saturday.
Macfarlane was safe in goal, but neither of the backs, Colman or Hume, seemed to appreciate the rushes of the visitors' attack. Either of them might have saved the goal which was put up against them had they not been troubled with watching the men. Macintosh, Halket, and Low were a clever trio, and, in the second half, were exceptionally so. Each had a good try for goal, and, on Saturday's play, were immeasurably, superior to those on the other side. All the forwards were good; the stronger wing is the left, well watched though they were. Mac¬donald and Simpson were so clever for Dunlop that he must needs use nasty tricks to stop them.
Murray was better in centre than we have yet seen him; and, as for keeping his wings going, nothing could have been better than his work against the Port. He had a strong, --------------- always on his track.

Chatty Bits.

One thing is patent just now to the powers that be in football, that Aberdeen have justified their inclusion in the League so far.
Clubs in the south-west, who were preferred to the north, are finding their vaunted superiority rapidly declining.
It may be premature to boast at this time, but we feel convinced that the time is not far distant when the clubs in the north-east of Scotland will occupy the same position in the League as they do in the English competitions.
The Port lacked the stamina of the Aberdeen on Saturday, and were unable to keep the dash of the first half.
Tom Ruddiman received a cordial welcome from his old friends and many encouraging shouts.
Dunlop, for size, has put all the other backs we have seen here in the shade. It was amusing to watch the pigmies "going for him."
The way the Port players rush about, fearless of anything, is not the paying game. We do not wonder at accidents to players who go in for that style of play.
Players like O'Hagan and Lennie, simply jinked these mad rushes almost every time and got away before their opponents had time to recover.
When Aberdeen changed their tactics in the second half and swung the ball wide, the Port were lost and could not keep up the running.
They will have to get away fast at Love Street on Saturday for the Saints are getting desperate for points.
The Saints expect to have some of their cripples repaired by Saturday, and it will be no fault of theirs if they do not repeat their Pittodrie victory.
We shall see. Aberdeen are a bit different from that time, and will let nothing slip if they get half-a-chance.
Our local club stand in a better position in the league table this year than they did at the corresponding date last. Let us hope they will keep it up.
Out of the last five matches "Gowie" Robertson has scored four goals. He was in at the death at Forfar.
Collins got a nasty knock at Forfar and will be unable to play this week. George Wilson will be back in his old place.
There is a strong determination, on the part of the A's, to wipe out the 6-2 affair at Lochgelly.
In that case the game will be worth seeing this week.
Two old Aberdeen favourites will be in the visitors' ranks, viz., Charles Mackie and Haxton. These two did a lot of damage at Lochgelly.
The Hearts are the second team that has taken full points off Celtic. Aberdeen was the first on the September holiday.
In refusing £1500 for Simpson, their crack right-winger, Falkirk have done the most commendable thing they could have done.
George Wilson's transfer to Newcastle has not been accom-plished so easily as was anticipated.
The F. A. wanted to make enquiries to see that everything had been done in the right way.
They take nothing on trust at High Holborn, and must needs know how the deal was made, and that everything is in proper order.

Source: Bon-Accord, 28th November 1907