Aberdeen 3 - 0 Albion Rovers

A crowd of about 5000 assembled within the enclosure at Pittodrie on Saturday to witness the cup-tie between Aberdeen and Albion Rovers. The weather was good when the teams took the field, but the ground was somewhat soft in consequence of previous rain. There was only one change in the Aberdeen team, Simpson being off with a bad ankle. Macdonald crossed over to the vacancy, and Muir was drafted into the wing place. Mister J. Nisbet had charge of the game, and the teams were:-

Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Colman, Hume; Halkett, McIntosh, Low; Muir, Macdonald, Murray, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Albion Rovers: Hutcheon; Tomlins, McSkimming; Chalmers, Ramsay, Menzies; Mackenzie, Main, Ralston, McNeily, Donald.

Aberdeen were unlucky in the toss, and had to start the game against the wind. The visiting forwards showed some good touches in the opening stages, but they were soon repelled, and Lennie made off on the left, and after some clever dodging, he parted to O'Hagan. The latter shot weakly into Hutcheon's hands, but Macdonald caught the rebound and push the ball into the centre. Murray had a clear goal, but he made a bad mess of the trial, and shot widely behind from half a dozen yards out. It was a great chance, and had Murray taken it, Aberdeen would have been a goal up a few minutes from the start. The home men were easily the best so far, and appeared to be amusing themselves with the strangers. They came away in the centre, and a long cross to Lennie, resulted in a fine effort by the wing man. He got the ball well out and sent in a rocket drive, which crashed into the side net. Murray was distributing nicely, and more manoeuvring on the left wing gave O'Hagan chance, but Tomlins blocked the Irishman's shot. The rovers made frequent attacks, but the wind trouble them, and they seldom got near goal. Macfarlane had to hold a soft shot, and then soon after he almost let his side down. Donald, who was operating cleverly on the left, centred, and Ralston did his best to guide the sphere into the net. The pivot just touched the ball, and Macfarlane only managed to stop it with the tips of his fingers as it was on the line. Following upon this, Aberdeen again invaded, and a stiff pressure ensued at Hutcheon's end, in the course of which several pot shots were tried by the local forwards. Notable among these was a tremendous drive by Low to, which, however, was rather high. More pressure by Aberdeen aroused excitement, and Low again came to the four in the matter of strong punting. There was some hot racing when the strangers' got off, their wing men being particularly speedy. On one occasion Ralston tested Macfarlane, and the Aberdeen keeper had to throw himself at the ball to avert disaster. McKenzie, who was handy, had an open goal, with the keeper on the ground, but he shot square across the face of the goal. The venue was soon changed to the visitors' territory again, and while the forwards were hovering around the penalty line, McIntosh came sailing in, and with a strong, straight drive sent the sphere skimming over the bar. In Tomlins, the Aberdeen left wing had a stiff obstacle to overcome. The defence could not keep the attack out however, and tries were made from all quarters. For a long spell there was a bout of dower, dour did attack and defence, neither side giving way for a yard. At last a pretty touch by Macdonald from the fight closer to the Rovers' citadel. Murray sent in beautifully, and O'Hagan, with the goal at his mercy, sent the ball high over the bar. It was easily Aberdeen's game, counting on the chances, but no goal came. The forwards were forever on the aggressive and Muir was responsible for not a few grand openings, his cross is to the centre and his shooting being all that could be desired. The sacred of Aberdeen's non-success was the stubborn defence set up by the Rovers' men, who seemed to be always in the right place when danger threat and. Towards half-time the Rovers' made a spirited attack, but it only lasted a few moments, and before the whistle sounded the homesters were once more that Hutcheon's end.

The Rovers opened the second period on the aggressive, and their combination caused the local halves and defence some trouble. A mistake by McIntosh let Ralston and McNeily away, but Hume stepped in and relieved for the time being, a subsequent drive by Donald going behind. Lennie was responsible for giving Aberdeen a good opening, his cross coming over to Murray, who tested Hutcheon. A minute later the little winger had a try on his own account, and but for a smart save under the bar by the Coatbridge custodian the citadel must have fallen. Aberdeen were renewing their attack in much the same fashion as in the first half, but the visitors' defence was sound. A corner came without result, but a minute later Tomlins fouled Low, and this proved the undoing of the visitors. Low sent in a beautiful ball, and Macdonald got his head in at the proper moment, and guided the sphere into the net. This success seemed to give the Rovers the needle, and they swept down on the left. Donald left a couple of Pittodrie men sitting on the turf, and then drove past by a narrow margin. The siege was not raised yet, however, until Rab with a rush and a shout, came out of his charge and cleared the lines. On the whole Rovers' we're making a much better appearance than in the first half, but that did not prevent Aberdeen doing the bulk of the pressing. A long swinging pass to the right wing lead Muir in, and he centred with rare judgment. O'Hagan, with a straight drive, but Hutcheon to his knees, from which position he had some difficulty in sending out again. Muir and Macdonald had by this time changed places. Aberdeen were keen on the attack, and a combined rush by the forwards caused the Rovers' defence some anxiety. A foul on the goal line saved the situation, but the Pittodrie men were soon back again, and this time with some result. Several shots had been sent in, when the right wing man settled matters with a strong drive, which crashed into the net without giving the keeper a chance. Muir thoroughly deserved the honour, for his play fully warranted his inclusion in the team. From this stage right up till the sounding of time Aberdeen held the mastery, and shots were literally rained in on Hutcheon, Muir footing on the third goal for Aberdeen in a general crush and the Rovers' goal.

The gate amounted to £128.

Summing Up

The game is easily summed up, four it was apparent from start to finish that Aberdeen was the only team in the running. No forward on the field was more effective and Muir, and his partnership with Macdonald was a decided improvement in the right wing. There were two factors that accounted for Aberdeen's score being lower than it might have been; the first their own weakness in front of goal, and the second the admirable defence of Tomlins and McSkimming. The former is specially was positively brilliant, and easily the best of the four defenders. Donald outshone his partners in the Rovers' quintette, while the visiting halves were also good as a trio. Hutcheon got a lot of work to do, and does not to his discredit that his citadel fell so often as it did.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 27th January 1908

Safely Over the First Round.

Albion Rovers proved our assertion that they would not have to be taken too cheaply at Pittodrie. They carried everything before them at the start by their dash and cleverness on the ball, which they made travel at express speed. The extreme wing men had plenty of pace, which they utilised to great advantage, making the home defence buck up. Their methods of attack seemed to bewilder the home defenders for a time, and made some of the hot-headed partisans quake when the front line got through, and had Macfarlane only to beat. Twice this same old custodian saved the situation, and had he failed there is no saying what might have happened. As will be gathered, it was some fifteen minutes before Aberdeen began to take a hold of the game, and even then they did not have it all their own way. A fine cross by Lennie was lost by Murray lofting the ball over the bar, and the same performance was repeated by both the left wingers in turn. Some hopes were raised when Muir got in a fine shot or two, but here Macdonald lay too far back to help his mate, and the crosses were converted into free kicks by the backs. So on it went till half-time, and nary a goal had been scored.
A great burst by the visitors failed, and Aberdeen kept up such a persistent hammering at Hutcheon that success was bound to come. From one of many corners which Lennie sent across, Macdonald was handy with his head, and opened the score. The second one came shortly after from Muir, who had changed to inside position, and then the home-side simply toyed with the opposition. A third goal came from the foot of Muir shortly before the end, Aberdeen retiring winners of an interesting game by three clear goals.

The Players.

Hutcheon is a smart goalkeeper, and the backs in front of him were clever and clean, and their work excelling in strong kicking. The halves worked hard and untiringly, flying backwards towards goal when beaten. On the extreme wings, and at inside right, the Rovers have three capital men, but all on the light side for First League work. These were the most danger¬ous men, and their shooting was always well directed. Mac¬farlane, though a spectator most of the time, saved the situation, when, had he allowed success to come the way of the Rovers, the latter would have tried to prevent the home side from scoring. Colman was the best of the two backs, while Low was easily the best in the middle line. Macintosh was limping most of the time, and Halket indulged in too much dribbling for a cup-tie. Of the forwards, Muir was a success at inside, but is too slow for the outside position. Macdonald was unfit to play, and ought not to have been on the field - this was too apparent. Murray worked hard and unselfishly, our only advice to him being to shoot oftener than he does. There is nothing new to say about the left wing pair, who were the best, and still we have seen them better.

Chatty Bits.

It was a good job the weather cleared on Saturday during the progress of the game.
There was not a great attendance for a cup tie, the drawings, all in, amounting to £127.
The wind played a very important part in Saturday's game, and was more difficult to negotiate than most imagined.
This was especially so playing towards the west goal, when many splendid tries were messed through the vagaries of the wind.
The Rovers gave the home supporters, and players too, a bit of a fright to start with.
There were visions of Whifflet conjuring in one director's mind as the first half closed.
What a sigh of relief came from that same individual when the first goal was served - Whifflet disappeared.
A great factor in the conduct of Saturday's game was the efficient refereeing of Mr John Nisbet. Many were greatly impressed with Donald, the outside left of the Rovers. He has a quick turn of speed, but looks rather light for a hard game.
The fact that the Rovers' right wing did so little was due to watchfulness of W. Low, who very rarely let them get away.
We should fancy that Muir felt pleased with himself on Saturday, having two goals all to himself. He was an improvement on R. Simpson.
Though the goals were all scored by the right wing men, it was the left wing who put in the initial work.
_ The Rovers' officials and players were highly delighted with their trip to the north, and also at the treatment they received while playing.
They left expressing their indebtedness to the Aberdeen. officials for their kindness in looking after their wants while in the Granite City.
So interested were some of them in the Fish Market that they could hardly be got to leave the place.
The invasion by the Highland host in this round for the Consolation Cup was only blessed with one success, that with H.L.I., who won their tie.
The journey which all these clubs undertook ought to be pro¬fitable to the players, and we trust the luck in the ballot will be more favourable next year.
Peterhead, by their win over Aberdeen A on Saturday, will now fancy their chances for the Cup.

Source: Bon-Accord, 30th January 1908