Dundee 2 - 2 Aberdeen

Played before a crowd of 23,000 spectators, representing aggregate drawings of £594 15s., these teams met in a replay in the second round of the Scottish Cup at Dens Park. Aberdeen, with the wind behind them, opened in surprising fashion, Murray sending through from a corner a minute from the start. Thereafter Dundee took up the running, but for the most part the aggressive work came from Aberdeen, whose forward play was very clever. Crumley saved miraculously from Muir, but was beaten for the second time by O'Hagan with a header following a corner, and at the interval Aberdeen led by two goals to nothing. Dundee pressed practically the whole of the second half, and it was not until twenty five minutes from time that they found the way to the net through Hall. The subsequent play was practically in the goalmouth of Aberdeen, and the equaliser came in the last minute of the game, the ball being scrimmaged through. The re-play takes place at Hampden Park, Glasgow, on Wednesday. A collection taken on the ground on behalf of the widow and family of the young man Wilson, killed at Aberdeen Station last Saturday when the special football train was leaving for Dundee, realised £48.

Source: The Scotsman, 17th February 1908

Fully 23,000 spectators witnessed the replayed Scottish Cup tie between Aberdeen and Dundee at Dens Park, Dundee, on Saturday. Excursion trains were run from all the surrounding districts, 1500 travelling from Aberdeen, while at least 3000 made the journey from Montrose and Arbroath. Long before the hour of starting the enclosure presented an animated appearance, and the prospects of both teams were eagerly discussed by the vast crowd. On the previous Saturday the club's failed to score at Pittodrie, and the general opinion at the conclusion of the game was there was practically nothing to choose between the teams. Indeed, few ventured to prophesy a victory for either side in the replayed game, so evenly matched were the respective elevens. Glorious weather favoured Saturdays tie at Dens Park, while the ground was in capital condition for a fast game.
At 3:28 the teams lined up as follows:-

Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Colman, Hume; Halkett, McIntosh, Low; Macdonald, Muir, Murray, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Dundee: Crumley; McKenzie, Chaplin; Lee, Dainty, Jeffrey; Dean, Hunter, Hall, McFarlane, Fraser.
Referee - Mr. Stark, Airdrie.

THE GAME

As on the previous Saturday, Halkett was again fortunate in winning the toss for Aberdeen, and naturally he decided to play with the sun and wind at their backs. The breeze was not quite so strong compared with the previous week, but quite sufficient to give the Aberdeen the advantage at the start. The visitors opened with a clever run on the left wing, the ball being ultimately sent behind by Lennie. Dundee made little headway from the goal-kick, and the game had barely been in progress for a minute and the Dundee goal had a marvellous escape. The Aberdeen forwards slept down on Crumley in a body, and, with the goalkeeper hopelessly beaten by a shot sent in by O'Hagan, McKenzie rushed across the goalmouth, and just managed to turn the ball round the outside of the post, thus preventing an almost certain goal. Macdonald placed the corner kick beautifully, Murray meeting the ball with his head and scoring the first goal of the match within a minute and a half from the start. For a time the Dundee players were completely taken aback owing to the extraordinary dash of the Aberdeen forwards. Murray distributed play with rare skill, his efforts being admirably backed up by his comrades. Lennie had a brilliant run along the left wing, and finished by sending the ball across to the right. Macdonald raced ahead, and made a splendid effort to catch up the pass, but the wind carried the ball out of play. The Aberdeen left wing was greatly in evidence, Lee and McKenzie being repeatedly beaten, but Chaplin was very safe, and frequently cleared when Aberdeen were pressing on all sides. Jeffrey, too, lent valuable in aid to the Dundee defence. The pace was wonderfully fast, and once on the run the Aberdeen forwards took a lot of stopping. Indeed, their play at this stage came as a revelation to the Dundee spectators. There was no hanging on the ball, and each man played his part to the entire satisfaction of the enthusiastic crowd that travelled south to cheer the Aberdeen team on to victory. The first movement by the Dundee forwards originated on the left wing, Fraser leading the attack. The winger, however, was penalized for fouling Colman, who was unable to resume for a few minutes owing to an injury. Play was keen to a degree, with Aberdeen Holding a distinct advantage. The football was marked by an all-round cleverness that was rarely witnessed on the Dundee side. O'Hagan, time and again, drew out the opposing defence, and in this way enabled Lennie to make the most of many clever passes which he received from the Irish internationalist. The Aberdeen half-backs excelled in their tackling, while Colman and Hume easily held the opposing forwards in check. Feeling at times crept into the game, but Mr. Stark kept a firm hold of the players. He warned a member of each team, and this had a salutary effect on both sides. Up to this point Aberdeen had monopolized the play, and only the sterling defence of Chaplin, Dainty, and Jeffray prevented the northern team from adding another goal. Latterly Lee opened out the game for Dundee. Twice he made splendid openings for web, but the right winger was checked each time by Hume, whose returns were strong and well-judged. Even play followed the ball travelling from end to end with great rapidity. There was not a dull moment throughout the first half. Aberdeen played delightful football - the whole team working as one man, and everyone was imbued with the one desire to pull off the game for his club. On the other hand, the Dundee players frequently got mixed up in their attempts to get on an equal footing with their opponents. Hall, the new centre, failed to combine with the other forwards, many of his passes being badly judged, while half-backs were of little assistance to the front rank, being for the most part on the defensive. A surprise shot by Dainty was blocked by Low, while Hume pulled up Webb when the latter had a clear course for goal. Keeping up the pressure, Dundee kept the Aberdeen on the defensive for a few minutes, until Muir brought relief with the clever run on the right wing. Dundee again attacked strongly, but Fraser spoiled an easy opening by shooting high over the bar. A second attempt by the Dundee outside left came nearer the mark, but Macfarlane easily cleared, and play once more was transferred to the Dundee end of the field. Lennie almost scored a second goal for Aberdeen with a magnificent drive, which Crumley saved with difficulty. Fast and furious play was witnessed at the Dundee goalmouth. Twice Macdonald dropped the ball in front of Crumley, while Muir, O'Hagan, and Murray came very near scoring. The pressure on the part of Aberdeen was of the most determined description, three corners following in quick succession. A second goal ultimately fell to Aberdeen, and they thoroughly deserved it, although hall had just previously missed an easy opening for Dundee. Lennie deserved the credit of Aberdeen's second goal, which, however, was scored by O'Hagan. While surrounded by a crowd of players near the goal line, Lennie lifted the ball gently with his toe, and O'Hagan quickly seized his opportunity with a neat header, the ball landing in the net, Crumley being powerless to save. Aberdeen were all over Dundee at this stage, and a capital shot by Murray was finely saved by Crumley, who cleared close to the crossbar. Dundee played desperately, but were met by an equally determined team. Close on half-time Hume got hot in a tussle with the Dundee right wing, but soon came round again. Keen, fast, and interesting play followed, but no further scoring took place up to half-time, and Aberdeen crossed over leading by 2 goals to 0 - thoroughly deserved on play.

Play at the restart favoured Aberdeen, and the first noteworthy incident was a free-kick to the visitors just outside the penalty line. Halkett took the kick, and drove the ball straight for the net. Crumley was in readiness, however, and cleared finely. Gradually Dundee took the game in hand, mainly as the result of strong punting by the backs, followed up by rushing tactics on the part of their forwards. The home players, however, met a solid defense. Halkett, Mcintosh, and Low were eager and determined in their tackling, while Colman and Hume were very reliable at back. Indeed, the backs gave nothing away, their sound kicking and perfect understanding being in a large measure responsible for the non-success of the Dundee front rank. The game was stopped for a few minutes owing to an injury sustained by McIntosh, but the Aberdeen centre-half resumed after being attended to by the trainer. For fully 15 minutes the game of quietened down. Aberdeen were content to act on the defensive, but, even with a two-goal lead, this policy was a mistaken one. Following upon a corner to Dundee, Hunter made a good attempt to open the scoring, the inside right heading the ball over the crossbar. The pace began to tell on both sides, and there was a general falling off in the play all-round. Aberdeen rarely attempted to force matters, their forwards lying back in order to assist the defence, but, as a matter of fact, Colman and Hume were quite able to cope with a determined rushes of the Dundee forwards, whose combination was frequently at fault. We're just on by their supporters, the Dundee players tried every move to reduce the leeway, Jeffray and Dainty, disappointed at the feeble efforts of their forwards, attempted to beat Macfarlane with shots from 20 to 30 yards range, but the two half-backs showed little judgment in their shooting. Strong kicking by the backs on both sides characterized the play for a time, the football generally being uninteresting and slow. The Aberdeen forwards failed to maintain their opening brilliancy, while the Dundee five never really got settled down. Time was passing, and matters were looking black from a Dundee point of view. Even when the home team kept their opponents on the defence, the weakness of the Dundee front rank was very apparent at close quarters. Lennie and O'Hagan relieved the monotony by cleverly him eluding Lee and McKenzie, but near the goal line the Aberdeen outside left lost possession of the ball, which went behind. Dainty sent in a fast drive along the ground, but Low came to the rescue of Aberdeen, and cleared with a strong kick. McIntosh was prominent in checking the Dundee centre-forward, who raced away on his own account, while Halkett stopped Fraser's progress on the left wing when the latter tried to beat the Aberdeen defence single-handed. Twenty-five minutes after the restart Dundee got their first goal. Inside the penalty area Fraser was tackled by Colman, but the Dundee forward recovered and shot for goal. Hume met the ball, which bounced into halls of arms, and the centre-forward literally carried the leather into the net. The referee, however, allowed the point. This goal was the signal for an outburst of great enthusiasm all round the enclosure. Dundee played up in the most determined fashion, the pressure near the Aberdeen goal being very severe. Aberdeen, however, was splendidly served by their backs, who defended most stubbornly. A long shot from Fraser nearly equalised the game, but Macfarlane cleared in the nick of time. This was followed by a corner, when Hall sent the ball flying over the bar when in a good position. Strong kicking and quick following up by Dundee brought out the sterling defensive play of Macfarlane, Colman, and Hume. The closing stages were of the most exciting nature, and 3 minutes from time the game was pulled out of the fire by Dundee. A long drooping centre by Webb was forced into the net by Hunter, but the scorer fouled the ball with his hand while in the act of equalising the game. The referee did not notice the incident, and Dundee luckily obtained the goal. Before the game was equalized, however, the full Monty minutes had been played, but extra time was allowed owing to stoppages.

Aberdeen were easily the better team, and Dundee were lucky indeed to get off with a draw. But I will be replayed on Wednesday at Hampden Park, Glasgow.

Up the gate money amounted to £484 5s, and stands, £110 10s - total, £594 15s.

DEMONSTRATION AT ABERDEEN STATION

The interior of Aberdeen Joint Station on Saturday evening presented a scene of wild enthusiasm. The public were excluded from the inner platforms, but the space in the centre of the station was crowded with hundreds of enthusiasts. The Aberdeen football players arrived by the ordinary North British train due at 8:40, and as the train steamed into the station this was the signal for a loud and prolonged outburst of cheering, hats, sticks, handkerchiefs, and arms were waved wildly and frantically in the air. Never has such a scene of excitement been seen inside of the station - not even on the occasion of the return of the team which won the Qualifying Cup two years ago. As the players issued from the platform gates, several of them were immediately seized and carried triumphantly outside amidst great cheering. After the arrival of the players a huge crowd lingered inside the station till the excursionist train came in at half-past nine. If this was again the signal for another outburst of frantic yelling and cheering on the part of those in the train and those outside the platform gates. A large crowd waited outside the station, and as the excursionists emerged from the station they met with a great reception. Yesterday forenoon about 105 belated excursionists arrived home, while a number decided to remain till today.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 17th February, 1908

p>A Mistake in Tactics.

The previous contest at Pittodrie had only whetted the Aberdonians for more of the same at Dens Park on Saturday. All the week the work of our local team was performed with a quiet confidence that showed they were perfectly able to do better than they had yet done, though there were many pessimistic enough to assert that they had lost their chance. The officials were exhorted to make changes in the team to strengthen the front line, and many were the warnings as to what would occur if they failed in what they were told was their duty. These hints were ignored, and the same eleven boarded the 10.20 train for Dundee, along with the officials. Dundee was reached in due course, weather, pitch, and everything else for a good game being ideal. The crowd rolled up in thousands, till the enclosure looked packed in every corner, and the stands were filled with eager faces for a great contest. On the teams appearing.it was seen that Dundee had one change from the previous week, Hall going into centre, and Hunter to inside right, with Neal standing down to make room for the ex-Newcastle centre. Once Mr. Stark got the preliminaries over, it was seen that Aberdeen had choice of ends, and selecting the slight wind behind them, Dundee kicked off. What an opening! The much-maligned right wing gave Crumley a teazer to hold, and but for the timely arrival of Mackenzie the ball must have rolled, into the net. It was only pleasure delayed, for the resulting corner, accurately taken by Macdonald, gave Murray the chance, and with his head he popped the ball past Crumley, inside two minutes from the start. Aberdonians roared themselves hoarse with delight, while the home crowd sat dumfoundered at this success. It was deserved, for the opening movements were pretty to watch, and more was in store. Our boys were sharp and nippy in everything they did, completely bewildering Dundee in the outfield, but superior weight told its tale at close quarters. Free kicks were frequent for illegal charging, but there was no holding the visitors, and another goal was bound to come. Come it did, in a similar manner to the first one, but O'Hagan was the scorer. Dundee had been doing the defensive work so long that their supporters were anxious, but when they did get down their shooting was feeble. Throughout this half Aberdeen were on top, their play being superior in every department.
The second half opened with plenty of dash. Dundee were bent on forcing the pace. They met a stout defence, Hume and Colman doing all that was required, with Macfarlane at his best behind. Aberdeen took their fair share of attack, but it appeared as if they were satisfied with their lead, and here lay their first mistake in tactics. Keeping the opposition out till there was only about ten minutes to go, Dundee crowded on all sail and by dint of weight and hands they got the ball through in a melee, in which more than one infringement occurred. Lying back on the defence, the visitors thought to keep them, out, and kicking out of play did not pay, as with Fraser penalised for jumping at Colman. who had to be attended to, extra time was allowed, and it was in this last gasp that Hunter managed to fist through the equalising goal, and another great game finished two goals each. Had Aberdeen persisted in attack during the last ten minutes, instead of packing their goal, they would have won, as they deserved to do, on play. Unfortunately, Mr. Stark was on the blind side on both occasions that Dundee got the ball through, or they would, have had to retire pointless.

Play and Players.

There is little more to add on what was said last week about the Dundee side. Dainty was their best man in defence and attack. Crumley kept goal well, but his backs were none too steady. Lee was very unscrupulous in his work with Lennie, and Jeffrey, though not so bad, had more to do than he relished. Macfarlane again shone as the outstanding man on his side. Hall is still the old-time rusher he always was, and believes in getting through himself, to the detriment of his wing or inside men. Aberdeen's front line gave a great exhibition, there not being a passenger in the five. Nothing finer than the work of the right-wing could be desired, Macdonald sending across some great centres, while his corner-kicks were accurate and sure. Lennie and O'Hagan deserve all the praise that can be given them. The halves proved Dundee's stumbling-block, for they were ever in the thick of it, Wilfred' Low again accounting for Webb, though he came under the ban of the referee for his too close attentions to the right-wing. Macintosh and Halket had their men well held, in subjection and were successful in everything they did till they came back in the fatal ten minutes. Colman and Hume were ahead of Dundee's defence,,the former being injured by sheer brute weight. Macfarlane was as safe as could be desired, and got one or two nasty knocks which may prevent him playing on Wednesday.

Chatty Bits.

Aberdeen have had the best of two games with Dundee. Will they succeed at the third?
So far the cup ties have been a godsend to both clubs, who were badly in want of ready cash.
Who would have thought that Aberdeen's team in the month of September. would make such a show as they are now doing?
Even though they have proved themselves to be a good team, this does not deter the letter-writer from having his say in the management.
The right wing gave the best reply to their traducers on Saturday we have seen. They simply played themselves into public favour.
It was a good thing so many Aberdonians were present to see how their team got on. The unanimous verdict is that they had no luck, and were virtually robbed of the game.
It seems that the directors could not mutually agree on a venue for the third game. Some were in favour of tossing for Aberdeen or Dundee, some were dead against this.
President Liddell, of the S.F.A., offered to give New Hampden Park to save trouble over the matter, and this was accepted.
Local supporters in each town are disappointed at this, as there is no chance of any of them witnessing the final struggle.
We hear Dundonians bitterly growling at the game going to Glasgow, and wishing their team no end of bad luck.
Equally stung did we listen to Aberdonians on the same subject. It is impossible to please everybody, and we believe the directors did it for the best.
Notwithstanding all this grumbling, the directors were encouraged to run a special train to Glasgow on Wednesday morning, and a well-filled train left for the Western Capital at 8.30.
On Monday night the same team was selected for the re-play, Macfarlane being the only doubtful starter. Mutch was ordered to travel as restive in case of accident.
The others were reported fit and eager for the contest.
Dundee shifted their right wing, Webb having to stand down for Dean. This is a player we had almost lost sight of.
Whichever team wins, he it Dundee or Aberdeen, Mr. Stark will officiate in the tie with Queen's Park.
After the stiff gruelling which the teams have gone through, they will have enough to do to meet the "Spiders" on Saturday.
If Aberdeen have done nothing else in these draws than take a darned lot of the conceit out of the Dundonians they have accomplished something.
Not so very long ago any claims put forward by Aberdeen were simply scoffed at. There will be a change of tune now.
We hear that Bobby Murray, Aberdeen's once popular back, is to be given a trial with the Hearts shortly. We wish him luck, in his new sphere.

Source: Bon-Accord, 20th February 1908