Aberdeen 6 - 0 Partick Thistle

At Aberdeen. Aberdeen had the better of the opening exchanges. Thirty minutes from the start Lennie scored, and just before half-time Davidson added a second from long range. Massie, in the Thistle goal was saving well, stopped several hard drives from Halkett. A minute after the resumption, Muir scored a third goal, and O'Hagan followed with a fourth. Aberdeen outclassed their opponents, and Low scored with a teriffic drive. After brilliant work by Lennie, Murray added number six. Rain felll heavily, and spectators and players felt relieved when the whistle sounded. Result :- Aberdeen, six goals; Partick Thistle, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 6th April 1908

In view of the International at Glasgow, Partick Thistle elected to come to Pittodrie on Saturday to fulfil their return fixture with the Pittodrie Club, the idea evidently being that there was a better chance of getting a good "gate" at Aberdeen than at Partick. In this, however, the clubs were doomed to disappointment, for there were less than 1000 spectators when the game started. The ground was soft, and a slight rain was falling, when the teams lined up as follows, under the direction of Mr. Edwards, Cathcart, Glasgow:-

Aberdeen: Mutch; McIntosh, Hume; Davidson, Halkett, Low; McEachran, Muir, Murray, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Partick Thistle: Massey; Lyon, Gallacher; Gibson, Gray, McIntyre; Ballantine, Robertson, Kennedy, McGregor, Ferguson.

Aberdeen started with the wind, and bore down on the visiting defence at once, forcing a corner, which proved fruitless. A pressure by Partick resulted in Kennedy putting in some smart diddling work which baffled the local defenders. Their only reward, however, was a corner, from which Low cleared with a characteristic punt. There was a short period of easy play at the visitors' end, but an attack by Partick enlivened the proceedings, especially when Mutch made a bad return, and McIntosh gave away a corner. Lennie, however, carried the battle back to Massie's end, where the custodian had to deal with some hot shots. Lennie had a trial at goal, and then Halkett sent in a long shot, which Massie just caught on the line. Once more Partick made to wards Mutch. The defence seeming to waver, and Mutch left his charge to meet an attack from the left. The ball was centred, and with a goal at their mercy, Kennedy and Ballantine contrived to miss a great chance. The ball past from foot to foot, but by this time Mutch had recovered his position, and the backs had little difficulty in blocking the final shot when it did come. The strangers showed good football at times, but Aberdeen had the most of the pressure. Lennie distinguished himself with a clever run, which he finished with a strong drive, the ball just sailing over the bar. Partick's play was characterised by dangerous bursts, and on these occasions Kennedy was always ready to snap up a chance. He got through the defence, and drove hard at Mutch, but the keeper was ready, and the effort went unrewarded. A heavy rain commenced to fall at this stage, and the already softened pitch became exceedingly treacherous. The local forwards moved freely on the sticky pitch, but the Partick backs played strongly, and most of the efforts at goal were from long range. McEachran and Murray put in some clever work on the right, the amateur being more than a match for McIntyre on the run. O'Hagan and Lennie were well attended to by Murray, and the opening goal came from the left winger. The ball came in from the right, and Lennie darting into the centre, slid round the backs, and had the ball in the net with a drive from 20 yards out before Massie was aware of what had happened. For nearly 10 minutes play rolled pretty much in the outfield, but close on half-time a second point came to the locals as the result of one clever operations on the right. Muir and McEacran ran down, and a judicious pass to Davidson outwitted the defence, and allowed the half-back to drive home.

The teams crossed over without leaving the field, and in the opening minutes of the period Lennie came down, and, after the bidding Gallacher, crossed neatly in front of Massie. Murray missed the chance, but the ball came to Muir, who banged into the net with ease. After this the Aberdeen men simply amused themselves with the Partick defence, keeping up a continuous pressure in the quagmire fronting Massie's citadel. Lennie and O'Hagan seemed to revel in the mire, and the spectators were treated for a period to a lively exhibition of diddling. Her if the only real effort needs to score came from McEachern, who guided the ball neatly between the uprights. The custodian was there, however, and from his return the visitors made off two wards Mutch. A fruitless corner fell to Partick, but only a few minutes elapsed before Lennie came sprinting along the line. It was evident that the winger had no serious intentions, for he stopped diligently to engage in a diddling bout with Gallacher, in which the back came off second best. McEachern was shining on the right wing, and clever manoeuvring on his part allowed Murray to score, but the point was ruled offside. Once more Aberdeen came back to the attack, and a cross from Lennie brought another goal to Aberdeen. Low was the instrument on this occasion. Wilfred sent in one of his hard drives, and Gallacher attempted to block, but the ball bounded off his foot and over the head of the keeper into the net, Massie sprawling into the mud. Kennedy missed a great chance with wide kicking. Partick were truly out of the running, and goals came quickly. The local left wing sped down the field, and O'Hagan walked the ball into the goal after getting a cross from his partner. This made number five, and a minute later Murray completed the half dozen with a slope, twisting shot at close quarters. The fund provided seemed to please the crowd, and although no further goals were registered, the remainder of the game was full of incident, and Massie was kept busy fisting and kicking out the shots which were rained in upon his charge.

SUMMING UP

Although the score in Aberdeen's favour was a heavy one, it was quite indicative of the run of play. Throughout the game, after the first 20 minutes, the visiting backs and halves were completely at sea with the manoeuvring of the local front line, who worked with telling force. The Partick forwards, in the first period, showed that they had good football in them, and frequently Kennedy led his men on dangerous incursions which ought to have brought some tangible reward had there been more support from the halves. The home defence was none too steady at times, but Mutch was ever on the alert when called upon. While Massie and let his citadel down half-a-dozen times, his exhibition of goal keeping was by no means discreditable, for time and again he diverted shots very cleverly.

The drawings amounted to £60.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 6th April 1908

p>Aberdeen in Scoring Mood.

Partick Thistle struck an unfortunate bargain, for them, when they arranged for the League return fixture to be played at Pittodrie. They did not count on the weather clerk playing such a dirty trick on them, nor were they aware that Aberdeen's sharp-shooters would be at their best. The weather proved the worst experienced at any game during the season, and it had a depressing effect on the visitors combined with the fact that they travelled without their usual backs, who lost their connection at Glasgow on account of the heavy traffic with the International. After the previous week's fiasco we expected that the local players would make a supreme effort for the points, and they were not long in showing the spectators present that such was the case. They took the game in hand from the start and simply wandered the Partick defence, who withstood all attacks for some time, till Lennie got through with a fast, low shot, for which there could not be the slightest shadow of doubt. Davidson followed with a second shortly after. It may be mentioned that Donald Coleman was an absentee from the home side, and the alteration let in Davidson at half, while Macintosh filled the vacancy alongside Hume. On a sodden pitch the second half partook pretty much of mud-larking, but the home side footed the ball with more purpose. Muir, Low, O`Hagan and Murray scored at intervals. This gave the onlookers good value for their money, but the Partick players were glad to get away with six goals against them.

The Players.

The absence of Coleman made a natural difference at the start till, the home players got into their stride and were able to gauge the strength of the wind. The whole forward line worked harmoniously and cleverly, if anything, Lennie showing up as a master of trickery. In the middle line Halket and Low found their bearings first and gave a finished display, Davidson making a capable stop-gap. The defence were not over-burdened with work, and what little they got to do was well done. Kennedy was the most attractive forward on the Thistle side, but none of the others did anything of special merit, except to plod away against heavy odds. Massie in goal was clever but could not keep out everything single-handed. On the whole the Thistle were a poor side.

Chatty Bits.

The International fever is now over, and the Cup finals will now occupy attention.
The great event at Hampden has given the anti-footballers another opportunity to rail at the game.
This they may do till they are blue in the face, but the fact remains that football is the popular pastime, and, so long as it is conducted as it is, the game will hold its own.
It is the huge sums drawn at the "gates" which causes the jealousy.
We have no doubt the £7000 taken on Saturday at Hampden Park would be a godsend to those who are envious of money.
The money does not disturb the promoters of the pastime. The "play is the thing."
It cannot be said that the game is purely patronised by the masses, for the stands at 10/- were also packed, as well as the humble 1/- enclosure.
There were only two cases of serious injury in such a vast concourse of people; the other cases which kept the ambulance corps busy were mostly that of sickness.
The proceedings were not without humour. When one enthusiast wished to shake Quinn's hand over his first shot, he was promptly seized by a burly policeman and put back to his place.
One discontented partisan arguing about M`Nair's display as a back retorted that he would not make a "good back to a waistcoat."
The official figures of the actual persons present has not been made up, but it is expected that it will be slightly under 130,000.
The signing-on season has now begun. The most that can be said is that few changes are as yet reported.
It was quite current in Glasgow that Sharp will be seen at Parkhead next season.
There is no confirmation that Crompton is to put up in Glasgow next year. It is said that Ibrox would be his headquarters if that were his intention.
A lot of business, in the way of interviewing players, was gone through on Saturday in Glasgow.
Aberdeen have now topped their League number of points for last year. They should yet make a substantial increase before they are finished.
Their programme is Hibs. on the 18th of this month, and the Queen's Park on the Monday following, with Clyde to wind up with.
The season has been a success, both from a financial and playing point of view. The great question now is - How many of the players are to be kept? We should like to see the most of them retained, but the club cannot afford to throw money away recklessly.
We learn that Wilfred Low went into double harness this week. We wish to extend our congratulations on the happy event.
Partick Thistle did not make anything off their visit to Pittodrie. They would have been equally as bad had they played at home just now with so much cup-tie opposition.
Of course the break down in the weather spoiled all chance of a "good gate." The wonder is there were so many present.
The Dumbarton half-holiday team did not make a great show at Pittodrie on Monday. They were soundly whacked by 5 clear goals. [N.B. - this was a match against an Aberdeen Junior Select - the game kicked-off at 14:15 with the Aberdeen Reserves playing at 16:00]
The struggle between Kirkcaldy United and Aberdeen A in the Northern League on Monday afternoon was a keen affair. The A's won by 1-0.
Aberdeen's goal average in the League got a much-needed lift up on Saturday, and another of the same would make it look respectable.
The last international of the series is due to be played on Saturday between Wales and Ireland at Aberdare.
Charles O'Hagan is to assist his country, and as this game will settle which country is entitled to the wooden spoon, we hope Charlie will bring off a coup.

Source: Bon-Accord, 9th April 1908