Aberdeen 1 - 1 Hibernian

At Aberdeen before 4000 spectators. Aberdeen immediately settled to a clever game. They were met, however, by a sterling defence, and play had proceeded over half-an-hour before O'Hagan got a chance of opening the scoring. The Hibernians then caught their opponents by surprise by breaking away strongly scoring from a corner by Turner. O'Hagan scored the equalising goal with a fine shot. This proved to be all the scoring in the game, the Hibernian defenders having quite the measure of their opponents, although they had not enough space to give their own forwards many chances. Result :- One goal each.

Source: The Scotsman, 20th April 1908

An assemblage of not more than 3000 turned out to Pittodrie on Saturday to witness the game between Aberdeen and Hibs, for Scottish League points. The weather was cold and dry, but there was a fairly high wind. The teams were:-

Aberdeen: Mutch; Colman, Hume; Halkett, McIntosh, Low; McEachern, Macdonald, Murray, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Hibs: Henderson; Maine, Duguid; Gordon, Borthwick, Grieve; Turner, Harker, Hagan, Daugherty, Ritchie.
Referee - Mr. Muir, Motherwell.

Hibs secured the advantage of the toss, and, playing with the wind, immediately bore down on the local defence. The Aberdeen left wing, however, turned the tide, and the pressure from all points was set up. The backs were sound, however, and a foul against Low relieved attention. The local defenders refused to allow the Irish men to come near Mutch, and soon the Lennie and O'Hagan showed evidence that they were to prove troublesome. Lennie, the specially, had named in deep-water, and after diddling the back, the winger tried a good centre, but his effort went behind. Grieve was hurt, but soon resumed, and once more Aberdeen put on the screw. For a period, the ball was kept bobbing about within the penalty area in front of Henderson, but the local men could not get in a shot, and the tension was relieved by Murray, who tried to twist round and dash the ball into goal. The necessary sting was wanting, and the ball was caught and easily cleared by Duguid. A run to the other end was turned quickly, and Murray with his right wing forced away in the centre. Macdonald outwitted the backs by crossing to the right, but Lennie led drive without judgment, and the sphere went high over the bar. There was a lot of wild kicking, but on the whole Aberdeen had been, up to this stage, the most aggressive, and the forwards proved more than a match for the defence. Macdonald and McEachern had a bout with Grieve, and then the former centred nicely. O'Hagan accepted the chance, but the wind played tricks, and Charlie's well-meant drive went over. It was a good chance lost, but the breeze was against good football. The Hibs' front and middle lines work well together, but the Aberdeen halves had a good grip of the game, and judicious feeding on their part let the local van away. McEachern and Macdonald made a good right wing, and the usual nimble pair on Murray's left gave Main plenty to do. Lennie was continually making openings, and a great cross from his margin of the field was narrowly missed by Macdonald, who tried to head into goal. An accidental foul by Grieve placed the Hibs' goal in jeopardy, but, strange to say, despite all the pressure by Aberdeen, Henderson was not once called upon to handle the leather. After a spell of play in the Aberdeen Territory, the home men once more got well down on Henderson's charge, Murray struggling valiantly with both the backs in close attention. A corner was the only result, however, and this led to another on the opposite wing, but this danger was ultimately cleared. It was only temporary relief, however, for the Aberdeen forwards were completely beyond control. The pressure was hot, and the Hibs had their goal packed. A strong drive from O'Hagan was blocked by Murray, and then a second later Lennie sent in a stinger, which met with a similar fate. The goal was bound to come, and it fell to O'Hagan to bring it about. Duguid had a struggle with McEachern on the right, but the Aberdonian got possession, and sent over a nice cross, which O'Hagan walked into the net. Only a few minutes elapsed, however, before the game was once more placed on a level footing, Hagan being the instrument for the Hibs. His success was scarcely deserved, however. Turner centred, and Hagan drove for goal. Mutch was ready to meet the drive, but the ball struck the foot of the post and bounced into the net. Only a few minutes were wanting to the interval now, and it looked as if Aberdeen were to take the lead. Lennie sped down the margin and crossed nicely, but Murray was not in position to finish the work successfully with his head.

The second half started with a raid by the Hibs, but it was only momentary, and a succession of behinds were kicked by Henderson as a result of aberdeen's pressure. The Hibs' halves were tackling with greater effect now, and consequently Colman and Hume had more to do. Gordon made a good try from 30 yards out, and then a minute later Hagan looked like scoring, but McIntosh blocked the shot and the ball went high. With the Hibs' showing better form there was more life in the game, and Hagen proved himself to be dangerous more than once. His speed gave Colman trouble, and on one occasion the local back was so hard put to it that he had to concede a corner. At the other end Aberdeen's left wing tackled the defence strongly, and Henderson had to save a shot from O'Hagan. There was now are little between the teams. The Hibs' forwards showed an amount of bustle and trickiness that was altogether absent in their first half display. Aberdeen, however, were still not be on the ball, and Henderson was none too smart in dealing with a header from Murray. For a time there was little of note in the play, apart from tricky work in the outfield, and even when Lennie flashed up the field the effort only resulted in a wild kick at the finish which sent the ball soaring high over the bar. Macdonald was responsible for greatness with his head, but the tricky wind was the cause of it. The quick passing movements of Lennie and O'Hagan served to disturb the Hibs defence, and, thanks to their manoeuvring, Macdonald was able to make a great try for goal. It was a long, slanting shot, and Henderson was almost forced back over his line by the force behind it. O'Hagan was the next to cause the custodian trouble, and then Wilfred Low followed suit with a long drive which brought a fruitless corner. Aberdeen by this time were repeating their performance of the first half, and so strong was the pressure at times that the wonder was that the Irish citadel did not fall. Shots were rained in on Henderson for a time, but luck seemed to be all in favour of the strangers, and when the efforts of the local forwards and halves did not miss the mark, they were accidentally blocked by players on both sides. The Irishman made a breakaway at the finish, but Colman and Hume kept the attack well in hand, and there was no further scoring on either side.

In summing up the game one as little difficulty in deciding in favour of the home team. The forward and half lines were much superior to the Edinburgh divisions, and with better judgment in shooting and a little more luck Aberdeen ought to have lead at the interval by two goals at least, for the Hibs were lucky to obtain the equalizer before the interval. In the second. The owners were more equally divided. The good work was mostly in the outfield, however, and neither of the custodians had anything serious to contend with. the local wings were in sparkling form, and Murray was somewhat weak. The halves were strong, but the backs were just fair. On the Hibs' side Hagan was the principle man in the van. The halves were weak in the first half, but improved in the second period. The drawings amounted to £90.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 20th April 1908

Aberdeen's Bad Finish.

With the last of their Saturday games at home we expected that the local players would have made a supreme effort to beat the "Hibs" on Saturday, and thus regain some of the fame they won against St. Bernard. It was the old story of ineffectiveness at goalmouth, with a recklessness when crossing at long range. From the start Aberdeen raised the hopes of the spectators by the way they carried the ball into the Hibs' quarters, but, though they did this often, their shooting was wild to begin with, and then exasperatingly weak when they had the measure of their opponents. It is no exaggeration to say that, they ought to have had three goals to their credit at half-time, but they only got one to count from O'Hagan, and the Hibs equalised, which took the glamour away of the point carried. The second period was a poor one in every respect; even the backs shot with more accuracy and trouble than did the forwards, but for all this assistance no further progress was made, and the teams retired with one goal each to their credit.

The Players.

Henderson, who performed between the posts for the Hibs, proved a very capable understudy to the great Harry Rennie, who could not have done better supposing he had been in the place. The backs were none too steady; in fact, their kicking was fluky at times. The halves were good, and of a fair forward line Harker and Hagan shone best. On the home side Mutch played a safe game, and might have saved the goal had he not appealed for offside in the attempt at saving, which just kept him that second too late in getting at the ball. Coleman and Hume played remarkably well, and seldom were beaten. Halket was easy the best of the halves, Low being off colour, while Macintosh was off injured a good while, but was never so prominent as he usually is. Of the front line, Murray played the poorest game we have seen him do this season. He roamed about too much, and left his place vacant without anybody there. O'Hagan and Macdonald were the best of the five, and it was through no fault of theirs that more goals were not scored. Lennie got in some fine runs, but his shooting was off the mark every time, and McEachran attempted to do more than he was capable of doing.

Chatty Bits. Aberdeen scored another win over Dundee last week for the High Cup, thus maintaining their superiority for the season.
At home of late the Aberdeen team have been giving very disappointing displays. Result, poor attendances.
This will continue so long as the players pursue their lackadaisical policy of play.
On Saturday there was not a player in the home side worth the maximum wage for all they did; still we believe they are holding out for more.
On the other hand the public are crying for something new, so it will be well for the Aberdeen directorate to note this.
If there is one thing the public dislike it is being trifled with, and this is how they feel over the St. Bernard and Hibs games.
It was tantalising to witness the many chances which Aberdeen threw away on Saturday, and points being so badly wanted to keep the club in a good position.
The most or the best they can do now is to finish six points better than last year, but they were expected to and should have done better.
Aberdeen have to beat Clyde on Saturday to reach 36 points, their total, after beating Queen's Park, being 34.
Everything considered, they should have been farther up with a little more earnestness in their play. They have gone down to soft things unaccountably.
Since writing the above we qualify ourselves by admitting at once. that there was a connerable improvement in the play on Monday against Queen's Park.
Simpson played a great game at inside right, and was as nippy a forward as we saw on the field.
McEachran was seen to better advantage, some of his crosses being superb. Four points in an afternoon is not bad work.
Aberdeen A have still the Wanderers to meet before they finish their Northern League card, and the difficulty is to find a suitable date for them.
Should the Dewar Shield final not come off on Saturday Aberdeen A and Dundee A will play off their Northern League fixture.
Next Tuesday the first round of the Fleming Charity Shield Ties will be played at Pittodrie, when Aberdeen play the University. With so many other games on we hope the public won't forget this event.
There will be a big crowd to see the "Gunners" at Pittodrie tonight. We hear that Aberdeen will have out a new player or two on trial.
Craigie the Montrose back, did not turn out for Aberdeen on Monday night as expected.
Signing-on at Pittodrie seems to be a very slow affair. We understand that by the end of this week a definite understanding will have been arrived at as to who are to go and who will stay.
The time is approaching when other clubs will lie at liberty to: touch Up those who have not signed.
Of course transfer fees will be required in all those going un¬less they sign for a Southern League club.
The time is approaching when other clubs will be at liberty to touch up those who have not signed.
There is bound to be some changes, and many names are being mentioned, but on enquiry nothing is vouchsafed as to what may happen.
This will be the last week of our half-time results at Pittodrie this season, and we trust our patrons have been satisfied with the service.
By another season we may introduce some new features into our "Programme," which has exceeded all previous records in circulation during the past season.

Source: Bon-Accord, 23rd April 1908