Aberdeen 1 - 1 Dundee

The keen rivalry which exists between the cities of Aberdeen and Dundee nowhere finds such noticeable outlet as on the football field, the meetings of the Aberdeen and Dundee teams always creating great interest and attracting huge crowds of spectators. The league match on Saturday was no exception to the rule, the Pittodrie Park enclosure being packed by a crowd estimated at 15,000. The spectators included many from the country, and over 500 from Dundee. There was a large attendance of ladies, and all classes of the community were represented. The Dundee team were at full strength, but the Aberdeen team had again to take the field without Halkett, their captain. It was also fought that McNair, the centre-forward, would be unable to play, but as the result of a medical examination it was resolved to play him. The teams were:-

Aberdeen: Mutch; Colman, Hume; Wilson, McIntosh, Low; Simpson, Muir, McNair, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Dundee: Crumley; Lawson, J. Chaplin; Lee, Dainty, Neal; Bellamy, Langlands, Hunter, Macfarlane, Fraser.
Referee - Mr. J. B. Stark, Airdrie.

To excitement was running high when the teams took the field. The Dundee men were forced out when they got a hearty cheer, of their welcome was nothing to that which greeted the Aberdeen players. A comparison of the teams on the field shows Dundee to be the taller and heavier lot, but the Aberdeen men, although lighter, and the appearance of being more active.

THE GAME

Colman, the Aberdeen acting captain, won the toss, and resolved to play to wards the sea, with across breeze slightly in his favour. From the kick-off the pace set was fast, Dundee settling down almost at once to methodical work, the Aberdonians, on the other hand appearing to suffer from excitement, and for a time failing to firm up. In an attack by Dundee, the Aberdeen defenders got relief in a free kick for a Dundee player's infringement. Lennie broke away on the Aberdeen left, and, stumbling, lost the ball, Dundee again dashing westward. Langlands, getting a pass when well placed, sent in a high shot, which Mutch coolly caught and sent out. Aberdeen then broke away. Simpson and Muir carrying the ball far down the field, and then centring to McNair, who missed the cross. A smart work by the Aberdeen men was getting lost through McNair's inefficacy, and Dundee attacked, only to be repulsed in dashing style by Hume. McIntosh fouled, and the free kick lead in Dundee. Macfarlane had a chance to try Mutch, but he shot over. There was no mistaking the earnestness of the players, the game being contested strenuously at all points, with Dundee still showing better control of the ball. With the rivalry so keen, it was not surprising that fouls were frequent. Following a clever run by the Dundee left wing, the ball was sent across to Bellamy, who, after outwitting the Aberdeen defence, shot past. A mistake by McIntosh spelt danger, until Hume, who was irresistible, dashed in and cleared. Away went the great Aberdeen left wing, O'Hagan and Lennie, their clever run being stopped when they had got well down on the Dundee goal. Dundee returned, causing Mutch to run out and clear. Swiftly the ball was carried to the other end, where Simpson finished a run at top speed by shooting for goal with great force. Crumley, springing out, caught the ball and sent it well up the field.

ABERDEEN SCORE: PLAYER INJURED

Playing with dash and determination, the Aberdonians maintained the attack, and, lashing the ball from wing to wing, were soon back again in close proximity to Crumley. From the right to the ball went to O'Hagan, who, with masterly judgement, returned it to Muir. The ball when swiftly across the Dundee goal, and Muir had not a second to spare. Running round Chaplin, he got his foot on the ball and drove it into the net, beating Crumley by inches close to the upright and scoring a fine goal. As the ball flashed into the net Muir dropped like a log, and lay so still that the crowd saw at once that a serious accident had happened. The clubs doctor. Was soon on the spot, and a brief examination resulted in his pronouncing that the plucky forward, in his great effort, had broken a bone in his left leg a few inches above the ankle. It appears that after the kick which scored the goal Muir turned swiftly round, and his left foot being blocked by the right foot of Chaplin, one of the Dundee backs. Muir fell over Chaplin's foot, and twisting his leg, snapped the fibula. Muir was carried off the field by two Dundee and two Aberdeen players, and, after being attended two in the pavilion by the doctor, was taken to the Infirmary in the police ambulance. The serious nature of the accident was soon known to the spectators, and sympathy for Muir was mingled with a feeling of disappointment that the Aberdeen team had been weakened by the loss of a clever forward only 12 minutes after the start. It was felt that it was now all up with the home team, but in this respect the Aberdeen players soon provided the spectators with a surprise. But that misfortune calls out the heroic virtues was never more strikingly exemplified, for the Aberdeen players returned to their unequal task with great determination, and gave as much as they got, with something extra into the bargain. Fraser got into position and shot, Mutch saving cleverly, coolly dodging two Dundee players in the goalmouth. The scene of excitement was quickly changed, and a shot from Simpson caused Crumley uneasiness, one the Dundee custodian almost allowing the ball to slip out of his hands. Aberdeen applied keen pressure, the Dundee half-backs failing to hold the opposing four forwards, notwithstanding McNair's and conspicuous weakness in centre. O'Hagan and Lennie were splendid, and outwitted the Dundee defenders repeatedly. The Aberdeen left wing got down again and again, and one of Lennie's finishing shots was held by Crumley with nothing to spare.

ABERDEEN THE SUPERIOR SIDE

Aberdeen were now undoubtedly the superior side, the play of the backs in particular being excellent, while the half-backs were also doing well, all three working hard and untiringly. Colman was holding Fraser every time, greatly to the Dundee man's annoyance, and Mcintosh was keeping a close watch on Hunter - too close for the Dundee man's freedom of movement, and the result was that sly digs and kicks were going. Once, however, Hunter went too far in a wild charge behind, and McIntosh and the Dundee centre were shaping for a pugilistic encounter, when the referee interfered with a word of warning to both players. From a corner kick well placed by Fraser, Dainty sent in a deadly header, but Mutch caught the ball and kicked it out. In a spell of Dundee pressure, Colman and Hume covered themselves with glory. At last Dundee again got on the spot, and Wilfred Low, miskicking, drove the ball into his own goal, Mutch fisting it over the bar with difficulty. From the corner kick, there was an exciting scrimmage in the Aberdeen goalmouth. The ball was got away, and Lennie, after a clever run, in which he beat opponent after opponent, shot into goal, Crumley, with his usual skill, saving. Dundee were effective in the open, their weakness being in finishing, the shooting being invariably high. Several times Hunter, well placed, shot over. It was left to the Dundee midline to equalise, Langlands capping some smart half-back play with a high shot, which had Mutch beaten all the way. The Aberdeen replied in a determined mood, the outcome being a dashing run by Simpson, and a raking shot which Crumley cleverly saved. When the play was being carried to the Aberdeen end, Lennie was left writing on the ground in agony, little winger having received a kick in the back in about with Lee, the attention of the referee being drawn to the incident by the Aberdeen linesman. Lennie and received the attentions of the Dundee trainer, but was obviously sick and in pain, as he was unable to control or follow the ball when it came his way. In the closing minutes of the first half, the Aberdeen goal was closely besieged, offside spoiling several Dundee efforts, while a terrific low shot was brilliantly saved on the ground by Mutch at the expense of a corner.

The hearts of the Aberdonians sunk when they saw the team returning to the field only nine strong, Lennie being unable to resume; but their enthusiasm was raised to a high pitch by the dashing play of the nine. From the kick-off Simpson carried the ball along the wing to the west goal, where he crossed. Low headed in strongly, Crumley catching the ball and throwing it out. Again Crumley was called upon, and had McNair been smart enough to get the ball from the goalkeeper's weak kick he might have scored. With only nine men, Aberdeen had, perforce, to play the one back game, and when Dundee broke away they were off side. Aberdeen returned to the attack, O'Hagan forcing the play in masterly style. Lennie was loudly cheered on reappearing, but he was so lame as to be useless. Again O'Hagan was prominent, sending in a great shot, which Crumley tipped over. An exciting bit of play was seen when Hunter, beating all opposition, finished with a fast low shot, which Mutch stopped. The game was fought out with grim determination by both teams, the attack on each side being met by a resolute defence. Fraser and Macfarlane, the great Dundee wing, were held time after time by Wilson and Colman, and on the Aberdeen left wing passes sent out to Lennie were lost, owing to the outside man's crippled condition, the result being that O'Hagan, the brainiest player on the field, had to transfer his passes to the right, where Wilson did his best to take Muir's place in helping Simpson on. Bellamy raced off on the Dundee right, and had a clear field until Low overtook him and deprived him of the ball, amid the cheers of the spectators. Hunter frequently penalised Dundee by being given off side. Handicapped as they were, Aberdeen had as much of the game as Dundee, and in attack were much more dangerous. Hunter was penalised for holding Mutch, who had come out to clear. In the subsequent play, which was fast and exciting, both goalkeepers had to show their powers, and what they had to do they did well. In the last 10 minutes the crippled Aberdeen team completely outplayed Dundee, and the visitors' defence had the severest trial of the day, and so hard pressed were they that the resorted to kicking the ball out of the enclosure. Lennie, after being practically dormant for half-an-hour, showed remarkable agility, and led some heroic attacks on the Dundee goal. From one of his passes, low sent in a terrific shot, which Crumley stopped on the line, if, indeed, the ball was not over the line. Aberdeen maintained their strong pressure right to the finish, but look was against them, and they failed to secure the winning goal, the result being - Aberdeen, 1; Dundee, 1.

Dundee were lucky in drawing, for, had Muir and Lennie not been injured, the visitors must have been badly beaten.
The amount drawn at the gate and stands was £347 12s 9d.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 26th October 1908