Aberdeen 1 - 3 Motherwell

At Aberdeen. Motherwell opened with a rush, Coleman slipping on the greasy pitch, allowing Tait to rush in and score. Aberdeen did most of the pressing after this, but their shooting was wild. Eventually Lennie equalised. In the second period, though Aberdeen had three fourths of the play, they failed to add to their score, while Motherwell got twice away and scored. Result :- Motherwell, three goals; Aberdeen, one.

Source: The Scotsman, 30th November 1908

Aberdeen, after playing two successive games away from home, were opposed by Motherwell at Pittodrie on Saturday afternoon. A heavy shower fell shortly before the game commenced, and there would not have been more than 1000 spectators present when the ball was kicked off. The pitch was very soft. Mr. D Dougary, Nithshill, had charge of the following teams:-

Aberdeen: Mutch; Colman, Hume; Halkett, McIntosh, Low; Blackburn, Simpson, Mcnair, O'Hagan, Lennie. Motherwell: Young; McLean, Rattray; Sneddin, Jones, Buttery; Johnstone, Stewart, Hill, Tait, Robertson.

Aberdeen lost the toss, and kicked off two wards the west goal. Aberdeen attacked on the right, and a good effort by Simpson went past. From the goal-kick, Motherwell rushed down and scored after 3 minutes' play. The ball was sent along the left wing, and crossed to the right. Stewart, who got the ball about 15 yards out, scored. Mutch got his hands on the sphere, but he failed to hold it, no doubt owing to its greasy condition, and it slipped through his hands into the net. This reverse was quite on looked for, and was a great surprise to players and spectators alike. Good play by Halkett allowed Simpson and Blackburn to get going, but the wing pair hung on the ball too long, and it was sent out of play. From the throw in Simpson got the ball, but his final effort was blocked by Rattray. O'Hagan and Lennie McLean, but Lennie's cross was not taken advantage off. A minute later, the little man, after a good run, sent over an other centre. O'Hagan endeavoured to get the ball, but it was traveling too quickly for him. The Irishman was in a good position to score, but he was just a second too late in getting up, and by this time one of the backs had relieved. Motherwell had a run down, but the local defence was on the alert, and they were sent to their own end. The game was evenly contested in the opening stages, but Aberdeen now had the most of the play, and when the equaliser would come was just a question of time. The most of the pressing done by Aberdeen came from the left wing, and if the game had been opened up, the equaliser would have been got long before it wars. Aberdeen's players had difficulty in keeping their feet on account of the slipper a nature of the pitch. Motherwell were not so bad in this respect, and the heavy ground suited their style of play. Aberdeen continued to play close passing game, which was a great mistake on such a pitch. Motherwell, on the other hand, kept the ball going from wing two wing had every opportunity, and when they got away the required some stopping. Aberdeen's halves were much superior in placing than the Motherwell halves, but were not so good in tackling, as they could not keep their feet. Young had numerous shots to save, while Mutch had nothing to do. Aberdeen's close passing game in front of goal suited the Motherwell defence, who cleared on every occasion. Simpson tried to show the other forwards had to shoot, and had they followed his example goals would undoubtedly have resulted. Simpson sent in numerous hard drives, but as they were taken had long range, the goalkeeper had plenty of time to clear. Motherwell were full of dash, and ever ready to take advantage of any slackness on the part of the Aberdeen men. Motherwell pressed for a time through Stewart and Johnstone, and Mutch had to save from the centre-forward. A minute later, Low had a try a from far out. The goalkeeper was saved on the line, and kicked out. The ball was sent to Lenny, who, without hesitation, drove hard for goal from far out. The ball ran along the ground and to create rate, and landed in the net. Young threw himself at the sphere, but he failed to reach it. Aberdeen attacked, and two fruitless corners were forced. Motherwell were sorely pressed. McNair sent in a good effort, but the ball was directed from the goal by one of the backs. A corner resulted, and Innes scrimmage which took place in front of goal, a foul was given against Aberdeen. This, however, gave relief for only a few seconds, and Aberdeen were attacking strongly as ever. If they had opened out the game and shot off Brebner they would have taken the lead. A breakaway by Motherwell resulted in a foul being given against Aberdeen near the penalty area. The ball was kicked towards the right, and feet players rushed the ball towards the goal. The Aberdeen backs were pushed or rushed out of the way so determined was the attack, and Stewart gave the ball the finishing touch into the net. The ball was more or less rush through, and the goalkeeper handball both found a resting place within the net enclosure. Aberdeen attacked strongly, but their best efforts were of no avail. Their style of play was not adapted to the condition of the ground, with the result that the Motherwell defence proved too much for them.

The crowd of spectators had largely increased when the game was resumed. Aberdeen made off towards young from the kick-off. The progress was made on the left, but, as usual, the Motherwell backs prevailed. There was no improvement in Aberdeen's style of play, and the players kept slipping and falling. The ground was not in condition to permit of quick turning on the part of the players were clever individual work. That ought to have been abandoned altogether, and the game opened up by swinging the ball from wing two wing, the style of play which has more chances of bringing goals than the method Aberdeen persisted in. Motherwell kept the ball going nicely, and when they got near Mutch were always dangerous. The game was evenly contested for a while, and Lennie raised the hopes of the spectators by dashing away on his own. He sent over an accurate centre, but the ball was sent from man to man across the front of the goal and back again. This was persisted in until a Motherwell back sent well ahead. The ball was returned, and O'Hagan sent in, but young cleared. Blackburn got away, but he hesitated too long before shooting, and the defence cleared. Simpson was the only forward who could or was willing to shoot, but he got no support. He ought to have got the ball more frequently, but, as usual, the play was largely confined to the left. Aberdeen pressed continually, but no goals game. Several corners were forced, but they were of no avail. The Motherwell defence improved as the game advanced, and the most outstanding back on the field was McLean. On no occasion did he allow the ball to pass him, and his returns were strong and well-timed. Aberdeen's forwards also improved, but the defence was too strong for them. Aberdeen's defence was none too safe, and was much below form, probably owing to the treacherous nature of the ground and the insecure footing it afforded. Aberdeen did all the pressing. Time and again they had good openings, but the old weakness in front of goal was still there, and their best efforts were of no use. It was only occasionally that the Motherwell forwards got away, but when they did there was no saying what would happen. They displayed great dash and determination, and, with the local defence below its usual good form, the spectators had an anxious time when Motherwell were pressing. Mutch brought off a good save from Hill. On one occasion three Motherwell men got away, Colman was left behind, but Hume, displaying rare dash and judgement, cleared cleverly. O'Hagan scored, but the referee ruled offside. The spectators understood a goal had been scored, as the referee did not sound his whistle when O'Hagan got offside, and Rennie disallowed the point the spectators were struck with amazement. A minute afterwards Motherwell broke away, and in an exciting scrimmage in front of Mutch, Hill scored. This was certainly hard on Aberdeen after doing most of the pressing, but, in a sense, it was deserved. They ought to have opened out the game. The last 10 minutes of the game were eagerly and keenly contested. Aberdeen attacked strongly, but Motherwell packed their goal. Shot after shot was sent in, corner after corner forced, but no goal came. The Motherwell defence had a warm time, but the players stuck nobly to the task, and the visitors won by three goals to one.

The gates and stands amounted to £90.

Source: Aberdeen Daily