Source: The Scotsman, 2nd October 1909
Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 4th October 1909
STILL ADVANCING
There were many head-shakings prior to the commencement of the game as to how Aberdeen would get out of their meeting with St Mirren on Saturday.Those who were pesimistic as to the result had not long to wait to take quite another view of the situation when Lennie all but scored with a run from the kick-off. The Saints came north flushed with their previous week's success, determined to take awaay one point at least with them, and their team was moddelled to suit the grounds on which they were to play, being speedy in the front line and solid in defence. Of the latter, wa can say we saw plenty, but of the latter very little. Aberdeen had out the self same team that has won them the last two games, though ther were rumours current that O'Hagan had been ill and would be unable to turn out. Charlie certainly played as if there had been very little the matter with him. The weighing up of the teams as to which were the smarter side was only a matter of minutes, and with a few exceptions the play resolved itself into a duel beweeen St Mirren's defence and the home attack. Aberdeen pressed for a long period at the start, the visitors seldom getting away to show what they could do. The spectators were kept in continual excitement, as probable openings for the home forwards appeared only to be blocked by a back or Grant at full stretch pushing the ball round the uprights. For once that Mutch had to handle the ball, Grant was ten times oalled on to do something with it, or else the backs came in and kicked out. Fully forty minutes had gone when Murray finished with a fine effort, which Grant just pushed down in front of Simpson, who was marked. Bobby, with an overhead kick, crossed the ball over, where Lennie snapped up, and the goalkeeper was beaten to the world. How many difficult shots Grant otherwise saved would take up more space to describe than we can spare, but we will give him credit that he saved his side from a big beating. The Saints' forwards improved a bit in the second period, but they never got so far as to give Mutch a real test of what they could do. Several stray shots went wide or high over the bar, but none looked like beating the home goalkeeper at any time. On the other hand, Simpson, by a clever ruse, brought Grant to his knees, and O'Hagan and Soye repeated this dodge later, but all to no purpose till the period was half gone, when Murray had a nice run in which he eluded all opposition, and then passed to Simpson, who shot hard into goal. Soye picked up the rebound from the goalkeeper, and walked the ball into the net. There, was no further scoring, though Aberdeen tried hard on several occasions to increase their lead, and they ran out good winners by 2-0.THE PLAYERS AND REFEREE.
As the foregoing report shows, Grant was the outstanding man on the Saints' side, while their intermediate line put in some good work, and saved the backs a lot of work, but their forwards never got going at any time - a tribute to the home halves. The home defence was again splendid, and there was very little between either of the halves to give one more praise than another. Mutch had a picnic between the posts. In the middle line we should sat that Moffat played the best game he has done at Pittodrie, while Wilson and Millar gave him every support. The left wing filled the eye most in the first half, and were worthy of more goals than wee actually counted, while the right wing pair shone best in the closing stage, and Soye, in centre was all that could be wished for the position, feeding both wings impartially. We do not often fine fault with the referee, who, we admit, has a difficult role to fill, but several decisions on Saturday puzzled not a few. How he managed to ignore a most deliberate penalty in the first half - even after his attention had been drawn to it - savoured of the biased more than the fair-minded man. There were one or two other points which we did not agree with, and, as one froend remarked - "Aberdeen were playing against twelve men." They got away with nothing, which was more than could be said he allowed for the other side.CHATTY BITS
Aberdeen are forscing their way up the table, and the points they are gathering in just now will be very useful should they get off colour a bit, as most teams do at some time or other . It is also quite evident that the public are satisfied with the team's play, for the attendances show an increase on last year. The new banking on the south side has become quite a favourite resort for the spectators, who have a splendid view of the whole game. Although the re-erected stand was opened on Saturday, the number was restricted, only 200 being allowed the privilege of having a seat in it. Some more red-tapeisin has to be gone through, before the erection is finally passed. There were no sensational results in the qualifying ties on Saturday. Leith got the verdict over Raith Rovers, and Peterhead got their quietus from Elgin City. Harp and University also bade farewell to the cup. The draws took place on Tuesday, when the qualifiers will rank to play in the Scottish Cup proper. The Glasgow final is due this week, but the finalists had not been determined when we went to press.Source: Bon-Accord, 7th October 1909
N.B. From the description of the opening goal in the Aberdeen Daily Journal, it could be argued that it was an own goal by Reid, but most papers made no mention of the touch and gave it to Lennie, so we have not deprived the wee man of a goal in his statistics. AFCHT