Aberdeen 0 - 1 Celtic

At Aberdeen, in presence of 12,000 spectators. Play during the first half went greatly in favour of Aberdeen. The home team's forwards showed capital combination. Early in the game Lennie sent in a fast shot, but McNair got in the way of the ball and saved. Continuing to show remarkably clever football, Aberdeen fairly hemmed in the Celts, whose defence, however, was of a high class, McNair and Hay shining. Near the interval Johnstone scored for the Celtic, who crossed over with a lead. In the second half the game was very keen. Twice Adams saved cleverly. McNair headed away a fine shot by Murray. After a spell of defensive play the Celts opened out the game, and for fully twenty minutes Aberdeen were defending for all they were worth. Aberdeen made repeated efforts to draw level, but failed, mainly due to the superior defence of McNair and Hay. Result :- Celtic, one goal; Aberdeen, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 29th November 1909

About 14,000 spectators witnessed this match at Pittodrie, Aberdeen, on Saturday. The enclosure - greatly enlarged since last season - presented an impressive spectacle with the thousands of spectators solidly massed on the sloping banks, and filling every corner of the stands. Several 1000 of the spectators were from the country, while there were a few from Glasgow, teams supporters of the Celtic team. Special trains brought a large number of enthusiasts from Peterhead and Fraser fir, and the ordinary trains from the north and Deeside were heavy. The weather was almost ideal for a fast game, the only unsettling factor being a south-westerly breeze.
Up the chances of victory for Aberdeen were enhanced by the absence from the Celtic team through illness of three of the strongest players - James Quinn, the dashing centre-forward, and terror to opposing backs; Kivlichen, the clever outside right; and Weir, the big left back. Aberdeen, as was expected, were without to O'Hagan. The teams turned out as follows:-

Aberdeen: Mutch; Colman, Hume; Wilson, Moffat, Miller; McEchern, H. Murray, Simpson, Soye, Lennie.
Celtic: Adams; McNair, Hay; Young, Loney, Mitchell; John Young, McMenemy, L. Mclean, Johnstone, Hamilton.
Referee - Mr. D. J. Liddell, Glasgow.

Celtic winning the toss, Aberdeen kicked off against the breeze. The start gave promise of a fast, exciting game. In the first few minutes Mutch had to leave his goal to pick up and throw out a ball, which had outtravelled the Celtic forwards. The Celtic left wing made several efforts to get down to the Aberdeen goal, their attempts being frustrated by Colman and Wilson, who were keen and active. Then Lennie got the ball, and, of course, the crowd cheered. McNair, however, coolly demonstrated that he is still Lennie's master, and from this point Aberdeen's conjurer showed an inclination to fight shy of a tackle with Scotland's brainiest back. For a time, the Aberdeen forwards were too clever for the Celtic half-backs, but always McNair or Hay thwarted the attack, their tackling and clearing, cool and calculating, being masterly. The Celtic backs soon had the measure of the Aberdeen forwards, who, moving sweetly and in all-conquering style in the outfield, became almost impotent at close quarters with the Celtic backs. McEchern, clever as he is, could make nothing of Hay, and on the other wing Lennie could seldom get round McNair. The Celts' right back had to concede the first corner of the match, and from the kick, well taken by Lennie, Simpson deftly headed in, the ball glancing past the post on the wrong side. Play was keen, but not pretty, both elevens being in deadly earnest, but there was no denying the superiority of Aberdeen insofar as smart manipulation of the ball was concerned. Lennie got several nice open passes, and made ground rapidly, only to be, as a rule, beaten by McNair. Celts' goal had a lucky escape, when Murray having send out the ball to Lennie, a left-winger, unmarked, steadied for a shot at close range. Lennie shot with terrific force, but McNair, who darted across, throughout his right leg - almost executing what is known in Music Hall circles as a "split" - and got his right foot in front of the ball, which went over the line. The force of the shot whipped McNair's leg from under him, and he went sprawling on his face. From a corner kick at the other goal, much had to handle. In the outfield play, some of the Celts indulged in pushing with the hands and holding too much for the equanimity of the crowd, and from all parts of the ground came angry cries of "Play the game!" A dangerous run by John Young, was spoiled by Moffat, who, falling back, headed out. Aberdeen attacked, and Young, half-back, had to kick back to Adams to negotiate an awkward situation. McNair beat both Soye and Lennie, and let Celts' away, Moffatt's head again averting danger. For 15 minutes Aberdeen did all the attacking, and there were many exciting bouts near the Celtic goal, McNair and Hay clearing again and again. Only 5 minutes of the half had to go, when a rush by the Celtic right wing had Hume beaten, and, getting the ball from McMenemy, Johnstone, who was unmarked, rushed in, and gave Mutch no chance, a swift, upward drive at close range striking the top and rebounding to the back of the net. It was a soft goal, and altogether undeserved on play. Aberdeen struggled hard to get the equaliser, but met a sturdy defence.

The crowd got plenty to excite them in the early part of the second period. In a combined dash on the Celtic goal the Aberdeen forwards looked irresistible. McEchern outwitted Hay, and drove the ball passed along the ground into the Celtic goal. Adams rushed out, and had to go low to get the ball. He just reached it with his fingers, and pushed it out to Lenny, who came dashing in, and shot with all his strength. Adams, who had not regained his equilibrium, was following up the ball in a sprawling way, and more by luck than anything else, he got in the way of the shot and diverted it across the line. A narrow escape for the Celts. One Lennie netted from the corner-kick, and there was a loud cry of "Goal!" But, no, the ball had touched no one in its flight, and only a bye-kick for the Celtic resulted. For a time the Celtic defence was severely tried, but it stood the test, Adams saving three or four times in quick succession. Celtic then attacked, and after Moffat had cleared, Johnstone got the ball with an open course to goal, and drove it with great force along the ground. Mutch literally hurled himself at the ball, and knocked it away, bringing off the finest save of the match. After having had the worst of the exchange's, Celtic made a great rally, and for the first time since the game commenced really looked like breaking down the strong Aberdeen defence. Hamilton twice got away with a clear course to Mutch, but on each occasion Wilson came tearing after him, and had the best of the tackle. Again, from a deadly cross by Hamilton from the corner-flag, Celts looked like scoring, Moffat, however, turning up in characteristic style and clearing Aberdeen's ravelled lines. Mutch made a daring save, dashing out and picking up the ball, and dodging backward and forward before getting rid of it. A miss kick by Moffat gave Celtic a corner, and McNair, by driving the ball high over the bar, presented Aberdeen with much-needed relief. At this stage Celts were in such persistent mood that had they had the redoubtable Quinn at centre, they must have scored more than once. The movements of the forwards were dislocated, however, and their attack never got home. At the other end, Simpson tried hard to get through, but was always blocked, and from one of his hooks, on a pass from McEchern, Adams saved smartly. The game was fought determinedly to the bitter end, but both sides failed to score, and Celtic had a lucky victory.

Neither side deserved to win, and a goalless draw would have fairly represented the run of the play. The gate was estimated at over £300.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 29th November 1909

THE CHAMPIONS AT PITTODRIE.

Better weather conditions could not have prevailed than that of Saturday, when the Celts paid their first visit for the season to Pittodrie. There was a strong breeze blowing, but it did not interfere with the play, only serving to cool the heated players. and no less excited partisans. Unfortunately, the teams were not at full strength, the Celts having the famous Quinn off through sickness, and Kivlichan and Weir were also laid aside through injuries. Charlie O'Hagan was absent from the home side through the death of his mother, but these enforced abstentions did not affect the en¬thusiasm of the spectators, who trooped in from all quarters. When the game started there would have been fully 10,000 inside, and the turnstiles were circling fast, while altogether, ticketholders included, there would have been 14.000 present.
The game did not provide a great deal for description, for the reason that Aberdeen had three-fourthst of the play, while the Celts, whose real chance came after the second period had well gone, were leading by 1 goal to nil. Early in the game Aberdeen awakened enthusiasm by some fine work in the open, and even in finishing, Lennie and Simpson would have scored with a less experienced defence than the Celts, possess. It was purely a bit of luck, and nothing else, that stopped Lennie's initial effort, for McNair put out his foot, and got doubled up for his pains, a corner resulting from what otherwise would have been a dead goal. The Celts were out to keep their goal intact, and their sturdy defence was really the only part of their team that could he admired.
Repeatedly the halves were left, but McNair and Hay stepped in and where they failed Adams accounted for their mistakes, which were very few indeed. We had our minds made up for a draw at half-time when an incident, which took everybody by surprise, occurred. From a throw-in, Young swung the ball across, Hume missed his kick, and Moffat stuck to McLean without watching where the ball was gone, which Johnston picked up and raised it over the heads of those in front, Mutch being entirely powerless to save with so many obstructing his view. The happening was so simple and unexpected, so undeserved on play, that it evoked no enthusiasm at all. We have seldom seen a goal scored at Pittodrie received so quietly. Aberdeen were having a likely opening when half-time sounded, the universal verdict beingthat Aberdeen had had hard luck.
The home forwards put on pressure at the start of the second period, but their efforts were no more successful, though with more persistence something might have come off. We saw a little more of the Celts now, and Mutch gave of his best in dealing with a capital shot from Johnston. A grand rally by the home forwards finished up the game, Celts taking the two points - and they were lucky at that.

THE PLAYERS.

Adams, McNair, and Hay proved an insuperable barrier to the Aberdeen forwards, who will seldom meet a defence like them. These three formed the basis of as fine a defence we have seen, and the sturdy middle line, with plenty of weight and height, kept the attack well away from the target. Young kept the left wing in hand, and we thought that one had funked over his attentions in the second half; while Loney was too tall and powerful for Simpon, being the weakest of the line. The forwards did nothing great, individually or collectively, but we thought Johnston the smartest of the lot. Mutch was very Clever for the home side, and the shot which beat him was one of those things no goalkeeper can be blamed for. Colman we have seen better; his kicking was not so sure, but he tackled all right. Hume was the better of the two, though he might have cleared and saved that goal. Wilson and Millar were the best in the middle line, Moffat being inclined to wander too much, while he ought to have been more alive than he was when the goal was scored. MacEchern and Murray, along with Soye, were the best forwards, playing right up to the finish. Lennie was bright at the start, but fell away, and dropped out of the picture altogether. Simpson was too well watched by Loney, and he had not the weight to carry him through. All over, the game could never be described as brilliant, though a fast pace was maintained throughout.

CHATTY BITS.

If Aberdeen did not get the points, they scooped the biggest "gate " they have had this season.
The treasurer seemed the only happy man of the directora, as he could afford to be with over £300 drawn at the turnstiles.
If some of the spectators had been playing, what a lot of goals would have been scored.
And if some of the standites had been refereeing, there would have been very few opponents left to play the game, the others would have been resting in the Pavilion.
Aberdeen A had very hard lines on Saturday at Dundee. They had the best of matters all through, but had to be content with a division of points at the finish.
The ground, too, was a trifle heavy for the visitors at Tannadice Park and though they did well, they felt they could have done better on a harder pitch.
They have a big journey before them this week, as they play Clyde "A" at Shawfield in the Reserve League.
It will be remembered that Clyde sent a very strong team north on October 16, and Aberdeen won by 3-1, so that they may look out for squalls on Saturday.

Source: Bon-Accord, 2nd December 1909