Aberdeen 0 - 1 Falkirk

At Aberdeen, in presence of 8000 spectators. The opening exchanges favoured the visitor, their forwards being very clever, and quite early in the game Logan and Simpson struck the cross-bar with hard drives. Aberdeen could not get into their game, play being confined for the most part to the home territory. Lennie eventually got away, and twice Stewart saved hard shots fro the left winger. After thirty five minutes' play Logan scored for Falkirk, following upon smart play by Simpson. The second half was more evenly contested, Aberdeen showing improved play. For a time the Falkirk defence were sorely taxed, Stewart saving from Simpson, while Taylor and Miller were kept very busy. Later on, Logan and McTavish led a brisk attack on the Aberdeen goal, where Mutch saved brilliantly. Result :- Falkirk, one goal; Aberdeen, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 29th November 1909

There were between 7000 and 8000 spectators at Pittodrie on Saturday. It was expected that the much with a strong-going Falkirk team would have attracted at least 9000 or 10,000, but the cold weather probably accounted for the absence of many enthusiasts. The ground was hard with the overnight frost, but the footing quite secure. Both teams turned out as selected.

Aberdeen: Mutch; Colman, Hume; Davidson, Wilson, Miller; H. Murray, Simpson, Soye, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Falkirk: Stewart; Taylor, Millar; Macdonald, Anderson, McMillan; Simpson, MacTavish, Logan, Devine, Brown.
Referee - Mr. J. B. stark, Airdrie.

Aberdeen had the advantage of the occasional breeze, but the Falkirk players were first to get into their stride, their big kicking, wide passing, and speedy following up flurrying the Aberdeen defence. Jocky Simpson, Falkirk's bright star, was kept well plied with the ball, and was in early prominent. The forcing play on the Aberdeen's side also came from the outside right, and the Falkirk Millar had as stiff a handful in Murray has Hume had in Simpson. When converging on goal, the Falkirk forwards had a much more dangerous appearance and the Aberdeen five, who seemed rather to open out fanwise, a style of attack much easier for the backs to cope with. Indeed, all through the game the Falkirk backs got too much manoeuvring room, if more worried by the Aberdeen forwards might have been oftener beaten than they were. Ten minutes or so from the start, the Aberdeen goal had two lucky escapes, Brown and Simpson both striking the cross-bar with shots that had beaten Mutch. Then Aberdeen attacked briskly, and a hard drive from Lennie's foot was headed from almost under the bar by Taylor. Owing to the kick and rush tactics adopted at this stage by Falkirk, a lot of long passes ahead went for nothing, being intercepted by the Aberdeen backs with plenty of room to clear. Logan's main idea seemed to be to drop the ball well up the wings in the hope that flyers Simpson and brown would get them before the Aberdeen backs, and then to rush up the centre and get the cross with head or foot - and a dangerous-looking rusher he was, big, strong, and pushful, and always about the Aberdeen goal when the ball was any where in that direction. Eager as the Aberdeen forwards were they could make little headway, and again and again they were forced back. Every moment it looked as if Falkirk must score, Simpson in particular frequently getting into the danger zone. At last Simpson got a chance with a clear view of goal, and he shot with terrific force. Mutch threw out his fists, and stop the ball with hands and chest. He was staggered by the shot, and the ball rebounded a few yards out from the goal. Logan, ever watchful, rushed, and so did Donald Colman, and by the fraction of a second the Aberdeen back got in his kick, the ball going over the line, Colman being harassed by his own momentum and the force of the collision with the Falkirk centre. Falkirk got no advantage from a corner kick. A succession of narrow escapes seemed to arouse the Aberdeen players, and in a brief attack on the Falkirk goal they looked like mastering the Falkirk defence, the backs wavering a little. Stewart saved a hot shot from Lennie. Falkirk rallied, and Simpson forced a corner off Hume. A series of exciting scrimmages took place in the Aberdeen goal, and dangerous shots was scraped away by Colman and Wilson, who were the most alert and active defenders for Aberdeen. Getting once more on the attack, the Aberdeen forwards had a look in, a fast grounder by Simpson being luckily blocked by Millar. End-to-end play followed, Hume, the Aberdeen left back, being prominent for resolute tackling and strong returns, his kicking being much surer than Colman's dot the Aberdeen Simpson was fouled near the corner flag, and from the free kick the Falkirk goal was in danger, Stewart having to give a corner in saving low down. Wilson headed over from the corner-kick. A corner at the other end through Wilson kicking passed in a hot Falkirk attack, was safely negotiated by the Aberdeen defence. Loose, scraggy, play, with the honours equally divided ensued, until Wizard Jocky Simpson, by some clever jugglery, so bamboozled a few of the Aberdeen players, as to earn the somewhat grudging cheers of the crowd. Simpson was the means of getting a well-deserved goal for Falkirk. He forced a corner, took the kick, and landed the ball fairly on Logan's fair locks, and the Falkirk centre promptly popped it into the net, high up in the corner, out of the reach of Mutch, who made a creditable attempt to save. Aberdeen retaliated, and attacked fiercely, Soye missing a good chance close in, being beat by Stewart. In the five minutes' of remainder of the first half, Aberdeen were masters of the situation, but failed to score, although Simpson had one a splendid try from his favourite position, some stray foot getting in the way of the ball.

To Falkirk would not have had more than they deserved had they crossed over with a lead of two goals.

Aberdeen had decidedly the most of the play in the second half, and were unlucky in failing to equalise. On resuming, Falkirk were dangerous in the first minute, Mutch saving smartly from Simpson at close range. Lennie tried hard to change the venue, but he was getting little support from O'Hagan, and Soye was too slow in the centre to get the crosses. For 15 minutes Falkirk kept their grip of the game, and then Aberdeen aroused the enthusiasm of the crowd by the determination of a sustained attack, due largely to the well-placed kicks of Colman, and the dashing, forcing play of Wilson, who was now the most effective player on the field. Stewart held a raking shot from Davidson. The Falkirk forwards were always dangerous when they broke away. In one sweeping rush, MacTavish, on the run, sent in a swift shot, which Mutch saved on the line by a great effort, and was rewarded with a deafening cheer. Aberdeen again attacked in brilliant style, carrying all before them, and literally bombarding the Falkirk goal. Three times Stewart, the alert and almost all me present Falkirk goalkeeper, parried forceful shots - two from Simpson and one from Soye - inside a minute, and again, shortly after, he was out of his goal and busy in a crowd of players. His heart and by the apparent in vulnerability of the Falkirk defence, the Aberdeen forwards and half-backs slackened off, and Colman and Hume were again showing the good stuff they are made off. The Aberdeen defence prevailed, and, cheered on by the roar of the crowd, the local attack was again all over the Falkirk defence, only Stewart, the unbeatable, refusing to let the ball past him. At this exciting and critical juncture, O'Hagan was hurt by a ball from Taylor, and had to be carried over the touch-line, where 5 minutes of the trainer's attention made him fit to resume. Attack and counter-attack followed, but at close quarters the Aberdeen forwards were disappointing. Had they been backed up by the other half-backs as they were by Wilson, RE might have got even more than the equaliser, but, unsupported, the Aberdeen frontal attack was too thin. Aberdeen pressed to the finish, but could not score, Soye, to the chagrin of the crowd, missing a certain goal from a low pass by Murray at close range, the centre whipping the ball past the wrong side of the post.

Estimated gate, £160.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 6th December 1909

THE "BAIRNS" PLAY WELL.

There were only about half the number of spectators at Pittodrie on Saturday, than there were on the previous week. Those why stayed away or could not get missed a treat as far as football was concerned, the game being widely different as day from night to that served up on the Celts' visit. The pace was fast, the backs had to tackle and kick like Trojans, while the goalkeepers had saving to do which brought forth the plaudits of those present. "Jockie" Simpson brought out Aber¬deen's defence quite early, and in a hot assault Mutch came out with flying colours.
Lennie got in evidence with a particularly good shot, which Stewart seemed to tremble at. A minute later, Soye ought to have scored; and we think the miss he made then unnerved him for the rest of the game. With fast forward play, the ball was flitting all over the field, a tremendous amount of energy being displayed on both sides. Falkirk were certainly serving up a style of football which has been absent from Pittodrie this season. The Falkirk right winger was cutting in for Mutch, when Hume blocked him, but had to concede a corner. From the flag-kick, Logan seemed to be uninjured, and he had no difficulty in sending a soft thing past Mutch - the goal being as un¬expected as the Celtic one. Soye was robbed of a dead cert by Taylor, and though the home side had several opportunities of getting level, they failed to do so, Falkirk sticking to their lead at half-time.
On resuming, a couple of as fine saves as anyone could wish to see were performed by Mutch, Falkirk assuming a superiority which they had not previously done. It looked all over with Aberdeen for a time, till the local defence got the attack worn down. Bobby Simpson raised the hopes of the local crowd with a drive which went the least thing wide. Another shot from Lennie was blocked by Taylor, but the simplest effort came from Soye when he missed an open goal ten minutes from the finish. This seemed to be the last straw, for the crowd rapidly dispersed after this, while Falkirk were content to keep their one-goal lead. Taken all over the game was fast, and full of good points, but, the chances missed by Aberdeen fairly entitled them to claim a draw on play - but, the record reads, Falkirk, 1; Aberdeen. 0.

THE PLAYERS.

Stewart, in goal, did not impress us as being at all clever in his clearances, being very clumsy on several occasions. In fact, Falkirk have not had a custodian of the same class as Allan, who is now with the Hibs, for the past two seasons. Taylor gave a good display at back, Miller not being so good as we have seen him. McMi1ln put in a lot of splendid work at half, and caught the eye most, while Anderson kept bursting up any combined attack. Simpson got in some fine runs on the right, but the artiste of the lot was Devine, who seemed always to be dangerous. Logan put in a lot of work, but only had one good shot. As a line, however; they work well together, and are the best we have seen in Aberdeen for some time.
Aberdeen have to thank their defence for saving their side. Mutch and Colman were great all through; Hume being uncertain, but steadied up, and went well to the finish. Wilson easily took prime honours in the middle line, with Millar close up; Davidson, who, we understand was unwell, being unable to stand the pace. The forwards were good and very bad by turns. Their outfield work was all right, but their finishing. was the poorest we have seen. They seem to have all gone off their shooting form, and will need to practice the art if they are to gain any more points.

CHATTY BITS.

Saturdays frost and fog meant a considerable loss to the football clubs in the south.
The weather was intensely cold at Pittodrie, and this may have had a considerable influence on the casual spectator.
Considering the position Falkirk occupy in the League, we expected there would have been a larger gate at Pittodrie, it was less than £200.
Geordie Wilson further emphasised his popularity with the Pittodrie crowd on Saturday. He held Logan well in hand all through the game.
Tom Murray is expected to resume training this week. He is reported to have considerably benefited by his holiday.
It is not expected that Archie Harper will be able to play this week yet, though he is now in training.
Seldom is the serene calm of the Scottish football legislature body disturbed to any great extent, but the recent suspension of three referees is likely to cause some trouble.
The announcement that A. Edwards. of Cathcart, who has officiated frequently at Pittodrie, had been struck off the list has caused a bit of a rumpus.
Mr Edwards is not to take his dismissal without knowing the reason why, and will insist on having it out with someone or somebody in authority.
We had always a very high opinion of Mr Edwards as a referee, and we have seen worse who are still on the list.
The draw for the Scottish Cup takes place in Glasgow next Tuesday.

Source: Bon-Accord, 9th December 1909