Aberdeen 1 - 0 Morton

About 6000 spectators were present at Aberdeen, an attraction being the appearance of W. D. Nichol, Aberdeen's new centre-forward, an amateur who has played with Notts Forest and Notts County, and who is in the Army, attached to the Seaforth Highlanders at Fort George. The game did not reach a high standard, Aberdeen winning by the only goal of the match, scored after seven minutes' play in the first half off a header by Nichol. Both sides missed penalties, Hamilton, for Greenock, and Simpson, for Aberdeen, sending past. Result :- Aberdeen, 1; Morton; 0.

Source: The Scotsman, 4th April 1910

Interest in the international at Glasgow was reflected in the small attendance at Pittodrie on Saturday, when Aberdeen had as their opponents Greenock Morton in a Scottish League fixture. The attendance at the best was only from 5000 to 6000. Mr. J Bell, Dundee, had charge of the game, and the teams were:-

Aberdeen: Mutch; Colman, Hume; Davidson, Macfarlane, Millar; H. Murray, Simpson, Nichol, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Morton: Robertson; Stewart, Gibson; Mercer, Ross, Hendry; Smith, Dart, Hamilton, McCubbin, Lindsay.

Morton adopted rushing tactics right away, but made no progress, and a deliberate foul in the outfield by Lindsay allowed the home front line to get away. Bert Murray and Simpson worked well up, and crossed to Lenny, who engaged in about with Stewart. The back proved master, and cleared nicely, letting Smith off on the right. The winger gave Mutch a soft shot, and then Aberdeen settled down to business. The effort was at once fruitful. The local right winger led the invasion, and ultimately swung across to Lenny, who in turn placed back to the centre. Nichol had no opening, and judiciously headed the ball on to Simpson. The latter failed to get sting into his shot, but his direction was beyond the reach of the custodian, and in the first 5 minutes Aberdeen were one up. With their lead the local men maintained the pressure. Miller was prominent, and kept the ball nicely forward, but while the wings made good use of their opportunities, they neglected Nichol, the new centre, and the result was that many good openings were thrown away. Though Nichol did not shine, he proved conclusively that he knows the game, and that he has the weight to back up his knowledge. He had a strong part, and then Lennie, after fine manoeuvring with O'Hagan, sent in a lovely drooper which Robertson just held under the bar. In the meantime the visitors were not out of the game, and their bustling work, combined with a deal of combination, gave considerable trouble to the home defence. Colman had need to be steady and sure with McCubbin and Lindsay, but he was always ready, and for a lengthy period Mutch received no severe test. As the result of a corner kick, there was a melee in front of the local goal, and a handling offense was promptly penalised. Ross was entrusted with the kick, but when he placed the ball wide of the goal of a howl of laughter and division rose from the crowd. While Greenock were having a fair share of the play in the outfield, and showing smart touches, they were singularly ineffective at close quarters. Aberdeen were frequently in the vicinity of Robertson, but, thanks to the persistency of the wing men in potting for goal, when Nichol was unmarked, there was no further scoring. Towards the interval Aberdeen fell away, and Morton slightly improved.

The opening stage of the second half was hard, with much running, but little excitement. The first incident of note was a corner given away by Stewart, and from the resultant attack Robertson had to fist out smartly. From the rebound, Simpson drove hard in, and narrowly missed the mark. The visiting halves continued to be the main strength of the side, and time and again be intercepted dangerous incursions by Aberdeen. Colman did a neat and clever thing in turning an attack by Morton's left wing, and this led to a pressure on Robertson's charge. Nichol just failed to take advantage of a quick cross, and then Murray and Simpson were both blocked when on the point of shooting at close range. Fouling nullified good work by Hamilton, McCubbin, and Lindsay. The inside left gave Mutch a rare ball to hold, and it was all that the keeper could do to arrest its flight, as it dropped below the bar. The tide turned again, and when Nichol got a pass from the left he unhesitatingly drove for goal. His position was awkward, but there was staying in the shot, and Robertson had as much as he could do to catch the ball and turn it out. Following upon a try with his head, the new centre got clear of the backs and had the goal at his mercy when he was given offside. A hot pressure was now set up on Robertson, and when Hendry downed Murray with some force the inevitable penalty was granted. Simpson was honoured with a conversion, but he almost equalled the performance by Ross in the first period, so that in this respect the account stood square. Morton made a surprise attack, and before the defence had recovered, Hamilton headed into Mutch's arms. Aberdeen replied through the right wing, and both Murray and Simpson had good efforts, but there was no further scoring.

SUMMING UP

On the whole the game was unsatisfactory, and, with a little better work at finish, Morton might, at least, have divided the honours. Had the forwards been up to the standard of the half-backs result would have been different. Of the backs, Stewart was the better of a fairly good pair, and Robertson, in goal, gave a creditable display. Colman and Hume practically gave Mutch a holiday and the local halves also did well, with Millar outstanding. Of the forward line it can only be said that they did not make the most of their opportunities. Throughout the whole game there were occasions when Nichol ought to have been called upon, and when chances were literally thrown away by long potting. This applies to both wings.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 4th April 1910