Aberdeen 2 - 2 Hamilton

At Aberdeen before 5000 spectators. Playing with the wind in the first half, Aberdeen had the best of the game during the early stages, although the Academicals twice narrowly missed scoring. Working well together, the home forwards brushed aside the opposing defence, and Lennie finished a neat movement by scoring the first goal of the match. Five minutes later Murray added a second, and Aberdeen crossed over leading by two goals to nothing. In the second half the Academicals improved wonderfully, and Somers crowned a rare bit of play by scoring their first goal. Weakness in the Aberdeen defence led to a second goal being scored by Leckie for Hamilton, and the result of a hard , if not brilliant game, was :- Aberdeen, two goals; Hamilton Academicals, two..

Source: The Scotsman, 5th September 1910

Aberdeen on Saturday had Hamilton Academicals at Pittodrie in a Scottish League match. The weather was favourable, but a strong westerly wind prevailed, and spoilt play considerably. Before 5000 spectators, the teams turned out as follows:0-

Aberdeen: King; Colman, Hume; Wilson, Wyllie, Millar; Soye, McIntosh, Murray, Travers, Lennie.
Hamilton: Montgomery; Brownlie, Davie; King, Watson, Eglington; Spiers, Waugh, Leckie, Somers, Hastie.
Referee - Mr. J. B. Stark, Airdrie.

The toss favoured Aberdeen, and Hamilton had to play against the breeze. Local men misjudged the strength of the wind, and did not control the leather well, while Hamilton, on the other hand, work well. It took them sometime to make inroads on the home defence, but they made a promising rush, which Spiers finished by sending narrowly past. It was lucky for King that the try was off the target, for the custodian slipped and failed to recover his charge in time. Lennie and travers moved up on the wing, and crossed to Soye, who diddled too long, and ultimately had his shot for goal blocked. At the other end, Peter Somers took a free kick, and tried a pot for goal. Colman partially blocked the effort, but King had to be smart in clearing the deflected shot and post. Hamilton showed some clever work in the front rank, and their shooting was always sufficiently good to cause trouble. It was pretty much a case of turn about in attack. Lennie drew the defence away, and allowed Millar to punt well in to Tom Murray, who passed along to Travers. The latter almost carried the ball into the net. Strong forward passing was continually taking the ball behind, and the halves were mainly responsible for this. With touches Hamilton bore down on the home charge, and Hastie had a try a which called out King. The period was half gone before the scoring opened, and it came somewhat luckily, Brownlie scoring against his own side. The Aberdeen forwards swept up the field, and Travers crossed to the right. Soye placed nicely for Lennie, who operated with his head. The visiting back tried to clear, but the wind caught the ball, and his punt banged the leather into the net with terrific force. It was a blessing, from the spectators' point of view, that this happened, for it brought much better football from both sides. The home men were eager for more, and Montgomerie had to looks spry. The Aberdeen defence were not idle either, and in the course of a hot attack Somers was injured by colliding with Wilson. Peter had the worst of the accident, and had to leave the field. Soye sparkled on the right, and was cheered twice for brilliant tries from the touchline, the first crashing into the side net, while a second scraped the crossbar. The bulk of the pressure was by Aberdeen now, and Tom Murray was hooking in some fine shots. One of these told, and a nice ball was turned into the net from a pass forward by Travers.

A loud cheer greeted Somers as he trotted out to resume after the interval, and he had once showed that he had entirely recovered by his lively movement. Aberdeen were now against the wind, and they showed greater power over the ball. For a time the only matter of note was a cornered secured by Lennie, but there was no sting in the attack on either side. It fell to the Aberdeen left winger to relieve the monotony again, and he did so with a series of flashes up the line. He got clear away on one occasion, and swept into the center, finishing with a great shot which just passed over the bar. And once Hamilton retaliated, and a great rush was made for the Aberdeen end. The ball came in from the right, and Somers had little difficulty in netting. It was a good point, and the cheer from the crowd was a tribute to good play. Lennie once more set off, and tricking Brownlie, squared to Travers. The inside man jumped at the ball with both feet, and pushed the ball past the post, but just on the wrong side. After Colman had turned an invasion, Davie stopped Tom Murray on the run, and again the locals had to defend. The equaliser came to the visitors, and an accidental foul by Wyllie was indirectly responsible for it. The half-back made for the ball, and in falling touched it with his hand. From the free kick King had to fist over the bar. A corner was nicely taken, and Leckie placed in the net, bringing the teams level. This rows to Aberdeen, and for a time they hammered at the visiting defence. Tom Murray had a rattling shot at Montgomerie, and then Wilson brought the custodian out. There was feeling in the game now, and when Spiers brought Lennie to the grass the Aberdeen winger showed an inclination to resent it. Wyllie and Leckie were also at war, and again the Hamilton man was the aggressor with a palpable foul, for which he received a word of warning from the referee. Mr. Stark had his hands full, and Brownlie got a sermon for attacking Lennie unfairly. The pavilion was pointed to, and the words uttered were "next time." Two wards the close Hamilton were afraid for the leader, and punted out. Excitement rolled when Aberdeen got two corners, but nothing accrued. Lennie had a nice try, and Montgomery a good save.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 5th September 1910

In reviewing Aberdeen's second game at home,the fact must be borne in mind that the wind had a larger say in the play than the player had. Before the play started it was quite common amongst those who had played football what an important faction such a breeze as that experienced on Saturday had in the manipulation of the ball.

It was also noted that if any combination was to be seen it would he more apparent against the wind than with it, but to this there was little regard paid, and hence the consequent loss of points. Hamilton was out to win after their sucoess over Falkirk, and they were also first on the field with a view to finding out their bearings beforethe play commenced. When Aberdeen appeared they were hardly recognised from the change they had made in their wearing apparel From horizontal striped shirts they had donned vertical hooped jerseys with white neck-band, and white knickers. The change seemed to bewilder the crowd, who took some time to distinguish the players in their new garb.
Colman having won the toss, set Hamilton the task of playing against the wind and sun, and the advantage was soon apparent. Though the visitors were first to get within shooting range they failed to gather the ball, so that the defence had little anxiety in clearing. After Soye's initial run and corner, we thought the home players adopted the wrong tactics altogether, in view of the troublesome wind. It was certainly easier to get the ball propelled to the right, but it would have paid far better if they had forced the sphere to the left, where time and again the wing were unmarked and free to act had they got the chance.
For a long time Lennie never touched, the ball, and might have never done so but for the foraging tactics of Travers, who worked like a Trojan to get something tangible. No fault could be found with what the right wing did. Usually they crossed right enough, but it was after the defence had concentrated round them and there was little chance left of shooting. This was demonstrated when the first goal came after thirty minutes' play. The whole five took part in the movement, so that the defence got bewildered, Lennie being unmarked when Soye's cross came over to him, and the left-winger capped the run by headling into the net. It was claimed that llrownlie, the back, drove into the net, but the ball was sufficiently over the line before the back got at it.
Shortly after, Tom Murray capped another fine run by scoring the second goal with an unsaveable shot. In our opinion this was the best goal of the match, and Tom might have tried one or two more on his own if he had started earlier. It was not a big enough lead, to have at half-time on such a day, but without leaving the field the teams went at, it again.
Travers failed to reach a lovely chance which Lennie sent over, and had he got it Aberdeen were winning sure. Tom Murray also raised the hopes of the home crowd by a hard drive, which Montgomery easily held. Hamilton now forced themselves more into the picture, and crafty old Peter Somers eluded the home defence, and opened the score with a straight drive, which, if King's vision was not obscured, he could have saved. By this time Hume was in the "wars," and his failure to hold the right wing threw a lot of work on Colman, who had a great pair to watch himself. From a corner the equaliser came, and though Aberdeen pressed almost continuously to the finish, the game ended with a division of points - 2 goals each.

THE PLAYERS.

Hamilton had the best-balanced team out on Saturday that has ever worn their colours on Pittodrie. Fault might be found with the middle line, who were inclined to kick out at any price, without regard to placing. Montgomery was clever in goal, with a pair of rattling backs in front of him in Brownlie and Davie. Forward, Leckie and Somers were always on the move, and the ex-Celt proved he has not lost any of his cunning, and also that he can shoot when an opening occurs.
No fault could he found with King in the home goal. In the first half he saved two splendid shots; but he did not get half the work that his vis-a-vis got. Colman was best in the back division, while Hume should have lain off in the second half. Wylie and Millar gave of their best all through, and the centre-half has established. himself as a first favourite with the home crowd. Wilson was erratic at the start, but steadied down considierably in the second. The worst fault that could he found with the forwards was that they did not shoot often enough, for their outfield play deserved more than two goals. In the first period the right wing were best, because they got more of the ball, and in the second the left wing was seen to better advantage. The whole line, however, worked, better together than on the opening match, and if they continue to improve they will do better yet.

CHATTY BITS.

Hamilton took away the first point from Pittodrie on Saturday - a feat they have never done before.
The "Acas" were proud of their team on Saturday, and they have reason to he so, for they are a good side.
The Celts could be doing with old Peter Somers in the front rank just now, for they are badly in want of good scorers, and Peter can do that same trick.
O'Hagen has been attached to many clubs of late by the newspapers, but, though nothing definite has been done in the beginning of the week, we believe he will sign for Greenock Morton, if he did not do so on Wednesday.
We know that Morton have made a good offer, and Charlie willbhe unwise not to accept it.
In Huddersfield's opening match, Mutch received great praise for his custodianship. "His only failing is a tendency to run out with the ball. He was penalised once for this on Saturday, and kicks in goalmouth are dangerous. He hugs the ball too much, but all the same he is a capture." So says a contemporary.
Bobby Simpson does not come in for the same favourable comment, but is accused of "lying among the halves." This was not Bobby's play at Pittodrie.
While Sunderland have stuck their form, And their men are keeping all right, Newcastle seem to have lost the knack of beating a goalkeeper.
The opening has been sensational with some of the clubs in England, but the real form of many of the teams will not be found till the end of this month.
Manchester City have made their presence felt already, but their rivals at Old Trafford have not yet got into their scoring.
The newly-constituted Fraserburgh team is going to make things "hum." They have got together a good side, and expect to make a good show in the Qualifying ties.
Peterhead must have felt as bit sore at being defeated on their own pitch by their new rivals. The keen rivalry which exists between these two places ought to make the game go well in future.
The Scottish League have still some points to clear up with the Southern League, as to the transfer of players. On some points it is expected outside assistance will be required to settle the matter.

Source: Bon-Accord, 8th September 1910