Raith Rovers 0 - 1 Aberdeen

Six thousand spectators were present at Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy, for this return League game. Aberdeen won on the first meeting by two goals to nothing, and again got home winners, though the margin now was only one goal. It was a hard game all through, with the visitors the stronger side in practically all departments; but the game was twenty minutes old before Travers scored n a scrimmage in front of Ewing, who just before had saved brilliantly from Lennie. Afterwards it was a dour struggle. The Rovers forwards, though well held, managed at times to work up a good attack, but for the most part Aberdeen were the aggressors. A tendency to elaboration in front of goal let Philip and Cumming do some daring clearing and Ewing some clever fielding, so that the game ran to its close without further scoring taking place. In the last minute of the game the Rovers attacked strongly, and forced a corner. Result:- Aberdeen, one goal; Raith Rovers, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 26th November 1910

Aberdeen and Raith Rovers played off their return league fixture at Kirkcaldy on Saturday. The weather was favourable for the game, while the pitch was in good order. The teams were:-

Raith Rovers: Ewing; Philip, Cumming; Aitken, Simpson, Donagher; McNeil, Gilmour, Gourlay, Gibson.
Aberdeen: King; Colman, Hume; Wilson, Wyllie, Millar; Soye, Murray, McIntosh, Travers, Lennie.
Referee - Mr. G. W. Hamilton, Motherwell.

The game opened greatly in favour of Aberdeen, the visitors' left wing pair carrying the ball from the kick-off right up to the Rovers' goal line. Lennie crossed in front of Ewing, but Philip recovered grandly, and cleared ere McIntosh could catch up the ball on the run. For a time the Rovers' backs had to defend their goal against the persistent pressure by the Aberdeen front rank. A clever run and pass by Soye was followed by an attempt at goal on the part of Murray, but his shot was a little wide of the mark. So far the play had been wholly confined to the Rovers' end of the field, Lennie and Travers being specially prominent for their side, although the entire front rank worked splendidly together. The first break away on the part of the home forwards brought a corner-kick, which was finely placed by Gibson. The ball came to Donagher, who almost beat King with a high shot, the leather passing outside the upright. The Rovers, however, were soon busy defending their own goal and the other end of the field. Soye crossed a lovely ball to the left, and Lennie, rushing in, tested Ewing with a fast drive. The shot was cleared, but again the left winger was in evidence with a really good effort, the ball passing close to the side of the net. At this stage the play of Aberdeen was of a high order. Splendidly supported by their half-backs, the visiting forwards came very near scoring on several occasions. McIntosh kept the game open by his long ground pass is to both wings, while Soye and Lennie centred the ball with rare skill. Only the sound defence of the Rovers kept Aberdeen from scoring, but the Pittodrie men ultimately succeeded at the end of 15 minutes play. Soye crossed the ball to Lennie, and the latter responded with a capital shot, brilliantly saved by Ewing. A corner-kick followed, and in the midst of a fierce struggle at goalmouth Travers headed the ball past Ewing. The Raith team came away strongly after this reverse, and Gilmour was almost through, when he was blocked by Hume. Fast shots from Lennie, McIntosh, and Murray were successfully dealt with by Ewing, while King cleared a surprise shot from Aitken. For the most part, however, Aberdeen held the upper hand, their football being much ahead of that shown by the Rovers. Wyllie was always prominent for the visitors, while Coleman and Hume were well-night unbeatable.

The first noteworthy incident after the restart was a smart bit of play by Lennie, who got round Philip, and was running right into goal, when the back tripped the outside left near the penalty line. The offense almost cost the Rovers a goal, one a header by Wyllie beat Ewing, but went over the bar. miskicking by Colman and Hume gave the Rovers a chance to make headway, but their left winger spoiled the opening by a weak attempt at goal. As a rule the home forwards rarely kept up an attack at the Aberdeen end of the field for any length of time. Good placing by the Aberdeen half-backs enabled their forwards to cover the ground smartly, and Ewing did well in saving a very fast shot from Murray. Centres by Lennie and Soye were splendidly cleared by Philip and Cumming, while Aitken showed up grandly at right half. The last may and repeated league of his forwards into working order, but the front rank were rarely dangerous. Latterly, Aberdeen eased up, particularly in the front rank. Their plate was always good, but there was a slight falling off in their shooting near goal. The Rovers' forwards were a disappointing line, for even with a set of half-backs supporting them with well-judged passes, there was a marked absence of shooting power on the part of the men in front. Gibson, however, had one very good tries for goal, a fast, low shot striking the foot of the upright. Near the close Aberdeen came away in great style, Murray being specially noticeable for smart work. A minute from time Gibson sent in a hard drive, which King saved, while a corner to the home team had just been taken when time was called.

Aberdeen were easily the better side, and more value for a bigger wing. All over, the team did splendidly, while the Rovers' defence save their side from a more pronounced defeat.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 28th November 1910

The scotee 1-0 does not indicate that Aberdeen did anything out of the common in their game against Raith Rovers at Kirkcaldy Park on Saturday. To those who were not present the score would simply mean that Aberdeen won with nothing to spare. There were few Aberdonians waiting their arrival at Kirkcaldy such as are usually to be met in Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Dundee, and the small party wended their way to Stark's Park almost alone. Several improvements have taken place in the surroundings of the enclosure since Aberdeen were last there for League points, and the weather and pitch were excellent for a hard game.

Once the whistle soundied all were eager to see how the teams would go. The Rovers were anxious for more points, of which they assert, bad luck robbed them of not a few; and Aberdeen were equally anxious to retain the high position they have won this season. We have not seen Aberdeen tumble into their stride so quickly as they did on Saturday, the forwards working together with capital precision. Murray had a raking shot that would have counted nine times out of ten and Macintosh cleverly burst through; but EWwing saved almost miraculously. Lennie had hard lines in Philip blocking a sure thing. All these happened before the HOME forwards had got much of a move on. Gilmour, the ex-Hearts man, had a bout with Wyllie, and had to own defeat. The new centre's idea seemed good enough, but speed was lacking to bring off the close passing movements he desired his partners to assist him.
It was the lack of pace that told against the home side all through; for they did many things that with a speedier forward line might have come off, but the vigilant Aberdeen halves were too sprighty by a long chalk for the Rovers. So far as gone, there was only one team likely to score, and that was the Aberdeen and it was no surprise when Travers converted, from a corner kick, a lovely cross from Lennie. It was a fitting reward to some splendid work by the forwards. Soye was more in the picture than we have yet mentioned, and we saw one drive of his aiming for the far corner; but the crossbar came in the way. Without further scoring the teams had come to midway through, and deserved as few minutes' breathing space.

The second half was like the first. Aberdeen had to run up against a solid defence, a clever goalkeeper, and two sturdy backs, who acted as reseves between the sticks when pressure was at its highest. To this point Aberdeen got, but no further; while the bursts made by the Rovers were few, and when they did occur, carried with them little sting. Towards the close, King saved a fine shot, but he saw it all the way and never flinched. Without disparaging in the slightest the home side, we should say that Aberdeen deserved to have finished 3 goals ahead; for their play was worth that, and was greatly admired by the home speatators. As it was, Travers won the match and the points with the only goal of the ninety minutes' play.

PLAY AND PLAYERS,

The feature on the Rovers' side was their strong defence. Seldom have they been subjected to such a trial as they encountered on Saturday; the only fear the home authorities had was that if they broke down, sure disaster would follow. Ewing, we know as a class goalkeeper, and Philips a back of the daring order, taking all risks; while Cumming is an able assistant. Of a heavy middle line, Aitken got most to do; but the others had so much defensive work to do that they otherwise neglected the forwards. Led by Gilmour, the front line should come a bit yet. As we have ,already remarked the movements are all right if they would carry them out quicker.
On the Aberdeen side the defence were as sound as ever; and the halves seemed to get in a lot of more work than usual. It was a forwards' game, and in this respect one can hardly lay claim to higher honours than the other, though Travers was the only one who could beat them.

CHATTY BITS.

The commanding position Aberdeen occupy in the table at present means a great deal to thern financially.
If for no other reason than the handiness in travelling Kirkcaldy is a godsend to going down to Port-Glasgow in weather like this.
Glasgow did give great encouragement for provincial teams to play off their principal event in the Qualifying final, with £113 gate.
Any of the two teams could have got more than that nearer home. However, they may turn out better this week.
There were a great many at Pittodrie on Saturday to see how Alick Halkett would play. Well, Alick took good care of himself, but he gave one or two glimpses that there was still good play in him.
A spate of transfers from this side of the border is going on just now in order to strengthen up the weaklings for the crush of fixtures at the end of this month.
The pity is that the two leaders should have to meet at this season of the year. A month later and the gate would have been doubled. As it is, the game at Pittodrie starts at 2-30, and the referee is Mr J. Bell, Dundee; and we expect to see Pittodrie packed for the first time this season.
Rangers have made no secret that they are determined to wipe out the Ibrox defeat, and that in such a way as to demonstrate that they are the team of the year.
Although not definitely settled at the time of writing, it is expected they will leave Glasgow on Friday night, and put up either in Stonehaven or Aberdeen overnight.
A special train from Govan is also on the tapis, and will bring not a few on to help them on to victory.
Aberdeen have also been preparing for the fray diligently and quietly, and will put up as good a fight as they can; and they expect to draw - bar accidents.
There is a curious paragraph in the "Athletic News " this week which is very suggestive. Has Charlie O'Hegan anything to do with the case?

Source: Bon-Accord, 1st December 1910