Aberdeen 2 - 2 Motherwell

At Aberdeen, before 8000 spectators. Aberdeen opened brilliantly, and hard shots from Main and Wood sent in early suggested that Motherwell were to be overwhelmed. Hamilton, the visitors' custodian, however, saved wonderfully on several occasions, and half-an-hour elapsed before Main scored for Aberdeen after Travers had missed. A bad mistake by King, which allowed a ball from Nicol to slip through his fingers, put Motherwell on equal terms, and so matters stood at the interval. In the second half, Motherwell showed great improvement, but sound defensive play by Colman kept them from scoring. Aberdeen repeatedly attacked, but they muddled at close quarters. Gray put Motherwell ahead, King again failing to hold the ball after he had saved. The equaliser, however, soon followed to Aberdeen, Travers converting from a corner. In the closing stages, Hunter missed an open goal for Motherwell. A draw was a fair result - 2 goals each.

Source: The Scotsman, 31st March 1913

A draw of two goals each was the result of a scrappy game at Pittodrie on Saturday, when with Motherwell as opposition, Aberdeen made their last home league appearance for the season. Taken all over, the game was worth of a draw, yet in the match there were mistakes made which, had they not occurred, would probably have resulted in a decisive finish. From the Aberdeen Point of view there were regrets for the two errors of King, who might have saved the two goals credited to Motherwell, and on the other hand, just prior to the final whistle, Hunter, the Motherwell centre-forward, missed an open goal. Not one of the four goals scored were of indecisive nature, and, indeed, throughout, play was after the kind associated with the approach of the end of the season. On their display in the first half, Aberdeen ought to have crossed over with a league sufficient to win the match, but, as it was, a dour Motherwell defence - coupled with an indecisiveness on the part of the home forwards, so the teams on level terms with a goal apiece. There was a reawakening of Motherwell in the second half, when, although they were scrappy as before, they had a much greater share of the play, and if hunter had taken the chance already referred to, the Fir Parkers might have got both points.

PLAY IN BRIEF

Aberdeen's opening flattered, and suggested that Motherwell were to be over-whelmed. In the first minutes Main crashed in a ball, which Hampton tipped over. This was closely followed by a another try by Main and two lighting shots by Wood, while Main nearly surprised Hampton with a back-heeled effort. Time and again the home attack harried the Motherwell defence, but Wilson and P. Kelly, ably supported by the ever-watchful Hampton, the fagged all their efforts. After 35 minutes, Davidson initiated a movement by giving to Soye for that player to send over a goal square. Travers just failed to reach it, but Main, dashing in, scored with a ball that glanced into the net off the crossbar. Motherwell were not long and struggling for the equaliser. Nichol on the extreme right sent over an easy high shot. King, dazzled by the sun, made to feel the shot above his head, but allowed the ball to slip through his hands. Aberdeen played desperately hard for the lead, but they had to cross over on equal terms.

DUEL OF DEFENDERS

There was a great defensive duel in the second half, when Motherwell were a much faster and the pier team than they had been in the first half, even although their combination did not improve. The feature of the period, as indeed it was throughout the game, was the superb play of Colman. He repeatedly checked the Motherwell left wing and held up the visiting centre, but he did not prevent Motherwell from taking the lead. Colman had headed clear, but Hunter, catching on, sent in a hard blow drive. King partially saved at full stretch, but unfortunately for him the ball hit the upright and rebounded to him. In the difficult position in which she lay he failed to gather, and ere he could recover, the ball had crossed the line. Aberdeen struggled for the equalising goal, and after Lennie had placed a corner Travers headed through. The home team had the advantage of the short period that followed, and Soye, working in to the centre, volleyed in a terrific shot, which Hampton saved. At the other end hunter with an open goal sent behind, and thus Motherwell lost the one great chance they had of winning the match. Aberdeen pressed in the closing stages, but there was no further scoring, and a game in which, with a few individual exceptions, play never rose above mediocrity resulted - Aberdeen 2; Motherwell 2.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 31st March 1913