Queens Park 2 - 2 Aberdeen

Against Queen's Park, at Hampden Park, Glasgow, and after one of the best-contested games in which they have participated this season, Aberdeen gained their first away point of the term by sharing in a draw of two goals each. The team played in vastly different fashion from Matt which to the Aberdeen spectators have been accustomed to at Pittodrie, and if a repeat the form in the future, points cannot fail to fall to their lot. So far as aggressiveness went, the result was a very fair reflex of the play, but when it is considered that Aberdeen played by far the better football, and, in addition to the upright saving Queen's Park on no fewer than four occasions, had what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate and well-taken goal scored off on the grounds of offside, a few minutes from time, they can honestly be said the Aberdeen well deserved the full quota of points.

ON THE REFEREE

The football referee is a much-maligned individual. In some cases the adverse criticisms are unwarranted, but by no stretch of imagination can it be said that Mr. J Binnie, Falkirk, who was the official in charge of Saturday's game was a success. At times both teams suffered badly from his doubtful decisions, but the climax was reached when he disallowed that last minute's goal, which would've won the match for Aberdeen. His judgment of offside and onside was badly at fault, and frequently he erred in allowing glaring fouls to go unchecked, while more than once he penalised the wrong side. His biggest blunder was expensive to Aberdeen, since it kept them from their first away victory of the season.

FOOTBALL AND MARKSMANSHIP

Considering the sodden state of the ground and the consequent heavy going, the football served up was much above the average, both teams at times moving with the freedom and precision too seldom seen in these days are well-matched sides. The finishing on both sides very, being exceedingly good at times and indifferent at other stages. In the case of Aberdeen, there was yet much to be desired. the change, however, was in the right direction, and it only requires a continuance of the improvement for the "All's well" signal to be hoisted at Pittodrie. The fact that two goals were scored and another disallowed, in addition to the post four times intervening and the Queen's custodian having to deal with several dangerous shots, speaks for itself. Queen's Park marksmanship was only in a slightly less pronounced degree. They, too, had the ball three times in the net, and it is a matter for debate whether the referee should not have disallowed the first goal they obtained and counted the second one, which he struck off on the grounds of offside.
The queen's park forwards and backs were the strongest parts of the team, the half-backs being often beaten. They were splendidly served by Brown in goal.
Aberdeen's standard. Moran positions than end apartments, but it can be said that the much-criticised attack was far ahead of what it has been for some time. Markey made a creditable first appearance. He showed great confidence, and but for his injury might have averted the second goal.

RUN OF THE GAME

When Queen's Park won the toss Aberdeen had to face a strong breeze, but they made good headway through the medium of the inside forwards. Walker was left with a good chance, but the holding ground spoilt his attempt to shoot. Cresswell on the Queen's Park right was splendidly served by Garvie, and Low and Hannah for a time were quite unable to stop the pair. The winger forced two corners in quick succession, but these were cleared. Paul went outside left vice A. Morton, and from a cross by him Garvie tested Markey with a good effort. For a time Queen's Park monopolised play, Cresswell in particular being prominent, but Colman was a great power in Aberdeen's defence. Main initiated some clever runs, but Queen's Park called the offside theory to their aid, and some well-conceived moves were nullified. After a good dribble and shot, Walker had the mortification of seeing the ball rebound off the Queen's Park upright.

FIRST GOAL

The first score came after 20 minutes. Paul got off, and crossing accurately to Cresswell, that player sent the diagonal pass to the goalmouth, and R. M. Morton, who had previously run forward, put the ball in the net. The Aberdeen players protested that the scorer was in an offside position - and he appeared to be - but the referee did not hesitate with his decision. The goal put a new fire to the Queen's Park attack, and the Aberdeen defence were sorely tested. Mackenzie just failed with a good effort, and while Markey saved from R. M. Morton, Garvie, Cresswell, and Paul sent behind. After some clever left-wing play, R. Morton again netted, and on this occasion the appeal for offside by the Aberdeen players was upheld, although in the scrimmage it appeared the legitimate enough goal.

ABERDEEN EQUALISE

Aberdeen again attacked, and walker and Main kept slipping the ball nicely up the centre and to the wings, but the home defence was sound. After a good cross by Scorgie, Soye cannoned the ball against the upright, and later a similar effort by Walker also hit the upright. Scorgie lost an excellent chance from a superb centre by Soye, but he made amends later when he sent over a beautiful ball, which Walker caught on the run and crashed into the net. It was the best goal of the match, and fully deserved. Play thereafter was keen until the interval.

WEAK FINISHING

With the wind in their favour in the second half, Aberdeen pinned Queen's Park to their own territory, and shaped as if they were to over-run the opposition. Soye sent in a terrific shot which struck the upright, and Brown held it has it rebounded. For a lengthy period Aberdeen attacked persistently and well, but it was when their advantage was most apparent that their weakness at close quarters was most pronounced. Main and McLeod carried through a subtle movement, but Main hesitated, and passed back when he might with advantage of shot. Queen's Park defended well, but their clearances only brought momentary respect, as Colman and Hannah, lying well up the field, kept returning the ball well to their forwards. Soye got across some lovely centres, and Low attempted to send home one of these, but shot badly. Queen's park showed wonderful recovery, and Markey saved finely from Cresswell, while Garvie also tested the Aberdeen custodian.

GOAL FOR GOAL

A clever midfield movement culminated in Aberdeen taking the lead. Main carried the ball nicely up the field, and then grew the opposition well McLeod got into position to receive a judicious pass and score, the ball going just beyond the reach of the outstretched goalkeeper. A Queen's Park rally followed, and Colman, Hannah, and Wyllie were prominent with sterling defensive play. Colman and poll had many exciting exchange's, but the Aberdeen player invariably triumphed. Ultimately, Queen's Park got level. Cresswell shot and Markey threw himself at the ball and brought off a great save, but was only able to deflect the ball, and the eager Queen's Park attack rushed forward in a body, this will put them through before Markey, who hurt his shoulder, could get up. Garvie almost gave Queens Park the lead, Markey just being able to turn a dangerous ball round the post.

PECULIAR DECISION

With a few minutes of the game to go, Main worked well down the field and swung the ball to Soye, who received it about 30 yards from the goal. The outside right cut in and ran the ball right on to the goal line, midway between the goal and a corner flag, where he beat Young and crossed the ball, thus being sent back, and McLeod, rushing, sent into the net. Queen's Park appealed that Soye was over the line before he centered, but the referee, by some peculiar reasoning, gave a free-kick for offside against Aberdeen, and placed the ball in the goal area to the left of the goal. The decision was the more peculiar because when he netted, McLeod was practically in front of the goal and Soye was much nearer the corner flag when he centered than the spot where the ball was placed. The decision was the subject of much discussion amongst the spectators, who at first thought the referee had ruled that Soye had run the ball behind, and had ordered a goal-kick, when it transpired later that it was really offside that ruled his decision. How he arrived at such a conclusion is unfathomable, as there could be no question about Soye's being onside when he first received possession, and none of the others in the team could have been offside when Soye parted with the ball, because on the goal line he was ahead of all his colleagues and sent it back, and no player can be offside if he is behind the ball when of his last played. It was a sensational finish to what was an exciting game, and the teams retired with the score - Queen's Park, 2; Aberdeen 2.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 29th December 1913