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| match report |
1894-95 fixture list |
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| Friendly |
06/05/1895
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Victoria United |
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2 - 9 |
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Hibernian |
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| Kick Off:
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Forsyth, Ritchie |
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Smith, Jim Ririe (o.g.), Smith, Murray, Martin, Martin, Martin, Smith, Martin |
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| Attendance: 5,000
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| Venue: Victoria Bridge, Aberdeen |
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An enormous crowd, estimated at over 5000, assembled at the Victoria Bridge Grounds yesterday afternoon to witness a match, between the celebrated Hibernians, of Edinburgh, and the Victoria United. On all hands the display made by the Vics on Saturday night in their struggle with the Queen's Park is regarded as one of the finest ever made by a local team, and in view of that circumstance, and the fact that the Edinburgh combination thrashed the Benton on the same day to the tune of 9 to 1, the greatest possible interest was manifested in yesterday's game. From the spectators' point of view, the weather could not have been improved upon, but the heat must have told heavily on the players. Except that Easton took the place of Wingrove in the half-back division, the Victoria players were the same with those who opened the eyes, of the veteran Glasgow club, namely - Insch; Anderson, Ririe; Easton, Ririe, Annand; G. Macfarlane, A. Macfarlane, Forsyth, Clark, Ritchie. Then, with the exception of the goalkeeper, a back, and a forward, the strangers were fully represented as follows - Cameron; Neill, Macfarlane; Breslin, Murphy, Smith; Murray, Kennedy, Martin, Smith, Tullin. Mr Peter Simpson was referee.
Losing the toss, the home team set the ball rolling against a gentle south-westerly breeze. Both elevens appeared to be in good trim, for the contest. For a considerable period play was fairly well balanced, although the strangers were the more assertive. A capital exhibition was given on either side, and the play was characterised by great dash and spirit. Sometimes one team had the advantage, sometimes the other, but first blood was not drawn until about half an hour had elapsed. Murray, the strangers' outside right, who was playing a rattling good game, centred in line with the Vics' goal, and Smith, with the rarest of luck, getting hold of the leather had no difficulty in banging it into the net. Five minutes later, a great misfortune befell the home team. Jim Ririe, in endeavouring, as it seemed unnecessarily, to return the ball, which would have rolled harmlessly behind, misjudged his kick, and gave the Hibs the advantage of a corner, and on Tullis centring, Ririe unfortunately headed the ball through, thus notching the second goal for his opponent'. A most exciting bit of play followed. A foul against the Hibs, in the vicinity of their citadel resulted in the concession of a corner to the Vics. Clark, who had been distinguishing himself by a series of brilliant runs, got possession, and sent in a stinging shot, which just missed the net. Another corner to the homesters followed, but the ball ultimately went behind, and the strangers managed to relieve the pressure. Half-time arrived with the score unaltered: Hibs 2: Vics 0.
On the resumption of play, the Vics, went away with a rush. The elder Macfarlane and Clark, by skilful manipulation, dashed through the opposing lines, but were unable to elude the vigilance of Cameron at goal. This operation having been repeated, the Hibs' forwards, getting possession, attacked with great impetuosity, and for a time the homesters' goal was in extreme jeopardy; but a raking shot by Martin went over the bar, and the danger, for a time at least, was over. The Vics, now returned to the charge, and maintained a strong and persistent pressure until Martin, overcoming all obstacles, transferred operations to the Vics' territory. On being tackled by Ririe and Anderson, Martin sent the ball to Murray on the right, and that active player passed to Smith, who beat Insch, and thus lowered the Vics' colours for the third time. Two or three minutes afterwards, in quick succession, and to the no small surprise and disappointment of the crowd, the Hibs, through the instrumentality of Murray and Martin respectively, registered their fourth and fifth points. At this stage there seemed to be a want of cohesion in the home ranks, but their repeated reverses caused them to consolidate their strength, and though the odds were enormously against them, they did not seem to lose hope or courage. The home forwards, with remarkable spirit, invaded their opponents' territory, carrying everything before them; and when at last Forsyth scored a really magnificent goal the wildest enthusiasm prevailed among the onlookers, who yelled themselves hoarse in their frantic delight. Play was now of the most exciting description. Flushed with their victory, the Vics again gallantly led the attack, and fought with remarkable pluck and vigour. Shot after shot was directed towards the strangers' goal, and on one occasion especially the elder Macfarlane, who sent in a beauty, experienced exceedingly hard lines in failing to score. Immediately afterwards the Vics were conceded two corners, but the splendid defence opposed to them proved impregnable to all their efforts. By and by a change in the tide of affairs occurred. Jaded by their strenuous exertions, the homesters fell away from their usual form, and the visitors could almost do what they liked with the ball. Time and again the local ranks were broken, and in rapid succession Martin scored the sixth and seventh goals for his side, while almost immediately afterwards Smith, the inside left player, added the eighth. With the end of the game fast approaching, all hope of the local team making even something of a respectable show in the matter of goal-getting against their opponents was now abandoned; but at the eleventh hour, so to speak, the Blues threw off the listlessness with which for some time their play was characterised, and took up the running with an extraordinary enthusiasm which must have surprised their opponents. After repeated charges, in course of which hard lines were, more than once experienced, they at last obtained their reward. An exciting struggle ended in Macfarlane centring from the right, and Ritchie getting hold, sent in a sweeping shot, which Cameron was unable to negotiate. Deafening cheers greeted the performance. In a. trice, however, this was followed by Martin notching one for the visitors, and at the close the Victoria. United stood beaten by 9 goals to 2.
Source: Aberdeen Journal, 7th May 1898
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Victoria United Teamsheet:
Insch; Anderson, Ririe; Easton, Ririe, Annand; G. Macfarlane, A. Macfarlane, Forsyth, Clark, Ritchie
Bookings: |
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Hibernian Teamsheet:
Cameron; Neill, Macfarlane; Breslin, Murphy, Smith; Murray, Kennedy, Martin, Smith, Tullin
Bookings: |
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| Referee: |
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Mr. Peter Simpson, Victoria United |
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