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| match report |
1923-24 fixture list |
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| Div 1 (Old) |
01/03/1924
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Aberdeen |
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1 - 2 |
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Airdrie |
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| Kick Off:
3:00 PM |
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Miller. |
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Murdoch, Sommerville |
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| Attendance: 5,000
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| Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen |
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| ABERDEEN'S POOR DISPLAY. AIRDRIE'S OPEN GAME GIVES THEM VICTORY |
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The Airdrieonians deserved their victory over Aberdeen at Aberdeen. They played a fine, forceful game without hesitancy, and both the right and left wingers, Murdoch and Somerville, were deservedly successful with well-judged, fast shots. It was the proper game for a heavy ground, from which snow had only been partially cleared. The Aberdeen players indulged in far too much finessing, and they were invariably deprived of the ball. Diddling opponents, it was demonstrated, was of little or no use in goal-getting. Their short-passing game was a failure. Miller was Aberdeen's only scorer, and he got his goal in the first half when the breeze gave Aberdeen an advantage. The Airdrieonians maintained their supremacy. The half-backs did good service in keeping the forwards well supplied with the ball.
Source: The Scotsman, 3rd March 1924
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In a somewhat scrappy game at Pittodrie on Saturday Airdrie made their position as runners-up to Rangers in the League more secure by beating the home eleven by the odd goal in three. They owed their victory chiefly to the fine understanding shown between the various members the team, but also to the fact that they adopted an open, swinging game, which kept their opponents on the jump. Seldom has the Aberdeen forward line given a more disjointed display at home, and their ineffectiveness was heightened by the fact that the wing halves, Davidson and MacLachlan, were both off form.
WEAK HOME FINISHING.
About 5000 spectators saw the kick off. Aberdeen had McBoyle and Dick on duty for Hutton and Jackson, while Airdrie also showed two changes, Murdoch and McPhail coming in for Reid and Gallacher. With the wind behind them Aberdeen were early on the aggressive, but there was a lack of sting about their finishing work, which did not augur for success. Their close passing game was not a paying one against such a spoiling, rushing defence as that of the visitors, and time and again Dick and McQueen or one of the halves took advantage of the lack of penetrative ability on the part of the home forwards to punt clear.
Paton was the live wire in the home front line, and time and again he drew the defence and slipped the ball either to Grant or Miller only to see either of them fail to clinch matters. One of the dapper inside right's drives gave Ewart a shake up, and it was from him that most of the home pressure emanated. Smith was in good form, and one his "expresses" was rather luckily headed out by Dick, while Ewart just saved another at the foot of the post. Dick (Aberdeen) had several good attempts to open the "Dons' " account, but it was left to Miller to atone for early failures by banging a forward pass from Rankin into the net without taking time to steady himself. Ewart was completely surprised by the clever manner in which the point was notched. Forsyth handled a minute later, and Airdrie were awarded a penalty. McQueen, who took the kick, sent the ball against Blackwell, who cleared the rebound. Before the interval Airdrie got the equaliser rather luckily, being awarded a foul near the penalty area, against which the crowd protested vigorously. Somerville sent across to Murdoch, who shot home through a crowd of players.
A DISJOINTED LINE.
Matters were entirely reversed in the second period. Airdrie kept pegging away with nice swinging passes, and ultimately the pressure told on the harassed home defence. McBoyle failed to keep a proper lookout on Somerville, and, when Murdoch lobbed the ball over the heads of the defenders, the outside left had no difficulty in beating Blackwell. From now on to the end It was practically all Airdrie's game, and only fine defensive work, in which Forsyth and Dick had the lion's share, kept them from adding to their total.
At times the home forwards broke away, but Miller failed to knit the line together, with the result that their disjointed moves were usually easily combated by the visiting defence, in which McQueen and McDougall were prominent. Ewart had a comparatively easy passage, and, apart from a great drive from Miller and shots by Smith and Paton, there was little danger to his charge. The end came with Airdrie worthy winners by 2 goals to 1.
The frostbound nature the pitch was certainly responsible for much of the bad football shown, but it is apparent that if the Scottish Cup is to find a resting place at Pittodrie a more thrusting policy will have to be adopted in front. Davidson and MacLachlan were weak, but their lapse is only a momentary one and need not be taken seriously.
Source: Press & Journal, 3rd March 1924
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Aberdeen Teamsheet:
Blackwell, McBoyle, Forsyth, Davidson, Dick, MacLachlan, Grant, Paton, Miller, Rankin, Smith.
Unused Subs:
Bookings: |
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Airdrie Teamsheet:
Ewart; Dick, McQueen; Preston, McDougall, Bennie; Murdoch, Russell, Howieson, McPhail, Somerville
Bookings: |
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| Referee: |
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Tom Dougray, Bellshill |
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