21/12/1946
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Aberdeen |
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3 - 1 |
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Motherwell |
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| Kick Off:
2:15 PM |
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Hume 40, Waldron 60, Waldron 61. |
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Joe Johnston (75) |
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| Attendance: 15,000
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| Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen |
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| Dons Cut Out The frills |
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 ABERDEEN beat Motherwell at Pittodrie more easily than 3-1 score suggests. They played high-powered combined football and were always a dangerous striking force.
Thev were an improved team and the reason is not difficult to find. Too often I have seen them try to hypnotise the defence their intricate pattern-weaving.
On Saturday they cut out a lot the frills. They made the ball do most of the work. Result was they made ground quickly and increased the difficulties of Paton and his fellow defenders This is the type of play that wins matches.
I haven't forgotten that Hunie beat the whistle from a slip from Hamilton, to score and prevent the first half ending a goal-less draw, but if ever a team was unlucky that team was Aberdeen in the first period.
Dame Fortune must have smiled sardonically on several occasions, particularly when Hamilton headed against the upright with the 'keeper beaten and again when he almost shattered the crossbar frdm a slip from Waldron.
I fancy the Motherwell 'keeper would be the first to admit that luck was with him on more than one occasion, but I still think he put up a grand show.
There was an ironic touch about fact that Willie Cooper was off having a head injury attendtd to when the Dons snapped their two second-half goals. Waldron got both, and within the space of two minutes.
This was the first time the Englishman had been on the target since he scored against Hearts on November 23. He took his goals well against Motherwell.
A neat through-the-middle slip by Harris saw Waldron evade Paton. The 'keeper came out in an effort to prevent disaster, but with a cute flick the Dons' leader sent the ball past Johnston just inside the post.
Aberdeen's third goal was a combined effort, Harris got the ball over from the right, and Hamilton headed it on for Waldron to find the net with his left foot.
There was slackness in the Aberdeen defence when the Lanarkshire team scored in half an hour. Johnstone came out of his goal to partially clear, and before he could get back Johnston (Motherwell) had the ball in the net. The left-winger was lying completely unmarked.
Veteran Willie Cooper emerged from the game the best back of the four, and this despite the fact that his injury necessitated two stitehes being inserted above his eye.
Once again I mark Hamilton down as the best forward. The inside-right was always in the thick of the fray, and initiated many of the attacks. He was unlncky not to score.
McCall was smart and elusive on the wing, but opinion is divided whether he is as valuable there as at inside forward. Hume played his part and took his goal well.
Harris improved after a mediocre first half, and Waldron deserves a pat on the back for his smartly-taken goals.
This can be said for Motherwell - they fought all the way. Their defence, as usual, adopted first-time tactics. Johnston in goal was the hero, and Shaw played well at left back. Paton has lost some of his speed, and I thought McLeod was their best half-back.
The attack could make ground quickly, but were surprisingly inept at close quarters. Humphries and Watson impressed most.
Source: Press & Journal, 23rd December 1946
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 Ernie Waldron two goals in the match turned out to be his last for the Dons.
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Aberdeen Teamsheet:
Johnstone, Cooper, McKenna, McLaughlin, Dunlop, Taylor, Harris, Hamilton, Waldron, Hume, McCall.
Unused Subs:
Bookings: |
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Motherwell Teamsheet:
Johnstone; Kilmarnock, Shaw; McLeod, Paton, Redpath; Humphries, Watson, Reid, Bremner, Joe Johnston
Bookings: |
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| Referee: |
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J. M. Martin, Blairgowrie |
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