Better Balanced

Even short-handed the Dons looked a better-balanced team than Leith Athletic, although the home side came within an ace of snatching the equaliser in the last minute, when Robertson struck the upright. The loss of McCall upset the attack. Willie Strauss, Aberdeen's South African winger, filled the outside-left berth. He showed much of his old speed and dash and scored two goals. Taylor was drafted from the half-back line to lead the attack, and although he could not be described as a success he tried hard. The half-backs played well, with Lyon outstanding, and Graham and Cooper were a strong pair of backs. Leith Athletic were wholehearted, but their team-work was not of the best. Russell played hard in defence and Robertson, a hard-working inside-right, was most dangerous in attack.
In fourteen minutes Taylor gave Aberdeen the lead, but Robertson immediately equalised off a cross from Brodly. Shortly before the interval Strauss restored the Dons' lead from a pass from Taylor. Following this Bain netted with a grand shot from a cross from Donaldson, but the referee's whistle went for half-time as the ball was in flight.

Goalmouth Scramble

Strauss increased Aberdeen's lead from a penalty award seven minutes after the re-start, but eight minutes later Watson scored for Leith during a goalmouth scramble. Smart work by Taylor saw Donaldson get a fourth goal for Aberdeen, and in the closing minutes Watson fastened onto a faulty pass back by Cooper to get No. 3 for Leith.

Source: The Press & Journal, 13th October 1941