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| match report |
1892-93 fixture list |
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| Friendly |
24/12/1892
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Victoria United |
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4 - 2 |
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Johnstone Wanderers |
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| Kick Off:
2:45 PM |
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Ferries, Sutherland, Ferries, ? |
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?, Aiken |
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| Attendance: 0
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| Venue: Wellington Bridge Grounds, Aberdeen |
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At Wellington Grounds the Victoria United had as their guests the Johnstone Wanderers, a Dundee combination. The teams were: Victoria United: Gray; Thomson and Ririe: Hickie, Stewart, and Ross; Turner, Benzie, Sutherland, Annand, and Ferries. Johnstone Wanderers: Coventry; Turnbull and Taylor; Innes, Longair, and Dye; Hewitt, Rattray, Aiken, Gray, and Gibson.
The game commenced nearly half-an-hour late, Aiken, for the visitors, kicking off. The home forwards at once secured the leather, and Coventry had an anxious moment. Turner, by an overhead kick, sent the ball behind. Another invasion by the Vics followed, and then Gray was called on. He saved cleverly, and a second attempt by the Dundonians sent the sphere just past the post. Still another attack by the visitors was even more exciting, but the homesters cleared their lines, and although their kicking was somewhat reckless, they succeeded in getting well up to the Wanderers' goal. Turner was looking dangerous when one of the Dundee men fouled the ball. From a well-placed kick Ferries smartly headed through and drew first blood for the Vics, an achievement which was loudly cheered. The game now become exceedingly fast. Gibson spoiled a fine chance for the Wanderers, but for some time after this the home defence was severely taxed. They responded gallantly, however, and kept their charge intact amid a period of intense excitement. Again the ground team broke away, Turner's tricky play on the right being particularly admired. A foul against one of the Dundonians for attempting to trip Turner looked very promising for the Vics, but nothing came of it, and end to end play, still very fast, ensued. Repeatedly the players swarmed round one or other of the goals, and encouraging shouts came from hundreds of throats, but the defence on both sides was impenetrable. Narrow escapes were frequent, however, and the excitement momentarily increased. While both sides had about an equal share of the play, the United were more accurate at goal mouth, and at length their efforts were rewarded. They had made several likely attacks in quick succession, and then from a well-judged throw in by Ross, the ball was smartly headed through by Sutherland. Renewing the attack the Vics again scored, Ferries doing the needful from a fine pass by Hickie. Once more the visitors roused themselves to a desperate effort, and at length they were successful, a high kick sending the ball through out of Gray's reach. Hard play followed to the end of the first half, and just before the whistle sounded Aiken scored a second point for the Wanderers, by a splendid shot. At half-time the game stood: Victoria United 3, Johnstone Wanderers 2.
After a very short interval play was resumed, and the ground team at once pressed hard, but failed to pierce the visitors' defence. Returning to the charge they again kept the Wanderers on tenterhooks, and subsequently forced a corner. From the kick matters looked exceedingly dangerous, but after some exciting play Hickie shot wide and sent the leather behind. For a time neither side could claim any great advantage. Both pressed hard, but the strong kicking of the back divisions continually changed the venue of operations. As in the first half, so in the second, the Victoria United were oftenest in evidence, and some warm work was witnessed near the Wanderers' goal. Shouts of alternate
encouragement and disappointment came from the spectators as attack after attack ended in failure. From a very hot siege a corner fell to the Vics, but Ferries sent the ball behind, and the Wanderers retaliated in vigorous fashion. However, their efforts were still unavailing. From this point there was little of outstanding interest in the game, and indeed the play latterly degenerated considerably. Towards the close of the game, which, it may be said, commenced when the sun was shining brightly and finished in moonlight, the Victoria United bore down with great fury on the Wanderers' citadel, and the ball was rushed through amid enthusiastic cheers. Shortly after this time was called, the final scores being: Victoria United 4, Johnstone Wanderers 2.
Source: Aberdeen Journal, 26th December 1892
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SHORT KICKS.
From the Wellington Grounds.
It was a terrible day of cold on Saturday, and It was painful in the extreme to witness the shiverings and shakings of the spectators at the Inches' match.
No one could stand at ease?some crouched into the cosy corners, others drove their hands below their "oxters" in wild despair, a few tried to make an impression by thumping their "pins" on the hard ground, while a little army contented themselves by perambulating up and down the outskirts of the crowd, which was a particularly good one for such a scourge of a day.
The Johnstone Wanderers were the visitors, and a right plucky game they played, though they were defeated by 3 to 2.
The Vics, again came up smiling, and it looks very much as if they were to carry an unbeaten record to the end of the season on their own pitch, against clubs in the north.
Gray is gaining a name to himself as a custodian. His work on Saturday could not be too highly recommended.
Ririe was superior to Thomson, his clean powerful returns being the leading feature of his play. The heavy weight, however, came in handy on many occasions.
The half-backs were a strong trio. There was little to choose between Stewart and Hickie though Stewart's was the most finished football while Ross was close up third.
The feature of the forward play was its individuality, there being scarcely a combined run during the progress of the match.
Turner was in his most aggressive mood, but his efforts were often nullified by the clever lad opposed to him.
Though Benzie didn't seem to fall to the low kick-and-rush style of play, he was often responsible for some distinctly useful work.
Sutherland doesn't get over the ground as fast as we would like, but otherwise improves, and on Saturday some of the best bits of individual play in he match was traceable to him.
Annand and Ferris, though prone to show their teeth rather often, worked with untiring energy throughout, and were always dangerous to Coventry, who had all his work cut out to hold them off.
We would hear throw out a hint to the forwards who are inclined to play to the crowd, namely - that instead of sticking to the ball when collared they should part to their companions, as it is ten chances to one, if they dodge and beat their nearest opponents, ere they get fairly underway and they are generally caught by another who has had time to get up, whereas if the ball had been passed in all likelihood it would have found its way to the goal.
The Wanderers are not to be sneezed at, and though defeated they were not in any way disgraced. Their attack was all right, the forwards combining nicely in the open, but when within measurable distance of Gray the seemed to lose their heads.
Longair of the east end was a host in himself. He is the beau ideal of a football are, and why he should have been shouted at by an ignorant portion of the crowd, goodness only knows. True, he was once suspended for rough play, but surely that is no reason why he should be yelled at and irritated into again committing himself.
The old saw, "give a dog a bad name," &c., seems to apply to the East Ender, but we trust the Aberdeen crowd at least will in future be a little more generous, not only to him, but to all players who have been unfortunate enough to fall under the ban of the referee, sometimes, too, through no fault of their own.
That he is an energetic, robust individual, no one who has seen him trundle the leather can have failed to observe, but at the same time he is a first class half-back, and instead of rousing the lion it should be the endeavour of the spectators at least to lend him and such as he every assistance in their endeavour to conduct themselves decently and in order.
Source: Bon-Accord, 31st December 1892
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Victoria United Teamsheet:
Gray; Thomson, Ririe: Hickie, Stewart, Ross; Turner, Benzie, Sutherland, Annand, Ferries
Bookings: |
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Johnstone Wanderers Teamsheet:
Coventry; Turnbull, Taylor; Innes, Longair, Dye; Hewitt, Rattray, Aiken, Gray, Gibson
Bookings: |
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| Referee: |
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