The Vics won the toss, and elected to kick to the west goal. Forsyth kicked off for the Stripes, and were immediately in evidence, and Macfarlane and Fraser went down the field, but the kick went behind. They again returned, but Ririe saved, and then the Vics made westwards. With the aid of a foul, they got within distance of the Orion goal, but nothing could be done with the back defence of Foote and Mackay, and the leather again found its way eastwards. A corner almost immediately fell to the Orion, but the ball, although well placed, went across the goal mouth. The Vics quickly retaliated, and Turner had a smart run, but the ball went into touch. The throw was well put in, and by gradual work the ball was taken to the neighbourhood of Edwards, but ultimately went behind. The Orion then pressed, and going down the field in fine style menaced Gray, but again the leather went behind the posts. The United quickly returned the ball to mid-field, but the ball was smartly checked, and the Orion quartette made off with the leather. Ririe checked and his compeers were soon careering up the field. A stinging shot was sent in to Edwards, but Mackay received the leather in splendid style, and sent it well out. A rush down the field was met with cheers, but the United gathered themselves together and made for the west citadel. Gloag and Leggat, however, acting in concert, speedily retaliated on their opponents, and were making splendid headway when Anderson put a stop to the play by sending the ball into touch.
A bit of a struggle took place near the goal line, and the ball being well sent out, Wight had a shot at goal, but his attempt was wild and went past. Starting away again the United were quickly round Edwards, but some fine head work by the backs gave relief for a few minutes. The Blues, however, were soon back again and forced Edwards to fist out, which he smartly did. A foul then fell to the United, and this was quickly followed by another to the Orion, which had the effect of transferring the scene of the play to mid-field. A throw-in by the Orion in neutral territory was well followed up, but Ririe saved, and Turner, taking charge of the sphere, carried it up the entire length of his wing. A corner resulted, but although the kick was well disposed of the defence was too strong to allow the Blues to make anything tangible of it. By dint of several brilliant passes the Orion piloted down the field, and for a time things looked dangerous for the Vics. Gray was on the alert, however, and having fisted out the ball he left it to his men to clear the ground. This was well carried out by Ririe, who was playing a strong game. Visits were quickly paid to both goals, but the custodians were always on the alert. Edwards kept out one particularly hot shot, and immediately afterwards had to take a goal kick. But this was not all. Again the Blues were round Edwards, and Ferries sent a pass to Turner, but that player was just a second too late, and allowed Edwards to clear his lines. Again the Orion charged eastwards, but nothing came of the parting shot. Up to this point the game had been pretty free from fouls, but now several fell in succession to both teams. Still the play continued fast, and once again did the Central Park representatives menace the United goal, but relief was given by a corner. Nothing resulted, and Turner carried the ball to mid-field. From thence the play was transferred to the vicinity of the Orion goal, but a passage could not be found, and before long the Stripes were harassing the Wellington Ground men.
Ririe and Stewart did all they could to drive back their opponents, but the Orion were playing well together, and Leggat was all but successful in putting on the first goal. A behind was the only result however. The Orion still pressed, but it seemed as if nothing could pierce the defence of the Blues. It was lowered at last, however. Shot after shot was sent in, but none could take effect until Gray slipped and fell, and while Macfarlane saw that he could do nothing, Fraser sent the leather spinning between the posts amid deafening cheers. The echoes had hardly died away among the trees when the Blues were up and at Edwards, and, after peppering at the custodian for a few seconds, the ball was sent through by Sutherland before one could say "Jack Robertson." This smart equalising of the scores sent the United supporters almost mad with delight, and they cheered on their men for several minutes. The Orion again severely pressed Gray, but the defence was splendid, and the scrimmage ended in nothing more serious than a behind. In a twinkling the Blues assumed the aggressive. After a few shots they were repulsed, and the Orion had their position strengthened by securing a couple of foul kicks in front of the Victoria goal. Gray fisted out finely, and before many seconds had elapsed, Turner and Benzie made off with the sphere. The ball went behind, and Edwards, by the goal kick, removed the scene of hostilities to mid-field. Just before half time it appeared as if nothing could have prevented the Blues from adding a goal to their score. They swarmed round the devoted Edwards, and compelled him to fist out time after time. On one occasion he left his charge and indulged in the luxury of a short run on his own account; but he almost paid for his temerity with the fall of his charge. He had scarcely returned to his post when the blues were down upon him and again forced him to fist out. He got the ball in his arms, but Annand and Ferries combined brought him to the ground. However, he held on to the ball with all the tenacity of a bull dog, and at last, amid the loud cheers of his friends, managed to save a goal at the expense of a corner. Nothing resulted, however, and the whistle blew with the score: Victoria United 1, Orion 1.

Sutherland started the second period. A look-in by the Vics, was quickly followed by a run up the field on the part of the Blues, and on one or two occasions it was difficult to see how the defenders could maintain their stand. Time and again Edwards, and Foote, and Mackay put out the ball, but as often was it returned until, at length Turner, with more success than his associates, found an opening, and sent the ball home amid the deafening cheers of the spectators. Elevated with this success, the Vics, again got well down, but Mackay gave relief with a strong kick, which had the effect of transferring play to the other end, where a corner fell to the Central Park lads. Nothing came of it, however, and play for a moment became open, but only for a moment, for soon Gray had to fist out. He did it, however, with great cleverness, and then the United went to the east goal, where Ferries disposed of a corner kick. The result was a stiff scrimmage, but the play quickly slackened, and the Stripes had a short run. Again the ball was returned, and the excitement was raised to white heat by the play of the next few minutes. The defenders were compelled to play all they knew in order to save their charge from disaster, and it was only by the skin of their teeth that they managed to rout their assailants. With a few strong kicks the Central Park men made progress up field, and when within shooting distance they had a try at the Blues' citadel. A corner fell to them, but, although it was well placed, nothing resulted. Shortly afterwards a foul fell to the Stripes near their opponents' goal, but Ferries getting hold of the ball took it into mid field. It was quickly returned, however, but again did the left of the Blues make off to the east. Mackay made a mess of his attempt to score, and ultimately the ball found its way into touch.

After some give and take play the game was interrupted for a minute on account of a slight accident to Baird, but it was soon resumed. A foul kick was got by the Stripes, and with the greatest alacrity they followed up the ball, the result being almost fatal to the United, the ball grazing one of the uprights. From the goal-kick, the Blues went off with all the speed they were capable of, and Turner, after some brilliant tactics, passed on the sphere to Annand, who put on goal number three. From the kick off the Orion went away as if they meant business, but they were soon pulled up, only to return to the charge with redoubled speed. Gray was forced to concede a corner, which was splendidly placed, and Fraser, taking up the centre, sent the leather past Gray for the second time. After some give and take play it appeared as if the Orion were going to repeat the exploit, but the custodian was alive to his duty, and kept his goal intact. Play was then transferred to the other end of the field, but it quickly was taken to the United quarters, where, however, Ririe, by a telling kick, checked the attack. But the ball went into touch, and the outcome was a corner. Gray fisted out well, and some give-and-take play followed. Stewart had an opportunity of shooting, but the distance was misjudged, and the ball went spinning out of the arena. A foul off Annand gave the Stripes relief at a critical point, but the Blues for some seconds continued to press and Edwards had plenty to do. Within a few minutes a foul against the Orion allowed the Vics to get round the east goal but the result was nil. A few minutes afterwards Forsyth was sharply pulled up and warned by the referee for seizing Stewart and endeavouring to strike him. As the game neared the close the excitement intensified to an extraordinary degree, and the play became even faster than ). The ball travelled from end to end of the field with great rapidity, but nothing further was scored, and a grand game ended: Victoria United 3. Orion 2.

PRESENTATION OF THE CUP

In the evening the two teams were entertained at supper in the Waverley Hotel by the Aberdeenshire Football Association. Mr Litster, president of the association, occupied the chair, and handed over the cup to the winners. In a short speech he congratulated the Victoria United or their success, and expressed the hope that the club would long continue to prosper. (Applause.) The runners-up, he stated, had nothing to be ashamed of in being beaten (applause) for it would have been hard for anyone to predict up till the very end of the game which team was to carry off the cup. (Loud applause.)
He then counselled the players against rough play. Footballers were public men, and had not only their own reputations to sustain, but had also to keep up the credit of their team; and just as individual members conducted themselves so would the whole team be judged. (Applause.) He was proud to say that nothing offensive had been seen that afternoon, and it was to the credit of the teams that after the conflict they could meet at the social board in friendly converse. (Applause.) He then presented the cup, which was accepted on behalf of the victors by Mr R. Durward, president of the club. Each member of both teams was then presented with a handsome medal. The proceedings terminated with votes of thanks to Mr Johnston the referee at the match, and the chairman for presiding.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 27th February 1893

The Players.

Source: Bon-Accord, 4th March 1893