Aberdeen 2 - 0 Dundee

Scottish League, at Pittodrie yesterday, before 12,000. The game was played in a drenching rain. Aberdeen held the upper hand throughout, and that despite the fact that they were without Cail (inside right), who had to be carried off with knee trouble five minutes after the interval. Connan opened the scoring for Aberdeen after thirty minutes, when he beat two opponents and crashed the ball past Watson. The other goal was a characteristic effort by Hutton eight minutes from the end. He got possession near midfield, and, after cleverly beating Nicol, Rait, and Fleming, shot the ball past Watson, who came out to meet him. Aberdeen easily held the whip hand, and Dundee were weak at inside forward .

Source: The Scotsman, 23rd September 1919

Aberdeen were in fine form of Pittodrie yesterday, when fully 12,000 people saw them out play and decisively beat their great Dundee the rivals by 2 goals to 0 in a Scottish League match. The game was played in a downpour of rain, and no better testimony to the popularity of the game could be found than in the fact that the spectators bravely weathered the elements and remained to see the end of what was an interesting and under the circumstances a good game.
The Aberdeen victory was the more meritorious in that the side were handicapped in the second half to the absence of Cail, inside right, who had a recurrence of knee trouble, and had to be carried off 5 minutes after the interval. The goals that won the match were characteristically brilliant individual efforts, and aroused tremendous enthusiasm amongst the spectators. Connon, the home centre forward, opened the scoring after 30 minutes. He got possession inside the penalty area, the cleverly beat Rait, and shouldering off Fleming, found the net with a hard drive which went through after striking the underside of the crossbar. The other goal, taken by Hutton, came 8 minutes from the end, and it was one of the best seen on the ground for many a day. Getting possession just short of midfield in succession he cleverly beat Nichol, Rait, and Fleming, and crash the ball passed Watson who was running out to intercept him.
The first half brought out the sterling qualities of both defences and although the forwards had some pretty runs the rear divisions held the upper hand. Both goalkeepers were well tested, but they were never at fault. For Dundee Brown and Troup both missed favourable chances of scoring, the centre sending wide of an empty goal when Anderson had gone out to meet him, and the outside left failing at the rebound off the goalkeeper after Henderson and shot hard and true. The Dundee goal, too, was not without its spells of danger, and Watson had often to leave his charge and either pick up or punch clear and his backs had been beaten. Aberdeen took the upper hand about 5 minutes before: and opened the scoring. At that time the home half-backs had the opposing attack in a firm grip - a great that was never relaxed. Henderson and Troup, the extreme winners of the visitors, were frequently dangerous, but their crosses seldom reached their inside men, and even when they did so well did the home defence cover each other up that no impression could be made.

The Turning Point

After the unfortunate retirement of Cail, the game turned almost entirely in favour of Aberdeen, and the forwards and half-backs brought strong pressure to bear on the visitors, who, except for spasmodic bursts by their wingers, were confined to the defensive, and an addition to the goal total was merited and overdue before Hutton finished the scoring with his brilliant goal. The game was always strenuous, and, considering the wretched conditions and the heavy, greasy ball, the play was wonderfully good. Aberdeen gave their best display of the season, and nowhere was the improvement more welcome or pronounced and in the forward line. In the latter stages the referee's whistle was a good tale in evidence, but generally it was a clean, hard-contested game, with the owners going where the plate merited.

A Forward Improvement

Aberdeen were strong in all departments from goal to centre-forward. Anderson showed a fine form he had been displaying in recent games. Hume mark his reappearance by giving a characteristically a sound display, and there was not a better back on the field, while he had a good partner in McRobbie. The half-backs, once they settled down, all played well, and Brewster the specially was outstanding. He never relaxed his vigilance on the visiting centre-forward, and nearly all the crosses of the Dundee wingers came to grief as the result of his headwork. McLaughlin was an admirable combination of a half-back and forward, his win left nothing to be desired. Wright was troubled by the greasy ball at the outset, but the longer the game lasted the better he played. All the forwards played finely against a set of spoilers, and they're worth is scarcely represented by the two individual goals that were scored. In the line there was more understanding that has been shown this season, and the fact was directly attributable to the changed formation. Hutton and Archibald, with McLaughlin behind, supplied the best combination on the field. The outside left played very effectively, and he got every assistance, albeit he still showed a tendency to centre behind his colleagues. Hutton was a tremendous worker, and a clever one, and his goal capped a whole-hearted display. Connon played well in the central position, and, besides opening out the play on occasion, was always a source of concern to the opposing defence. Up to the time of his retiral, Cail was giving of his best, as some of his grand passes were a treat to watch. Wilson proved to be the best outside right the club has tried this season, and further experience should bring him to maturity.
Dundee had a clever goalkeeper and Watson, and, like Anderson, he showed fine anticipation and sureness on such occasions as he had to leave his charge to avert disaster. Rait was the better back, and while the half-backs excelled in breaking up tactics, it did not give much assistance to their forwards, although R. Macdonald showed up well in both departments. Henderson and Troup on the extreme wings were the best forwards, but they were badly supported by the inside men, who were easily dispossessed and seldom showed shooting ability. As the result of the match Aberdeen's two records of having won all their games at Pittodrie and having scored in every game this season remain undisturbed.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 23rd September 1919