Aberdeen 2 - 0 Hamilton

It was not until Willie Wylie opened the scoring after fifteen minutes of the second half had gone that Aberdeen demonstrated their superiority over the Hamilton Academicals at Aberdeen. Twelve thousand spectators saw a game in which play was interesting, if at times erratic, owing to the uncertain foothold afforded by a snow-bound pitch. There was no scoring in the first half, when both sets of defenders showed up well. Then Robertson initiated the movement from which Wylie scored. After that, Aberdeen were winners all over, the Academicals attack fizzling out against the home defence. Two minutes from the end Archibald beat a number of opponents to score a grand goal from about the 18 yard line. Hume was brilliant at back for Aberdeen, whose main strength, however, was in the middle line, where Robertson made a highly satisfactory debut as centre-half. Forward, Archibald was the star turn, but Connon and Wylie did much useful work. The Academicals were woefully weak in attack, where such as Thornley and Rowan were missed, and not a member of the line impressed. Hall was easily their best half-back, and Kerr and Little were always reliable at back.

Source: The Scotsman, 5th January 1920

Aberdeen did their supporters another good coming on Saturday, when, for the second time in three days, the finished on the winning side, following up their fine victory at Dundee by a 2-0 win over Hamilton Academicals at Pittodrie, and thereby avenging a 2-1 defeat sustained in the ducal town away back in September. It reflected the whole-hearted support accorded the Aberdeen club, and at the same time showed in the local public's appreciation of their team's recent great performance at Dundee, that fully 12,000 people turned out on a cold, chilly afternoon to see this match, where the opposition was supplied by the present wooden spoonists in the competition. On the proportionate placings of the teams in the League table this match looked good for Aberdeen, but ground conditions were such that the thing might have happened, and experience of the season has been the relative positions are an uncertain guide to form. The holding was treacherous, and on that account there were lots of inaccuracies in the play, but under the circumstances both elevens adapted themselves fairly successfully to the conditions, with the result that the play, if pat cheap at times, was not uninteresting. As the player old Aberdeen were well worth their win, and all things considered the margin in their favour truthfully indicates their superiority. Both teams took some time to accustom themselves to the conditions, but on such going parlour football could not be looked for. There were no goals at the interval, but in that. Aberdeen had come nearer the scoring, Connon on one occasion, after a fine solo run, having a shot well saved by White. One they're showing, however, the team's deserved to be equal. The Academicals at times showed in the nippier footwork, and there were some good combined runs by their right wing.

Archibald's Great Goal

Aberdeen settled down to win the match in the second half, and 14 minutes had gone when a grand bit of work by Robertson enabled Wylie to get possession 20 yards out, and he gave Aberdeen the lead with a low shot that was traveling away from the goalkeeper and glanced into the net off the upright. That goal was the deciding factor in the game, and although the Academicals frequently knocked at Aberdeen's defence there was little force behind their efforts, and, although the possibility was always there, they never really looked like equalising. In the later stages Aberdeen held the upper hand. The visitors' defence had been overworked, and Archibald on at least two occasions nullified his own good work by shooting past, when 2 minutes from the end he gave the crowd one of his characteristic efforts. Beating several opponents, he cut in from the wing and though hampered, he shot a brilliant goal from the 18 yards line, White being helpless to save. It is some time since such a satisfied crowd "squeezed" out of Pittodrie. It did not see brilliant football, but that goal of Archibald's went a long way to redeem a game against which the ground conditions conspired to deny the spectators their moments of exhilaration. It was not a goalkeeper's day, and neither Anderson nor White was overburdened with work, but the Aberdeen custodian had the lesser portion to account for. Both sets of defences showed up well, and considering the difficulties of turning and recovering came well out of the ordeal. This was especially so in the case of the Academicals' backs, whose resolute play averted a much heavier defeat. The outstanding players on the Aberdeen side were Hume, Robertson, MacLachlan, Archibald, Connon, and Wylie, and for the Academicals Kerr, Little, Hall, J. H. McLaughlin, and Scanlon.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 5th January 1920