The Aberdeen 3 - 5 Dundee Wanderers

This Northern League fixture - the only senior match in town - created a great amount of interest owing to the strong play shown by the Dundee Wanderers this year, their victories including those against the Orion and the Dundee. The weather was glorious, if somewhat too sultry for football; and a large crowd surrounded the enclosure long before the kick-off. The teams lined up as follows: Aberdeen: Ritchie; McConnachie and J. Davidson; Mackie, Henderson, Thomson; Livingston, Cameron, Fullerton; Gray, Shiach. Dundee Wanderers: Roberts; Robertson, Ferguson (1); McCulloch, Crawford, Waterson; Durward, Graham, McDonald, Ferguson, McInroy, Referee: Mr Peter Simpson.
The Dundee Wanderers won the toss, and the Aberdeen kicked off. The start was of the most sensational description. The homesters bore down at once, and scored through Fullerton. On the restart, the Wanderers at once retaliated, and within a minute from the start Ritchie was also beaten, and the game stood one all. After recommencing, Aberdeen pressed their opponents hard, and Roberts was tested severely twice in succession. He averted danger, however, but the Whites were soon back, and the strangers' goal was subjected to a severe bombardment. After an interchange of long kicking, the Aberdeen again raided their opponents' quarters, but someone was always in the way. Then the visitors took up the running; but the finishing touches were weak, and the Whites again burst away, and Livingston, tricking the half-back, centred. Fullerton caught the pass, dodged the centre-half, but was fouled before he got in his shot. The resultant free kick looked dangerous, but eventually play settled down in midfield. The Whites played up with determination, and a corner resulted, which was landed well in goal by an overhead kick. Roberts fisted away, but the Whites returned to the charge, and again held their opponents. For a time the visitors had a look in, but the home defence was sound, and in a trice the Whites were swarming round Roberts again, Fullerton again trying that custodian with a good shot off a pass from Livingston, who, with Cameron, was playing a good passing game. The Wanderers again had a, temporary, break away, but the Whites again retaliated, and Roberts had to fist away a low shot. The Wanderers then wakened up, and from an attack off a free kick, the ball was sent through. Ritchie scooped it out, but the referee ordered the ball to the centre. From the restart, the Whites attacked with determination, and Roberts experienced an anxious time, the ball bobbing about in close proximity to the uprights. Livingston was again prominent for a good run, but after beating the back, he was pulled up, owing to a free kick being awarded against his opponent. The ball was well placed, and was all but through, but Roberts saved at the critical juncture, and play was transferred. The visit to the other end was brief, however, and Livingston was again prominent. The visitors' defence was sound, however, and from half-back to forward, the visitors transferred to the other end by a grand piece of combined play, and Graham beat Ritchie for the third time. End to end play followed, the Aberdeen right wing again being prominent for effective play. The ball never found the mark, however, and the Wanderers sped away to the other end. The defence - Davidson and Thomson especially - was sound, however, and Shiach instituted a run into the visitors' quarters. He charged the opposing half-back fairly over, and the latter retaliated with a trip, for which a free kick was awarded. Nothing came of it, and end-to-end play, in which fouls were frequent, resulted. The Wanderers, then attacked with determination, and the ball struck the cross-bar, then the upright, and bounded into play. No more scoring resulted in the first half.

On resuming, the visitors at once showed that they meant business, and, playing up the incline, they showed a great improvement. In the first few minutes they instituted a number of well-planned attacks, and the game was not many minutes old when Ritchie was beaten for the fourth time. The Whites, on the other hand, fell away in their play, which was ragged, haphazard, if not half-hearted, compared with that of their opponents, and Ritchie was soon beaten for the fifth time by a low lightning shot from the foot of Durward. Stung by their reverses, the homesters now infused more dash, but scarcely less method, into their attack, there being a lack of combination in efforts, and at length, after a fierce onslaught, Livingston increased their score to 2. From the restart, encouraged by the cries of their supporters, they again made tracks for the visitors' goal, and after an exciting scrimmage, close in, the ball was bundled through for the third time. Play was now of a more desultory nature, but such as it was, the homesters were by no means having the worst of it, and Roberts charge was several times threatened. After a fruitless corner, Roberts was severely subjected to a severe bombardment. The ball was got away, but the Whites were soon back again, and Roberts just managed to scoop out a long shot after getting on his knees. A few seconds later, a free kick again let the homesters down, and the fusillade was resumed. The Wanderers were still on the defensive, and except a few spasmodic attacks from long kicking, were completely held by their opponents for a space of ten minutes. The ball went everywhere but between the uprights, however, and Roberts maintained a sound defence, and again and again cleared from a crowd of opponents. The Whites were playing a winning game, however, but Cameron distinguished himself by sending the ball into the clouds with a clear goal in front. The Wanderers were still in difficulties, however, and their goal underwent some miraculous escapes, Ritchie having a sinecure. Then the strangers wakened up, and one of their for¬wards found himself in front of Ritchie with no one to interfere. The parting shot went straight at that player, who kicked away, and the Whites again took up the running. The homesters failed miserably at the goal mouth, and threw away innumerable chances, with the result that they failed to further reduce their lead.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 5th September 1898

The opening match on Central Park since Aberdeen removed from Chanonry was attended by a very large crowd and a game, which was most exciting right up to the last kick, was witnessed. The Whites kicked off, and before one could wink Fullarton had scored. They did not retain the lead for any time, Ritchie being beaten before the game had gone much further. Aberdeen, who were playing up hill, pressed strongly, but could not score another point. Livingston and Cameron on the right were placing the ball finely, all to no purpose, for an opening could not he got. Aberdeen had decidedly hard lines with the second goal scored against them. Ritchie scooped the ball out but the referee gave a goal, contending that the ball was over the line. Ere half-time Wanderers got a third point. On resuming it was thought Aberdeen would soon make up the leeway of two goals and place the first points to their credit. Their play was very good up the incline, and their supporters were in the best of humour thinking the Whites had an easy task before them. This idea was soon knocked on the head, for the second half was not minutes old when Ritchie failed to hold a fourth goal. Number five came soon after, and it was only then that the homesters infused anything like life into their play. Livingston got a second for his side and seconds after a third was bundled through. Time and again the ball was shot for goal, but it went anywhere but through, striking the post or just skimming over.
It must be acknowledged Aberdeen luck was wretched. Had they got a fourth point it is hard to say how the game would have gone. Right on to the finish the Whites did all the pressing but score they could not, and they have yet to get their first points. The Aberdeen team as a whole played much better uphill. Too much passing was indulged in when playing down, while a banging game would have paid. Livingston was in great form. Fullerton is a good centre. The opening goal was very smartly scored by him. The left wing went in for sand-dancing which does not pay. The halves were all good but might follow up more. We have seen the backs play much better, while Ritchie was off colour in goal. It must have been gratifying to the committee that the gate was so large, the amount taken being £49 19s 3d. The ground was in wonderfully good condition. Our old friend, the stand, has been taken over minus the cover, while the trestles are distributed round the unreserved part the same as at Chanonry. We are assured that a press box is to be erected as early as possible, for which we will be truly thankful. We conclude by wishing Aberdeen every success in their new quarters, and trust the good old Whites will prosper as of old. In Corbet's hands they are quite safe.

Source: Bon-Accord, 8th September 1898