Orion 1 - 1 The Aberdeen

Fine weather and a fine ground favoured the encounter of the Orion and Aberdeen in the semi-final of the Aberdeenshire Charity Cup at Cattofield last night. There was a good attendance. The sides were: Orion: Watson; Livingstone, Ross; Currie, Low, Wilson; McPherson, Grant, Barron, Kane, Hogg. Aberdeen: Ritchie; McConnochie, Mackie; Cameron, Henderson, Ritchie; Livingston, Mackay, Fullerton, Gray, Shiach. Referee Mr Wyllie, Queen's Park.

Aberdeen won the toss, but the Orion were first dangerous, Hogg centring strongly on several occasions. Ultimately the defence prevailed, and the Aberdeen for a time harassed the home defence, Mackay shooting over. Then the Orion, right burst away, Hogg and Kane being prominent. For a time Ritchie was bothered, put ultimately the Whites transferred. End to end play followed, in which both sets of forwards figured prominently. After an interchange, of long kicking by both back divisions, play again became fast. The homesters were next dangerous, a perfect fusillade following on Ritchie's charge. Feeling was now running high, Wilson being prominent for tactics of an objectionable nature, which he sometimes is apt to indulge in. Aberdeen were playing a good game, Mackie at back kicking and tackling in approved fashion. The forwards were also trying hard for goal, and at last their efforts were rewarded, Shiach completely beating Watson with a splendid oblique shot. Nettled at this reverse, the Stripes strove hard to equalise, but the Aberdeen still held their own, and half-time arrived with the score: Aberdeen 1, Orion 0.

On resuming, the Whites made tracks tor their opponents' goal, but they were quickly brought up, and a foul let the Stripes down. The Whites retaliated, and Wilson was cautioned for deliberately fouling Cameron. Play raged from end to end, but ultimately a dangerous attack by the Stripes was got rid of with difficulty. The Whites played a similar game at the other end a minute later, and Watson, hugging the ball on the ground, was almost bundled through his own goal. The equaliser came a minute later, the backs leaving the goal at the mercy of Grant. Ritchie ran out, and the ball trundled slowly through. This infused more spirit into the play, and the Stripes swarmed round Ritchie. From this point until the end play was on the whole equal, although the Orion towards the close pressed. A mishap to Barron necessitated a short stoppage, that player coming violently in contact with the upright in charging Ritchie. No more scoring took place, and a fast game ended: Aberdeen 1, Orion 1.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 28th April 1899

In their match the Aberdeen sprang a surprise on the Orion, and gladdened the hearts of the charity committee. Football is a fickle game, and its fickleness was never better illustrated than on Thursday. On form the Orion should have won, but the Whites nearly upset all calculations, and paved a way for themselves into the final. Both teams will get another chance to settle their differences, and may the best team win.

Source: Bon-Accord, 4th May 1899