The Aberdeen 0 - 1 Victoria United

These teams met at Pittodrie Park, Aberdeen, on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the Scottish Qualifying Cup ties, before a large turn¬out of spectators. A strong northerly gale was blowing down the field. The teams lined up follows: Aberdeen: Bisset; Mackie, Skene; Henderson, Wilson, Thomson; Livingston, Mackay, Fullerton, Gray, Shiach. Victoria United: Findlay; Thain, Marshall; Dundas, Craig, Thomson; McHardy, Watson, Burnett, Taylor, Ritchie. Referee Mr Riddell, Edinburgh. Victoria United won the toss, and Aberdeen kicked off against the wind and bore down on the Blues' quarters, but the backs cleared, and play was transferred to the other end of the field for a time. Notwithstanding the strong wind and sunshine in their faces, the Whites showed fine form, Shiach being prominent with some fine runs. The Blues now took up the running, and Bisset saved several dangerous shots. End to end play followed, but neither side managed to score, and the first half ended: Aberdeen, 0; Victoria United, 0.

On the restart, the Vics, by good passing tactics, gradually worked the ball into the home territory, but Bisset cleared. The Blues, however, were not to be denied, and McHardy at last found the net with a low shot, which the home custodian had no chance of saving. Nettled at this reverse, the Whites now strove strenuously to equalise, and had several times hard lines in not scoring. Once more the Vics got possession of the ball, and sent it towards the Aberdeen goal. Bisset ran out from his post, and carried the ball beyond the regulation number of feet, for which he was penalised by a foul. The Blues, however, made nothing of it. During the latter part of the second half, the game ruled almost entirely in the Vics territory, but Findlay kept his goal intact. No further scoring took place, and a keenly contested game ended in favour of the Blues.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 11th September 1899

After the opening display of the Aberdeen at Pittodrie against Dumbarton, word went forth that the motto of the club was to be "We fear no foe."
Saturday's defeat has fairly upset the Whites, who were confident of winning, and were looking forward to big gates in the future rounds. The home supporters have a deal of excuses to put forward for their team, but the only excuse that holds water, in our opinion, is defeat by a better team on the day's play, and it was the opinion of every unbiased spectator.
There was a terrible falling off in the play of the Whites from the previous Saturday, but it only goes to show that friendlies should never be taken seriously. Had Dumbarton been here in a cup-tie match the result would have been perhaps different. The Vics forwards never gave the defence a moment's rest, and the unfortunate accident to Wilson at the start crippled the home side severely. It is the general opinion in town that Wilson is not playing half such a good game for the Aberdeen as he did for Orion.
The Aberdeen had only two forwards, Shiach and Gray, the others were passengers. Bisset in goal was only so-so, but Skene's play at back was the admiration of all. Fairmer was distinctly off colour. The halfs were only fair.
For the Vics Findlay did valuable work, and may be said to have won the match for his side, but he got able assistance from his backs. Dundas was easily the best half on the field, closely followed by L. Thomson. Forward, the palm for good play must go to Taylor, who was in rare fettle, but we cannot close without a word for McHardy, who scored the only goal. It was a grand effort, a shot which no goalkeeper could have saved.

Source: Bon-Accord, 14th September 1899