Forfar Athletic 1 - 3 The Aberdeen

This Northern League fixture was played at Station Park, Forfar, on Saturday. The teams were: Forfar: Soutar; Janes, Gibb; Macfarlane, Rodger, Scott; Prophet, Dixon, Boath, Taylor, A. Shepherd. Aberdeen: Bisset; Skene, Mackie; Cameron, Henderson, Thomson; Livingstone, MacKay, Fullerton, Gray, Shiach. Mr T. Deans, Dalkeith, was referee. Forfar kicked off with the sunshine in their faces. Aberdeen attacked, but Janes and Gibb kept the players in check. A shot was sent in by Prophet for Forfar, but it was ruled off-side. Aberdeen had the greater part of the play, but were unsuccessful in their attempts to score. Boath scored first for Forfar, but after some play, in which the latter maintained a grand defence, Fullerton equalised for Aberdeen. The teams were on equal terms when they crossed over.

The second half had been started for about five minutes when Fullerton again sent in a shot which Soutar failed to hold. Another followed from a smart rush by the Aberdeen forwards. Then the Forfar attacked and got a penalty kick, but Macfarlane made nothing of it. The game, which was a fast and exciting one, ended Aberdeen, 3; Forfar Athletic, 1.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 19th September 1899

Who would have thought that the Aberdeen would bring back two points from Forfar? Certainly the whites themselves were not over confident. The Forfar made a good few alterations on their team, Taylor their crack half-back playing outside left. The changes were most adversely commented on by the spectators - after the match.
The Aberdeen team played a bustling game, though at times the speed of their forwards often put them offside, and it was annoying to hear players shouting to one another not to touch the ball. It was the speed, however, and a good bit of luck, that won the game for Aberdeen.
The Forfar forwards were on the small side, and came in for good few knocks from the Aberdeen's halves, who are not by any means featherweights. The spectators could not help admiring the play of the two backs. They were head and shoulders above the Forfar pair. Allan Scott's play was described in a contemporary as "deficient in everything." .

Source: Bon-Accord, 21st September 1899