The Aberdeen 3 - 2 Orion

The Aberdeen and Orion teams were to have engaged in the first round of the Aberdeenshire Cup tie, at Pittodrie Park, but owing to the ground being covered in snow the match was declared off by the referee, and a friendly game took place instead. The teams were:- Bisset; O'Brien, Dackers; J. Mackie, Thomson, Robertson; Livingston, C. Mackie, Brash, Davidson, Fullerton. Orion: Ritchie; Thomson, Ross; Currie, Willox, Esplin; Thomson, Low, Brebner, Shiach.

The game opened in a sensational manner, O'Brien finding the net shortly after the opening of hostilities. Nettled at this early reverse, Orion woke up and played with great determination, Bisset having several hot shots to clear. Orion were awarded a penalty, and Willox easily scored. Once more on equal footing, both teams strove hard for the lead, Aberdeen having, if anything, the best of the exchanges. After a spell of end to end play, the Orion, by good passing tactics, got into close quarters, and Low shot strongly past Bisset. Aberdeen almost equalised a few minutes later, Ritchie just managing to get the ball away, at the expense of a corner. The whites continued to show superior combination, but their shooting, at times, left much to be desired.

On resuming, the Orion assumed the aggressive for a time, but seldom got into close quarters. Aberdeen next took up the running, and Ritchie had his work cut out for him for a time. Frommidfield, the Aberdeen forwards worked the ball towards the east goal, and, as the result of some beautiful passing, C. Mackie scored close in. Aberdeen now took the game in hand, and play ruled almost constantly in the Orion quarters, the Cattofield team having only an occasional look in. Fullerton had a fine run down the left wing by himself, and after ending Thomson, crossed to the centre. Ritchie got overpowered, but Esplin stepped in in the nick of time, and saved a certain goal. Again the home forwards got down, and C. Mackie made no mistake with his parting shot. Towards the close, Orion stove hard to equalise, but failed.

The Aberdeen Club Committee took a practical step in the direction of carrying out their determination to put down the habit of using obscene language on the field, which is far too prevelant, an individual who had repeatedly used bad language towards the players being summarily ejected from the ground.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 18th November 1901