Aberdeen 5 - 2 Heart of Midlothian

The Heart of Midlothian suffered defeat at Aberdeen,14,000 and 15,000 was that the Edinburgh club's display latterly was the most unsatisfactory they have given at Pittodrie for a number of years. Neither the backs nor the half-backs were playing their usual game, with the result that they left far too much to Kane, whose clever goalkeeping the crowd repeatedly cheered, especially when he saved a penalty kick given for an infringement by Cameron and taken by Hutton. It was a brilliant save. The Heart of Midlothian goalscorers were W. Wilson and his partner, Murphy. Within fifteen minutes from the opening of the scoring by Connon, Aberdeen had a lead of three goals to their credit, Wright adding the second, and the third, from MacLauchlan, found its way into the net in rebounding from one of the defenders. It was a lively match. Thomson and Fisher were Aberdeen's scorers in the second half.

Source: The Scotsman, 11th April 1921

There were goals galore at Pittodrie. Aberdeen 5; Hearts of Midlothian 2. 'Twas a glorious victory, and the 12,000 crowd enjoyed it. They saw the Aberdeen forwards with their best shooting boots on. If the three-goal margin flattered the winners just the least thing, the points were well earned. It was, apart from the goal scoring, a capital game to watch, hard and fast, with phases which brought the issue into the region of doubt, for after being three goals down. Hearts popped on two, and looked as if it was only a matter of time when they would be on equal terms, so splendid a recovery did they make. This was in the closing stages of the first half. A continuance of that form would have spelt danger for the Black and Gold brigade, but a great goal by Thomson a few minutes after the resumption seemed to settle the issue, for the Hearts' forwards never played the same football, and their defence fell off, although in the closing stages when Aberdeen had to rearrange their left wing and played without Wright the Hearts' forwards did make strenuous endeavour to break through.

Rapid Scoring - And a Revival.

Aberdeen had out the same eleven as had been doing well in preceding matches. Hearts were without Lochhead (centre) and Porter (left half), for whom Forbes and Cameron respectively deputised. Hearts won the toss, and chose to play with the wind behind them and to face a sun that was dazzling when not clouded. The opening stages were equal, with Birrell and Crossan prominent in meeting the eager home forwards. It looked if it was to be a hard, close game. With ten minutes gone, Connon scored the first goal, and two others followed in less than five minutes. The first point came off a pass by Flanaghan, Wright shot the second from a free kick almost on the penalty line for Flanaghan being illegitimately tumbled up, and the third followed a corner taken by Flanaghan, MacLachlan, from well out, lifting the ball into a crowded goal, and the ball rebounding off the Hearts' player past Kane, who had never seen it. This rate of scoring gave the game a picnic look for Aberdeen. But Hearts were not dismayed, though they might well have been. They buckled to the task with rare vim, and for a time completely took the game in hand. Backs cleared sturdily, the halves were here, there, and everywhere, completely holding up the home attack, and setting their own forwards moving in a fashion that kept Anderson and Co. well employed. Hearts had their reward. Forbes picking up a nice pass from Miller, eluded Hannah, and when George Anderson rushed out to he managed to slip the ball well beyond him, leaving Wilson to shoot into an open goal. Eight minutes from the Interval, and still continuing top dog, Hearts got another, Murphy accepting the ball from Wilson, who had carried the ball almost into the corner, and shooting a beauty from 20 yards out. Hearts were out for the equaliser, and it would have been no surprise had they got it. Once, with the defenders in a bit of a tangle, Wright passed back to Anderson, and the latter running out, just managed to hold the leather was "rushed." In clearing, Anderson carried ball too far, and a free kick was given. Off it Forbes took a 'cute pass, and shot over as the whistle blew for off-side. Fisher and Thomson had been prominent in Aberdeen raids. At the interval Aberdeen led 3-2.

Aberdeen's Plucky Finish

A fine goal by Thomson after a slip by Preston with the second half just started did not exactly knock Hearts out the running, but it gave Aberdeen a lot of confidence, and they never looked back. Their forwards worried the opposition like terriers, and the Maroon halves got no rest. Cameron brought down Connon inside the box, but Hutton shot into Kane's hands. This was after quarter of an hour. Wright had returned limping after having been off for five minutes as result of a tackle by Crossan, both players kicking the ball at the same time. The centre-half was of little use, and after a time, with Hutton also limping, there was a rearrangement. MacLachlan went centre-half, Thomson right-half, Flanaghan inside-left, Wright outside-left. Hearts' forwards repeated strove hard to reduce the leeway, and Forbes was repeatedly knocked off the ball when well placed. Once Hutton, after robbing Wilson kicked the ball into his own goal, and Anderson just managed to clear. Hearts were worth another point, but it was Aberdeen that got it a few minutes from the end. Middleton, who was too much for Cameron, diddled Birrell and gave to Fisher, who just as cleverly got round Crossan and easily beat Kane. It was all over after this. The whistle went before Sandy Grosert headed a corner from Middleton into the net.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 11th April 1921