Motherwell 4 - 0 Aberdeen

Following a fairly long period of immunity from defeat, Aberdeen came down heavily at Fir Park, where Motherwell triumphed by 4 goals to 0. Ferguson, the home centre-forward, had all four goals, and his feat enabled him to create a record for the number of goals scored by a Scottish or English League player in one season. He has now 40 to his credit, the previous best being by Reid (Rangers), before the war. On this occasion Aberdeen had to take the field without Wright, at centre-half and he was missed both in defence and attack. Eight thousand saw the game which was lost and won in the first 15 minutes, during which the Motherwell forwards were Irresistible, and Ferguson scored a couple of goals. The Aberdeen backs were slow and indecisive in their clearances, and all three were breakers rather than and placers. Middleton and Flanaghan, on the Aberdeen flanks, got through quite a good afternoon's work, which was thrown away through the inexperience of Fisher. The Motherwell forwards were very deadly, and Ferguson's aptitude in taking the chances presented was evident from his four goals. The Motherwell defenders were also on a comparison the more reliable lot, their three half-backs being prominent throughout. Aberdeen gave of their best in the closing stage of the first half and for a spell after restarting, and taking the play as a whole, they hardly deserved to be beaten by such a wide margin. After Motherwell got four goals in front they inclined to gallery work, and Aberdeen were mainly on the defensive.

Game in Brief.

Aberdeen made a bad beginning, and were a goal down in three minutes, Ferguson converting a cross from Ferrier. Aberdeen made ground through long passing, but on the two occasions when Fisher got through he was given offside. Fisher nearly made amends with a brilliant solo run right up to Rundell's charge, but finished badly. Grosert allowed Ferrier too much scope, with the result that he got across numerous crosses, from one of which Ferguson scored a second goal for Motherwell. Middleton was the man who mattered in Aberdeen's attack, but his crosses went abegging. Aberdeen came into the game after the first quarter, and Connon missed a great chance to make siccar. Aberdeen's luck was out when Flanaghan was brought down just outside the penalty area, as MacLachlan just failed to convert the free kick. The forward styles were dissimilar, the Motherwell lot making progress through close passing, and it paid better than Aberdeen's wider method, as Ferguson scored a third goal on the half hour. Aberdeen hardly deserved to be three goals down on play, which was fast and interesting. They worked very hard for a goal, and Connon almost succeeded with a drooping shot, which Rundell cleared, and Middleton, with a great drive, was slightly wrong in elevation. Aberdeen fought like niggers until the interval, but the Motherwell defence held out.

Aberdeen ought to have scored in the opening minutes of the half, Fisher and Thomson both failing to clinch a perfect cross from Middleton. The pace, never slow, became faster, with Aberdeen pressing. Flanaghan causing Rundell to handle. Lennie, of Motherwell, was injured and retired, and during his absence Motherwell got a fourth goal, Ferguson again being the scorer from a penalty kick given against Hannah. Although Aberdeen's chance seemed hopeless, they never drew rein, and Fisher almost managed to beat Rundell. Motherwell were, however, a confident side, and were taking no liberties. Thomson and Connon did a lot of foraging, but the Aberdeen vanguard as a whole lacked combination and punch.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 18th April 1921