Forfar Athletic 2 - 2 The Aberdeen

These teams met in their return Northern League fixture at Station Park, Forfar. The weather was mild, and the ground in perfect condition. Teams:- Forfar Athletic: Lindsay; Sampson, Gibb; Janes, Thomson, Macfarlane; Blyth, Edward, Beath, McIntosh, Neave. Aberdeen: Bisset; Walker, Shand; Paterson, Thomson, Murphy; J. Mackie, C. Mackie, Macdonald, Woodlock, Shiach. Mr. John Bailey, Referee.

Forfar faced the breeze, but opened in brilliant fashion. Neave, sprinting cleverly past Walker, whipped the ball past Bisset ere the stalwart Aberdeen keeper had time to pull himself together. Aberdeen, with breeze assisting them, were doing most of the pressing. Paterson effected a clever movement, and slipping nicely to J. Mackie, who ran smartly on, and, centring swiftly, Lindsay kicked the ball through his own goal. Shortly after Gibb muddled badly, and again Mackie found the net with an unsaveable effort. Forward Forfar were playing very disappointingly, while the last rushes of the Aberdeen attackers were repeated, finding the local halves at sea. The hardest of luck was experienced by Shiach, a lightning shot of his striking the inside of the post and rebounding into play. Forfar were fortunate in keeping their score from being augmented.

Coming away from the kick-off, a perfect bombardment was kept upon the Aberdeen's goal, innumerable hard shots being kept out by the merest of luck. At last a goal came, the result o a general melee at the goalmouth, in which a crowd of attackers and defenders were mixed up. Bisset was working like a demon. The Aberdonians were banging in great style, and kicking out on the slightest provocation. Notwithstanding the great pressure kept up by Forfar, their attack was sadly lacking in sting, far too much long-range shooting being indulged in.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 16th February 1903