Aberdeen 2 - 1 Queens Park

Aberdeen registered their third League victory of the season at Pittodrie yesterday, when, after a rousing tussle, they defeated Queen's Park by 2 goals 1. There were about 15,000 spectators. Aberdeen fielded the same eleven that ran Rangers to a goal at Ibrox on Saturday, and H. S. Dickson for H. Gardener, at left half, was the only change from the Queen's Park team that lost to Dundee.
Aberdeen opened as if they would overwhelm the opposition, but though showing clever touches in midfield, their efforts at shooting were weak. Miller and Rankine twice had good shots which missed the mark. Following upon a splendid run by Scott, the visitors' right winger, who was the outstanding forward on the field, Fyfe lost a good opening by shooting over, and at the other end Miller, after having a shot blocked, sent wide of the goal. Aberdeen opened the scoring after twelve minutes' play. Miller, getting possession, carried the ball towards the left corner flag, and, centring finely, allowed Robertson to hook the ball in, Newton stopping but failing to hold the bail. Aberdeen came near to increasing their lead when Newton, after saving at full length from Robertson, pushed the ball out to Miller, who shot wide of an open goal. Scott repeatedly raided the home territory, and on several occasions the inside forwards failed to improve upon openings following upon his good work. There was much interesting end-to-end play. Rankine skied at close range, but later he was unfortunate to hit the crossbar with a great shot. Fyfe and McAlpine on two occasions had fine chances to equalise, but both kicked the ball too far ahead, and lost control. Just on the interval, Newton saved finely from Miller, and Robertson sent high when well placed. Aberdeen just deserved their solitary goal lead at the interval.

Equaliser and Reply.

There were many exciting passages in the second half. Aberdeen opened in promising fashion and kept the visitors defending for about ten minutes, but they lost several favourable opportunities to shoot, although Newton twice cleared finely from Rankine. A burst by the amateurs' right resulted in the equaliser, Templeton shooting a brilliant goal from fully twenty yards range. After that Queen's Park showed great improvement in all departments, their backs, who had frequently been shaky before, steadying up to play a brilliant game. Miller twice lost shooting opportunities by slowness in gathering the ball, but he had one fine effort from the right, which Newton was fortunate to block with his chest. Connon hit the bottom of the upright, and at the other end Forsyth brought off a fine clearance when Fyfe appeared to have the Aberdeen goal at his mercy. With eight minutes left for play, Aberdeen took the lead. Miller accepting a judicious pass from Rankine literally crash the ball past Newton. The game had a fighting finish, both goals being in danger in the closing minutes.

Weak Finishers.

On the whole, Aberdeen deserved their victory, but the frequency with which they let scoring chances slip nearly led to their undoing. The defence at times was none too sound, the outstanding players in this department being Wright and Milne. Of the forwards. Middleton. and Connon were best, Miller marring his display by the number of chances he let slip. Robertson did not do badly at outside left. On the Queen's Park side, Sneddon and Davis defended well after a rather indifferent beginning, Davis especially kicking strongly and Gillespie was the best of the middle division. Of the forwards, the Scott- Templeton wing was the best on the field, the extreme winger showing great speed besides being tricky and centring accurately. Fyfe led the line well, but was not too well supported, and the left wing did not reveal its best form.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 27th September 1921