Airdrie 4 - 0 Aberdeen

The Airdrieonians, on their own ground, gave a brilliant display against Aberdeen, and absolutely riddled the northern team defence. The "Dons" were without Anderson, Grosert, Milne, Rankine, and Bainbridge, while the Broomfield lot were minus Hurt, who was transferred to Everton on Friday, Ellis, and Roberts. From the outset Airdrie struck a brilliant combination, and Aberdeen were two goals down in seven minutes, Neil and Thom having found the net. Before half-time Gallacher widened the gap, and immediately on starting the second half Thom scored again. The latter player was injured just after scoring, and his side finished the game with ten men. Blackwell, despite losing four goals, was the saviour of his side, he alone preventing a big score. Aberdeen's absolutely insipid form was not totally explained away by lack of regular players. On the other hand, the Airdrieonians struck a fine combination forward, and three young and eager half-backs completed the rout of the "Dons" who, in the whole game, only called upon Shortt to save two direct shots. Attendance, 5000.

Source: The Scotsman, 9th January 1922

At Airdrie, Aberdeen, with a side greatly weakened owing to injuries, sustained their heaviest reverse of the season, Airdrieonians beating them by four goals without reply. The game had only been in progress a short time when it became apparent that the Aberdeen side was not likely to prove a match for the strong local combination, whose forwards excelled in accurate passing and hard shooting. For fifteen minutes the defence held out, and then a shot from Neil, the home inside right, was deflected off Forsyth into the net, and five minutes later, after Blackwell had repelled many attempts. Thorn got through to increase the Airdrie lead from close range. Apart from one or two spasmodic rushes by the Aberdeen forwards, play ruled entirely in favour of the home team, and it was no surprise when they increased their lead off a ground pass by Thorn. Until the interval the play, more less, resolved itself into a duel between the home attack and the Aberdeen goalkeeper, who effected brilliant saves. Grant had a shot which missed for Aberdeen, but at half-time Airdrieonians were value for their 3-0 lead.

Blackwell's Goalkeeping.

Two minutes after the restart Thorn put Airdrie four up by heading through off a cross from the right. An injury to Thorn, the home outside left, necessitated his retirement for the remainder of tie game, but even with this handicap the Airdrie team continued to hold the whip hand. Aberdeen were only occasionally dangerous, and Wright and Miller both had good tries well stopped by Shortt, but the home goalkeeper had an easy passage compared with Blackwell, who performed splendidly in Aberdeen?s last line of defence, saving many well-directed shots. To the end the Airdrieonians forced the pace, and if Thorn's absence unbalanced their forward line, their supremacy was never really challenged. Although beaten four times, Blackwell had no chance of saving the goals, and it was due to his sterling work that the margin of defeat was not greater. McBoyle was never at his ease against a fast-moving wing, and Forsyth, playing well, suffered from lack of support. Wright alone of the half-backs played to form, and it was largely due to the weakness of this department of the team that so little was seen of the forwards. Of the latter, Miller and Grant alone took the eye, but in the play of the team there was a lack of harmony. On the home side the defence was not tested, and so well did the forwards blend individual and concerted effort that they were seldom off the ball. Throughout it was a one-sided game, in which the score did not exaggerate the supremacy of the winners. The attendance was 5000.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 9th January 1922