Aberdeen 3 - 0 Dumbarton

Aberdeen's victory over Dumbarton was representative of the play at Pittodrie Park, Aberdeen, and but for the strenuous defence, and especially the brilliant goal saving of King, a former Aberdeen custodian, the score might have been greater, especially considering Dumbarton's disadvantage of having to play seven substitutes for regular members of the team laid aside with influenza. R. Robertson, Chatton, Loney, and Alexander, who had been chosen to play, were unable to travel. Donald Colman, Dumbarton's captain, who formerly held a similar position in the Aberdeen team, was a tower of defence for the visitors in his position of right back, and it was largely due to his efforts, and King's goalkeeping, that there was no scoring in the first half. Aberdeen continued to do the bulk of the aggressive play in the second period, and when Miller, whose reappearance was welcomed after his accident in playing against the Airdrieonians, scored the first goal from a corner kick by Middleton, Aberdeen's position was practically assured. The other two goals came from a couple of headers by Rankine.

Source: The Scotsman, 16th January 1922

At the expense of Dumbarton, whom they beat at Pittodrie by three goals without reply, Aberdeen registered their first victory since 1922 opened. Except for Anderson, laid aside with influenza, Aberdeen commanded full strength, but, owing to the epidemic, Dumbarton were in the position of having to play six reserves, and two of the three regular forwards who did duty had to play out position to accommodate newcomers. Under the circumstances, an Aberdeen victory was only to be expected, but it can be said that the winners were even more superior than the score would suggest. Only on two occasions throughout the game was the Aberdeen goal really in danger. These were in the first half, when Blackwell did well to turn a drive from McEwen round the post, and later, when the Aberdeen goalkeeper left his charge to pick the ball from the foot at Robertson, who had bustled through the home defence. At other times Aberdeen were nearly always attacking, and it was as much a reflection on their finishing as it was a tribute to the dourness of the Dumbarton defence that the first goal did not arrive until quarter an hour of the second half had gone. Previous to that, King, in the visitors' goal, had executed same brilliant saves, two full-length efforts which deflected hard drives by Thomson being particularly noteworthy. Such pressure as Aberdeen exercised after the interval, was bound to tell, and Miller, from twenty yards' range, drove hard along the ground into the corner of the net after receiving from Middleton's flag-kick, the goal was long overdue on play. These was more fine saving by King, but only other five minutes' had gone when Rankine met a cross from Middleton to head past King. The third goal, seven minutes later, came in precisely the same way as the second. Subsequently Aberdeen on several occasions came within ace of increasing their lead, some delightful combination being served up by the halfbacks and forwards. In the closing stages Dumbarton attack came into prominence, but no danger occasioned the home goal, and Aberdeen were left comfortable winners with something in hand.

Personal and Critical.

On the home aide the defence was not seriously tested, the two instances already referred to being the only occasions upon which Blackwell was in action. Hutton made a capital appearance after six weeks' absence owing to injury, and was, as usual, cool and resourceful. Once the Aberdeen half-backs got the "lie of things" they kept a firm grip of the Dumbarton attack, and Wright and MacLachlan excelled in accurate passing to their forwards. The forward line was well balanced, and wing play developed to a greater extent than had previously been the case with the Aberdeen attack this season. Both Middleton and Bainbridge, in the extreme positions, were seen at their best, and were well plied by an inside trio who, although working well together, showed a tendency to impetuosity, which slightly marred their effectiveness near goal.
King in the Dumbarton goal saved his side from a heavier defeat, and the steadying influence of Colman was a big factor in preventing the total collapse of the visitors' defence. He was best supported by Henderson, left back, and Reid, centre-half, but with the exception of one or two raids initiated by Browning, the old Celtic and Chelsea left winger, who figured at inside right, little was seen of the Dumbarton attack, which received no support from the half-back line. The estimated attendance at the match was 12,000, a tribute to the popularity of football in Aberdeen considering the weather prevailing at the time of the commencement of the game.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 16th January 1922