Aberdeen 1 - 3 Morton

Greenock Morton won decisively over Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final tie, played at Dens Park, Dundee, and have now qualified to meet Rangers in the final. Morton's great superiority lay in the effectiveness of their forward line, who were ever a worry and a danger to the Aberdeen defence. The Aberdeen half-backs failed to hold them in the first half of the game, and when they did find their feet a little better in the second half their improvement came too late to be of any assistance. The Aberdeen defence, too, was at times unsteady, and the forwards showed a lack of studied effort in front of goal. As a team Morton were much superior on the day's play. The Greenock men were not long in getting down to business, and after five minutes French accepted a pass from Mackay and beat Blackwell with a fast ground shot. Morton continued to dominate the play, and after the game had been half an hour in progress French added his second point, giving Blackwell no chance to save after he had cleverly eluded Hutton. Aberdeen's few attacks were short and methodless, and half-time arrived with Morton enjoying a comfortable lead.

The second period was only a few minutes old when McNab added number three with a great drive from thirty yards, which struck the edge of the crossbar and rebounded into the net. Although they were well beaten, Aberdeen played pluckily, and after this third reverse gave their best display of the match. For the last twenty minutes of the game they hemmed Morton into their own territory, but lack of snap in front of goal, intensified by smart work on the part of the Morton defence, kept them out, until a few minutes from time, when Dr Milne notched their solitary point from close range. McNab, Morton's right winger, was the best forward on the field, with French, the centre forward, a good second. Others prominent for the winners were MacKay, McMinn, Wright and R Brown. Edwards in goal had little to do.

Aberdeen, on the whole, played poorly. Many thought that Blackwell could have saved the first goal. Hutton was the better of the backs, who both wavered under pressure. The mid line was fair, with Wright outstanding; while of the forwards Middleton, Thomson, and Rankine were best. Miller was not in the same class as French. The attendance numbered 21,000, the "gate," exclusive of stands, being £763.

Source: The Scotsman, 3rd April 1922

Aberdeen's interest, in the Scottish Cup competition has ended for another season. At Dens Park, Dundee, on Saturday, in the semi-final, the team was well beaten to the extent of 3 goals to 1 by a much cleverer Morton team. Following a snowfall, ideal weather favoured the tie, which was witnessed by fully 23,000 spectators, including about 2000 who travelled from Aberdeen, and a contingent of about 300 from Greenock

By winning the toss, Morton chose to take advantage of a slight breeze in the first half. A great chance, the missing of which affected the whole trend of the game, came the way of Aberdeen in the first minute, when Miller took the ball from McIntyre, and running on with only Edwards to beat shot too precipitately, and sent wide. This was followed by another try from Miller, which just missed, and Middleton followed by striking the outside of the net. Only five minutes had gone when, following a free kick for what seemed an accidental foul by MacLachlan, McKay gained possession, and passing to French, the latter beat Blackwell with a fast grounder from the penalty line. Subsequently play ruled for a time in favour of Morton. Blackwell having to knock down and clear hard drive by McNab, and Forsyth was fortunate to get in the way of a shot by French, who later hooked over the Aberdeen's goal. A rally by Aberdeen resulted in Edwards pulling down and clearing a high ball from Middleton. Play was fast, and from end-to-end, but Morton always gave the impression of greater danger in their attacks. In saving from McMinn, Blackwell gave away a corner, and from McNab's well-placed kick, the Aberdeen goal had a series of escapes until A. Brown sent behind. From movements initiated by Wright, the Aberdeen attack often got going, but their passing was faulty, and that their efforts frequently came to grief was as much due to their own shortcomings as to any outstanding ability of the Morton defenders. Supported by two clever inside forwards and a leader who was an opportunist, Morton made full use of their extreme wingers, and, with the Aberdeen half-backs failing as tacklers, there was considerable danger for Blackwell.

Morton's Second Goal.

In quick succession, shots by French and McKay narrowly missed scoring, and the Aberdeen backs were often in difficulties. Edwards showed fine anticipation when he left his goal and fielded a high centre from Middleton. At the other end, from a free kick against Hutton, MacLachlan accidentally handled in the penalty area, but the referee rightly ignored the Morton claim for a penalty kick. Thirty-one minutes had gone when the Greenock team increased their lead. McNab returned the ball to French just outside the penalty area, and the Greenock player cleverly tricked Hutton to give Blackwell who came out to intercept, no chance of saving. Following this further success, the Morton forwards played with great accuracy and dash, and it was only the steadiness of Hutton and Forsyth that averted further disaster to Aberdeen. There were occasions when the Pittodrie players threatened danger, McIntyre once getting in his kick when Miller was about to shoot and Edwards did well with a good try by Rankine. Five minutes from the interval Thomson delivered a shot, which Edwards, at full length, knocked against the upright, off which it appeared to cross the goal-line. At same time Edwards was charged by Miller. It seemed that a goal had been scored, but the referee evidently thought the goalkeeper had been fouled, and awarded Morton a free kick close to Edwards. Just on the interval, Blackwell was called upon to hold a hard drive by McMinn, and when play stopped Morton were value for their lead.

Spectacular Goal.

Aberdeen opened the second half as they should have done the first, in aggressive style, and McIntyre had a timely clearance when Miller was about to shoot. Forcing play by the Aberdeen right brought a flag kick, off which Rankine headed over. Forcing play by Milne looked like materialising until Thomson got offside, and following this Milne had a tremendous drive rather luckily blocked by McKay, who was called back to assist in defence. Gradually the Morton attack returned to the limelight, and after Blackwell had saved from Gourlay, McNab concluded a spectacular dribble by cutting into the centre, and shooting with terrific force, scored a third goal for Morton with a ball that found the net off the underside of the crossbar. Aberdeen at, this stage looked a well beaten team, the forwards simply could not get going, and it was all the Aberdeen defence could to prevent the brilliant play of the Morton right wing from being capped with more goals. Blackwell fielded a hard drive from McKay, and in a short spell of Aberdeen pressure fast shots by Thomson and Milne were blocked by defenders. Aberdeen for period maintained the attack, but the forwards hesitated to shoot, and by persisting in close passing several likely open were lost. Milne alone showed any inclination to shoot, and a fine effort by him just missed finding its billet. A header by French off McNab's cross came near adding another goal.

A Belated Success

Playing with desperation Aberdeen strove for a goal. Following forcing play by MacLachlan Aberdeen got another corner, but Edwards cleared at the second attempt, and later Bainbridge just failed to reach a ball on the poet, that only required to touched through. Middleton from favourable position shot weakly into Edwards' hands, and the goalkeeper had some difficulty in clearing after McIntyre had miskicked. At this stage Morton were well held, but in one instance Blackwell had to run very fast to beat French in a race for the ball. Eight minutes from the end Aberdeen persistence was awarded [sic]. A free kick was nicely placed by Wright, and in a scrimmage Milne forced the ball past Edwards. In closing stages Aberdeen rallied, but apart from dealing with a centre from Middleton the Greenock defence was not again seriously tested.

Better Team Won.

The winners were much the better team, their individual and collective football being ahead af Aberdeen's. The greatest disparity between the respective forward lines, where Morton had a brilliant leader and opportunist in French, and as tricksters McKay and A. brown were grand inside players, while McNab was easily the best extreme winger on view. Jackie Wright was a big factor in a defence which was more at home on a greasy pitch than was Aberdeen's, and all over the tackling of the Greenock rear divisions was much more accurate than what was accomplished by Aberdeen. The greatest shortcoming of the Pittodrie forwards lay in their inability to shoot, and it was a reflection on their work that most tries for goal on the part of Aberdeen were, to the credit of Milne, the centre-half. On Aberdeen's part it was an inglorious display.
The attendance at the match was about 23,000, of which 21,000 paid for admission, and it is officially announced that, after deducting entertainment tax, and exclusive of stand drawings, the receipts amounted to £736.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 3rd April 1922