Airdrie 2 - 0 Aberdeen

About 8000 saw a stirring game at Airdrie, and saw the home team record a well-deserved win over Aberdeen. In the first half McQueen scored from a penalty kick given against Hutton for bringing down the Airdrie centre-forward. Sommerville scored the second with an oblique shot that seemed to beat Blackwell rather simply. Midway through this half Murdoch, the Airdrie right-winger, was ordered off. After that the Airdrie men had enough to do, but, taking the game as a whole, they were the better side, even to the extent of two goals. Aberdeen's strength was in defence. Their forwards never settled, though both Smith and Middleton got over many good centres. The Airdrieonians' strong men were on the wings, and at half-back particularly McDougall and Neill. The back play on both sides was confident.

Source: The Scotsman, 9th October 1922

Has Aberdeen played throughout as they did in the last twenty minutes of their game with Airdrieonians at Broomfield Park they would not have suffered the 2-2 defeat that was their lot at the finish. Even if they were worthy their win, Airdrieonians were flattered by the score, and the goals that fell to their lot were both of a rather unsatisfactory nature. The first was from a penalty given against Hutton for an illegal charge of Reid when that player had dribbled through to a scoring-like position a minute from the interval. McQueen, the Airdrie left back, took the kick, and his first shot was blocked by Blackwell, but the Airdrie back was able to net from the rebound. The second goal was of a soft nature, and was scored five minutes after the opening of the second half. Neil took a free kick from the right touchline, and swung ball well out to the left, where Somerville got possession. The latter sent in a fairly fast grounder, which looked as if it had been meant for a pass in front of goal. To the surprise of all, the ball was missed by attackers and defenders alike, and struck the bottom of one of the posts to rebound into the net. Throughout the piece play was very keen, and occasionally there was evidence of temper. As the result of an incident in which he was seen to deliberately kick MacLachlan, Murdoch, the Airdrie outside right, was ordered off midway through the second half. Following upon this, a section of the spectators kept barracking the referee, and Grosert, the Aberdeen right half, drew his attention to a stone that had been thrown.
The first half was in the nature of a duel between the Aberdeen defence and the Airdrie attack, the Pittodrie forwards seldom showing to advantage. They did occasionally threaten danger, but they never worked very harmoniously, and Shortt was seldom troubled. On the other hand, the home forwards moved with rare harmony, but a tendency to overdo individual play lost the chances near goal.

A Belated Revival.

In the opening fifteen minutes of the second half there was considerable midfield play. Airdrieonians got their second goal in soft fashion, and the success was rather undeserved. It was only after Airdrie had lost the services of Murdoch that Aberdeen really struck form worthy of the league leaders. Rankine and Swan changed places, and play was nearly always in the vicinity of Shortt, who, however, had not a great deal to do. Following a cross by Middleton, Smith had a lovely shot, which went inches high of the mark, and Swan had one particularly fine effort which Shortt was fortunate to deflect over the top. On another occasion Thomson had a capital shot, and Rankine had several headed efforts which missed. In the last twenty minutes of the game Airdrieonians were left defending, but behind three capital half-backs, Dick and McQueen put up a vigorous defence, and kept their goal intact to the end.

Personal Notes.

Aberdeen were too late in settling down, but, in any case, their attach never blended. The strong returns of Hutton and Forsyth often over-reached their forwards, and although the half-backs tackled well, their placing was faulty. Airdrie, on the other hand, owed their success to the fine play of their half-backs, whose tackling and fine backing-up made them a powerful factor in the game. On the Aberdeen side, Blackwell had not a great deal to do, and Hutton and Forsyth, if powerful kickers, did not help their forwards by sending their returns too far ahead. Milne was the best of the half-backs, who played brilliantly in a trying first half, but they were weak in the constructive sense. The forwards never really knitted together, and even when they were getting matters more their own way in the closing stages they did not move with much precision. Swan, in the centre, suffered largely from lack of opportunity, but even so did not shine in keeping the line moving. He was seen to much better advantage when he essayed the inside left role. Neither Middleton nor Smith did much, and the best in the line were Rankine and Thomson.
On the Airdrie side Dick and McQueen were very sound backs, but the strongest part of the team was the half-back line, in which McDougall and Neil were always prominent. The forwards showed rare dash, and the best were Murdoch, Morton, and Findlay.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 9th October 1922