Falkirk 0 - 0 Aberdeen

Playing at home with Aberdeen as their opponents, Falkirk, although the luck of the play was in their favour, had to be content with a single point taken from a goalless draw. Falkirk were early in the vicinity of the Aberdeen goal, but a clever tackle and clearance by Hutton prevented Puddlefoot getting through to score. Aberdeen replied on the left but were pulled up for offside, and thereafter the home players began what was to prove a long spell of aggressive work. The marksmanship of the forwards, however, left a great deal to be desired, though inches only kept Townsley, Glancy, and Puddlefoot from finding the net. Near the interval a great try by Glancy hit the upright, the ball rebounding into play, to be ultimately cleared. Had Falkirk taken full advantage of their opportunities, they might have crossed over with a substantial lead. Aberdeen had a greater share of the play in the second half, but they too failed badly at goal. All interest was taken from the game fifteen minutes after the resumption by reason of the offside tactics adopted by both sets of defenders, and so farcical did the play become that hundreds of spectators left long before the finish. Aberdeen's best were Blackwell, Hutton, MacLauchlan, Moir, and Grant, while the outstanding men for Falkirk were Scott, Townsley, Dougal, Glancy, Bryce, and Puddlefoot.

Source: The Scotsman, 8th October 1923

In the run of play Aberdeen should have been well-beaten at Brockville, but the magnificent defence put up by Blackwell, Hutton, Forsyth, MacLachlan and Jackson enabled them to prevent Falkirk from scoring, and save a valuable point in their ninth Scottish game for the season. Heavy rain before the match, and during the second half, made the ground soft and the ball greasy, but familiar with these conditions the Falkirk attackers and the Aberdeen defenders adapted themselves well to them, and from start to finish a fast pace was set and maintained. There were 9000 spectators, and these saw many incidents that thrilled them, especially in the vicinity of the Aberdeen goal.
The Falkirk forwards, finely led Puddefoot, early took the game in hand, and Hutton, Davidson and MacLachlan each in quick succession dispossessed attackers in the act shooting. A shot by Townsley went wide, and Blackwell had no sooner cleared from Moore than he had to pull down a tremendous drive by Scott, the Falkirk right back. Hutton and Forsyth charged down shots by Glancy and Puddefoot and Blackwell was repeatedly called upon to assist the backs in their uphill task. After withstanding the siege for ten minutes, Aberdeen got away on their first visit to Ferguson. Smith, almost on the goal-line, squared to Grant, but the Falkirk goalkeeper ran out and deflected the inside right's shot wide of the goal. The ball was cleared from the flag kick, and Falkirk returned to Blackwell's end, where they forced three corners, temporary relief being obtained when the ball glanced behind off the bar from Hunter's shot. Bryce just missed the Aberdeen goal with a drive, and Puddefoot twice called Blackwell into action. Townsley had two capital shots, and Glancy hit the upright with a ground drive for Puddefoot to shoot wildly over from the rebound. Until the interval the Aberdeen defence withstood terrific gruelling, and while Blackwell several times ran out to kick clear, the Pittodrie backs and half-backs, who covered up splendidly, repeatedly charged down or blocked shots that might have counted. The Falkirk defence adopted offside tactics, against which the Aberdeen attack could make no headway, and considering the pressure exerted by the home forwards in the period, it was surprising that Falkirk did not hold a commanding lead at the interval.

FALKIRK'S MISSED CHANCE.

There was a big improvement in the Aberdeen attack in the earlier stages of the second half, but it was not sustained. Grant just failed to reach a centre by Moir, and later the centre swung over another ball which Ferguson fisted out. Rankin caught on and shot, but the Falkirk custodian, out of his goal, was fortunate to be in line with the shot, and averted disaster by falling on the ball. With both defences resorting to offside tactics, there were considerable midfield exchanges and many stoppages, which greatly irritated the spectators. As the game progressed, Aberdeen were again forced on the defensive, and only the brilliant work of Hutton and Forsyth kept the Falkirk attackers from scoring. Moir twice broke away to centre for Aberdeen, Spalding miskicking from his first effort, and Smith shooting behind off the second. Subsequent to this Townsley, for Falkirk, had a tremendous drive, which Blackwell tipped over the bar, and the Aberdeen defence was sorely tried to get rid of several flag kicks which fell to the home team. Following further pressure near the close, Moore had a chance to give Falkirk the lead, but he headed over the top.
In the game the Aberdeen attack gave a disappointing display, Rankin and Moir alone showing to any advantage. The half-backs, of whom MacLachlan and Jackson defended well, were never able to give their forwards much support, and the soundest part of the team, and the most prominent players on the field, were Blackwell, Hutton and Forsyth in the Aberdeen rear. It was these three players who saved their team from a heavy defeat. On the Falkirk side, Hunter, Townsley, and Dougal in defence and Puddefoot, Glancy, and Hunter, forward, were outstanding.

Source: Press & Journal, 8th October 1923