Aberdeen 1 - 0 Ayr United

Aberdeen's victory over Ayr United by the only goal of the match was well deserved. Paton, Aberdeen's inside-right goalscorer, added to his reputation for smartness, his shot from close in leaving Nisbet no chance of saving. He was the best forward on the field. Ayr's defensive game was admirable. Aberdeen's defence was also good.

Source: The Scotsman, 14th January 1924

Without Forsyth, Moir, and Rankin of the regular team, Aberdeen defeated Ayr United by the only goal of the game. The United played the same eleven that defeated Rangers a week before. On this occasion the visitors were well beaten, and had Aberdeen doubled the separating margin it would only have been in accordance with the run of the play. The pitch was icebound, and although liberal treatment with sand improved the conditions, the surface was still dangerous, and despite the exercise of caution several the players on both sides sustained minor hurts as the result of coming down on the hard surface.

PATON'S DECIDING GOAL.

The only goal of the game was scored by Paton twenty minutes from the end. Following a scrimmage in front of the west goal, he found himself with only Nisbet, the Ayr goalkeeper, in front, and very judiciously placed the ball out of the latter's reach.
Generally the play favoured Aberdeen, but the forwards experienced difficulty in retaining their foothold, and several chances were lost in both periods because of their failure to steady up when shooting. At the same time, Nisbet, the Ayr goalkeeper, had numerous dangerous shots to deal with, and but for his reliability, Aberdeen must have won much more decisively. The United attack never flattered during the game, and was always well held by the home half-backs. Early in the game Cunningham got through to send the ball on to the top of the cross-bar, from which it rebounded behind, and near the close the visitors' right wing executed several dangerous raids, but these were easily repulsed. The Aberdeen forwards combined well with their half-backs; indeed, Davidson and MacLachlan were frequently to be seen acting in the capacity of forwards, and had the inside forwards been more accurate in their shooting, the score would have been much bigger.

ABERDEEN SUPERIOR.

The Aberdeen defence was not seriously stretched. Blackwell, in goal, had little do, and Hutton and Jackson were easily equal to all calls made upon them. Davidson and MacLachlan were brilliant in the wing half positions, and at centre-half Dick again gave a satisfactory display. Ritchie, in Moir's place at outside right, did not strike his best form, but Paton, at inside right, was the cleverest forward on the field. Miller, Grant, and Smith, too, moved well, but there was room for improvement in finishing on the part of all three. Ayr United failed to reproduce the form shown a week earlier against Rangers. Nisbet gave a fine display in goal, and at back Woodburn and McCloy constituted the strongest part of the team. Hogg, until receiving an injury in the second period, was the best half-back, and Cunningham and Kilpatrick were the most prominent players in a forward line of moderates. There was an estimated attendance of 10,000.

Source: Press & Journal, 14th January 1924