Aberdeen 0 - 0 Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock were lucky to secure a point in their goalless match with Aberdeen at Pittodrie Park, thanks to the magnificent defence of their custodian, Gould, assisted by Hood and Gibson. Several spasmodic bursts by Gray, Lindsay, and Walker helped. For Aberdeen, Paton and W. Jackson failed to take advantage of a couple of good opportunities of scoring, though the defence might there also have risen to the occasion. For the home team, Forsyth, Hutton, Edward, and the brothers A. and W. Jackson were persistent workers in strenuous efforts to secure advantage. Aberdeen by their active pressure in both periods of the match should have won handsomely, but Kilmarnock's goal seemed to have a charmed immunity from numerous likely shots which 12,000 spectators expected to see terminate in the net.

Source: The Scotsman, 1st December 1924

Aberdeen experienced tantalising bad luck at Pittodrie, where, after completely outplaying Kilmarnock, they had to be content with one point from a goalless draw. The siege of the Kilmarnock goal amounted to a bombardment at times, and how it escaped downfall was wonderful. Gould, in the visitors' goal, gave a great display, and it was his work, coupled with that of Hood and Gibson at back, that kept Aberdeen from gaining a decisive victory. Repeatedly the ball was shot in, either to be saved by Gould, deflected by defenders, or to pass just clear of the goal. It was very seldom that Kilmarnock got away, and except for two occasions they were not dangerous. Both teams had their chance to win the game. Paton, W. Jackson, A. Jackson, and Bruce failed for Aberdeen, when favourably placed, and Brown and Gray, for Kilmarnock, ought to have improved upon two fine opportunities afforded them.
On the home side all the members of the defence played well, and except that their finishing left much to be desired, the forwards played good football. Alec Jackson was easily the outstanding forward on the field, and his brother Walter also played well, though out of touch with fortune. For the visitors, Gould and Gibson were magnificent in defence, and Hood and McEwan rendered them valuable assistance. In a spasmodic attack, Lindsay and Walker were of most account. There were 12,000 spectators.

HOW THE GAME WENT.

Aberdeen opened in promising fashion. Alec Jackson dribbled along and slipped over a cross which Smith just failed to reach, and, after a scrimmage, the danger was cleared. A run by Walker transferred play, and Blackwell had to field from the Kilmarnock right winger. Subsequently, Walker forced a corner, and Brown headed against the cross-bar, Blackwell catching the ball as it rebounded. Both the Aberdeen wings came into prominence, and, off a centre by Smith, W. Jackson drove wide. Alec Jackson again led the Aberdeen attack, and, after he had cut in, gave Bruce a chance, but that player shot badly. W. Jackson followed with a terrific shot from 20 yards range, and Gould just managed to deflect the ball over the bar for an unfruitful corner. Aberdeen kept up the attack, and, after W. Jackson had tried to force his way through, Paton got possession close in, but shot wide. Following another raid by the Aberdeen forwards, W. Jackson actually had the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed for "off-side.' The Kilmarnock defence could not shake off the pressure, and Gibson, standing below the bar, blocked a shot from Bruce. Subsequently, W. Jackson was fouled just outside the penalty area, and, off his free kick, the ball hit Gould and cannoned on to the upright to be cleared by the goalkeeper at the second attempt. After further pressure by the home team, Walker broke away for the visitors, and, after cutting in, shot, but Blackwell saved finely. W. Jackson was again fouled outside the area, and Hutton's free kick rebounded to A. Jackson, who centred, and Gould effected a brilliant save off W. Jackson's header. The Aberdeen pressure was maintained, and all three inside forwards had shots rather luckily blocked by defenders. Several corners fell to the home team, but these availed them nothing. At one time the ball was shot in and blocked half a dozen times. Even Forsyth shot, and Gould held it. While Aberdeen were concentrating on attack, they nearly fell into arrears. Gray got through between the home backs, but his shot passed wide of the goal. At the other end. Bruce shot against the goalkeeper, and, off the rebound, Alec Jackson sent wide. Later, from a pass from the right. W. Jackson skied from favourable position. Near the interval Hutton shot wide from a free kick, and Alec Jackson was unfortunate with a ball that beat Gould but passed behind just outside the post. On their pressure during the period, Aberdeen were distinctly unfortunate not to hold a commanding lead at the interval.

Exciting Play.

In the earlier stages of the second half Kilmarnock developed their attack, and first Walker and then Lindsay shot behind. A free kick taken by Clark for a foul on Gray was blocked by a defensive wall of Aberdeen players, and subsequently Blackwell had to fist away from Lindsay. Aberdeen again took up the attack, and after Bruce had been fouled, Walter Jackson sent wide from a free kick. Forsyth in clearing kicked the ball against Gray, who raced ahead, and Aberdeen found relief from a scrimmage in front of Blackwell when the whistle sounded for a foul by a visitor.
Subsequently Aberdeen resumed the attack and maintained it practically until the end. Off a centre by A. Jackson, W. Jackson jumped high to head the ball down, and a goal looked certain when Gould saved miraculously. Off a centre by Smith, A. Jackson shot wildly over, and shortly afterwards repeated the performance. Later the home outside right dribbled into position and slipped the ball to Paton, who was ideally placed, but failed even to kick the ball, and got no second chance. After beating two opponents and cutting in, Smith lifted the ball to the roof of the net. Later he sent over a picture cross, but on this occasion A. Jackson failed to gather, and' Gibson dashed in and cleared. The homo goal had another narrow escape when after a burnt by the visitors' right Brown was left with only Blackwell In front, but In trying to the put ball out of the goalkeeper's reach he missed the goal altogether. It was only by running out to clear that Gould averted disaster from A. Jackson and Smith. After this A. Jackson had a great individual effort. He beat Gibson and Clark, and shot with great force from close range, but the ball was accidentally deflected by a defender and found the outside of the net. Successive corners fell to Aberdeen and off both the ball was headed narrowly over. Smith had a shot on the run and Gould saved against the crossbar, and following this the goalkeeper gripped the ball from a close range effort by Paton. In the closing minutes Aberdeen made desperate efforts to win the game. A shot by W. Jackson was deflected for a comer by Gibson, and there were several exciting scrimmages in front of Gould, and Smith crashed the ball against the side net, and from a free kick out on the right, Edward dropped the ball right in front of goal, but in the excitement it was missed by defenders and attackers alike until ultimately Hood got in a decisive kick. Play throughout was excellent and chokefull of incident.

Source: Press & Journal, 1st December 1924