Ayr United 2 - 1 Aberdeen

A GOAL by Rodger five minutes from the end shattered the Dons' hopes of winning the Scottish Second XI. Cup.

On their second half display Ayr deserved to win, but on the other hand Aberdeen could have made siccar in the first half.
The fact that in two games the teams could produce only five goals suggests that they were evenly matched. The first final at Pittodrie saw the sides finish level with one goal each and a late goal decided the issue at Somerset Park on Saturday.
The first fifteen minutes of the match were rather scrappy, but in the succeeding half hour the Dons got into their stride, and spectators saw some bright and snappy football. Unfortunately Aberdeen's usual fault was in evidence - the machine started to misfire near goal. Each team scored once during this period.

DONS ON DEFENSIVE

The Dons were forced into the role of defenders after the interval. The United forwards did everything but score. Their finishing was as bad as was Aberdeen's in the first game at Pittodrie. In the end it was a bad slip by the Aberdeen defence that enabled the homesters to snatch the winning goal.
The Dons took the lead in twenty-six minutes. When Ferguson sent the ball up the middle Hall, the home 'keeper, and Pattillo raced for it. The Dons' centre got his foot to the ball first and it finished in the net.
There was an element doubt about Ayr's equaliser. It came four minutes from the interval. Johnstone was pushing out a free kick from Thomson when he was charged into the net by Rodger.
Before he could recover Carroll had sent the ball home. It appeared that Rodger had fouled the 'keeper. Johnstone was never actually in possession.

DEFENSIVE BLUNDER

The winning goal was the result of a defensive blunder. Hamilton started the movement by giving to Carroll, and the winger laid it "on" for Rodger.
On the whole the Aberdeen defence played well. Johnstone kept a good goal, and Graham and George Thomson gave him good protection. Waddell and Jock Thomson played well at half-back.
An injury to Ferguson upset the attack in the second half. Christie went to inside left and Williams to inside right. In an effort to add more thrust to the line Taylor and Pattillo changed places, but it made no material difference.

Source: Press & Journal, 3rd June 1940