Kirkwall Hotspur XI 0 - 5 Aberdeen

Diminutive twenty-four-year-old Davie Fox, right half, and thirty-one-year-old Willie Smith, goalkeeper, both of the Thorfinn Club, were the bright stars of the Kirkwall Hotspur eleven that played the Dons at Bignold Park, Kirkwall, last night.
The Pittodrie team never moved faster than half-throttle. They won 5-0, but that does not truly indicate the disparity in the standard of play. The 5000 Orcadians were having their first glimpse Scottish "A" Division football, and most of them were impressed with two things - the clever positional play and ground passing of the Dons and the clean and sporting spirit of the visiting players.
The two Pittodrie footballers who made the most appeal were left-winger Tommy Pearson and inside-right George Hamilton. The ball control and shrewd distribution this pair captivated the islanders.

Energy and Spirit

Aberdeen F.C. players and officials alike admired the boundless energy and courageous spirit of 5ft. 4in. Davie Fox. He was perhaps lacking in polish, but he has pluck in abundance.
Willie Smith in goal was beaten five times, but a less experienced 'keeper than the former Scottish Juvenile internationalist would have lost more goals.
It was pity that the team was not more representative of the Orkneys. The match was arranged by the Hotspur Club, and they enlisted the services of only four players from other teams.
Without exerting themselves the Dons were two goals ahead at the interval. Pearson got the first in five minutes. A perfectly-placed ground pass by Hamilton gave the left-winger his chance. Pearson cut in from the wing and beat the 'keeper.
In eleven minutes Linklater, the Orkney centre half, failed to clear a speculative shot by Rice, and Smith prodded the ball into the net.

Exhibition Stuff

Aberdeen turned on the exhibition stuff in the second half, and had they cared could have had more than three goals.
Within seven minutes of the restart Williams took advantage of a slip from Hamilton, and a minute later the inside-right hit home a cross from the South African. Rice completed the scoring when he netted from close in after an Inter change movement.
The best shot from the Hotspurs came ini the closing minutes when centre-forward John Donaldson raced away on the left and tested Curran with a fierce drive.

Source: Press & Journal, 28th May 1949