Aberdeen 2 - 0 Queens Park

Aberdeen's victory of two goals over Queen's Park at Aberdeen was well deserved, though on play the visitors scarcely deserved to leave the field goalless. The smart kick and rush tactics of the Queen's Park players were not successful against a defence which included a cool and ever watchful custodian like Blackwell, and a couple of backs like internationalist Hutton and the reliable D. Bruce. The swift, unerringly-aimed shot which J. B. McAlpine sent in for Blackwell to hold was well worthy of a goal for the Amateurs, but I could not get beyond the Aberdeen custodian. It was not the only shot which the Queen's Park inside-left man sent in to severely test the Aberdeen defence. J. McDonald, centre-forward, was another persistent trier for the Queen's Park, and in defence they were well served by their custodian, J. Harkness, the left back, W. Wiseman, and the centre-half, R. Gillespie. Aberdeen's outstanding forwards were Miller in the centre and Reid on the right wing. The first goal by Miller, got nineteen minutes from the beginning, was a very fine effort. The second goal came from a free kick taken by Hutton. Over 14,000 spectators saw a well contested match.

Source: The Scotsman, 5th September 1926

There were about 13,000 spectators Pittodrie, where Aberdeen defeated Queen's Park by 2 goals to 0. They were deserving winners, but the margin of victory flattered them, as the amateurs had as much of the play, but their forwards were weak finishers. On the home side, Blackwell, Hutton, Bruce (D.), MacLachlan, Spencer, Reid, and Miller were best, and for Queen's Park, Wiseman, Graham, Gillespie, and McAlpine were outstanding.

A FAST GAME.

The teams early set the pace, and it was soon evident that the boisterous wind would militate against good football. The first dangerous move came from the amateurs but McAlpine shot badly. Aberdeen retaliated; at first Miller and then R. Bruce were at fault in delaying to shoot. A corner for Queen's Park was cleared by Edward, and following a free kick Backwell had a splendid save from Donald at close range, and D. Bruce headed out when Nicholson fastened on to the clearance. Fast ground passing, Aberdeen made headway, and Smith shot across the goal. At the other end Gillespie just missed with a fierce shot from a free kick. Subsequently a fast centre by Reid was missed by the home inside forwards. With nineteen minutes played Aberdeen took the lead. Smith placed a corner, and Miller, from outside the eighteen yards' line, shot hard into the side net. For a time neither side could claim advantage. Harkness saved an overhead shot from McDermid, and Reid was just inches high with a shot, after having cut in from touchline. From a nice pass by McDermid, Miller again had the Amateur's goalkeeper in action, this time to very fine shot. With thirty-five minutes played, Hutton was called upon to take a free kick, and with the visitors' defence lined up in expectation of a hard drive, he coolly lobbed the ball over their heads, and it entered the net from the underside of the crossbar. Shortly afterwards Hutton was again requisitioned for a free kick, but on this occasion his terrific shot, which must have beaten Harkness, was deflected for a corner. Just on the interval Queen's Park forced a corner, but no danger materialised to the home goal, and at half-time Aberdeen led by two goals to nothing.

HOME DEFENCE IN FORM.

With the breeze to face in the second half Aberdeen adopted a defensive policy. McAlpine, was the life and soul of the Amateurs' attack, he repeatedly raided the home lines, but his colleagues did not avail themselves of the opportunities he created. Nicholson shot hard against the outside of the net when he might have done better, and shortly afterwards Blackwell brought off a spectacular save from McAlpine. Subsequently the home defence was hard pressed, and D. Bruce and then Hutton got in the way of scoring shots. Two successive corners to the visitors were disposed of, and ultimately the Aberdeen attack again got going, Harkness saving finely from Smith. For a time a dour struggle proceeded between the Aberdeen defence and the Hampden attack. In a rally by the home forwards Bruce headed wide, and at the other end Crawford and Nicholson were both off the mark with shots. A brilliant effort by McAlpine finished with his shooting wide. In the closing stages the Aberdeen defence was frequently hard pressed, but came through the ordeal with flying colours, and on the eve of the final whistle the forwards were again taking up the thread of attack.

Source: Press & Journal, 6th September 1926