Queens Park 6 - 2 Aberdeen

Aberdeen were two goals behind at the interval, Crawford and King Having scored for Queen?s Park. After that Crawford gave Queen's a third goal. Cheyne got one for Aberdeen, McAlpine and Nicholson two more for the amateurs, and after Cheyne had scored again, Crawford completed the scoring.

Source: Glasgow Herald, 24th December 1928

Just imagine the Queen's Park as the top-scorers of the day, and against Aberdeen at that!
To lose six goals on classic Hampden is by no means creditable to the Dons, who were well and truly beaten. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that the Dons were minus the services of four players who would have made all the difference in the world to the team. Had McHale and McLaren been in the defence, and McDermid and Merrie in attack, I am certain that Queen?s would not have won. The weakest department of the Aberdeen team was at half-back, where Black, Muir, and Hill were unable to get a grip of the Amateur forwards. What beat Aberdeen was the lack of height in the middle and front divisions. There can be no denying the fact that Queen's Park are well trained, and I would say further that they are the fastest team I have seen this season. Their forwards invariably left the Aberdeen half-backs standing.

The Aberdeen forwards, on the other hand, although clever enough, were easily brushed aside by the heavy-weights in the Hampden defence, while, if the ball was in the air, they could not get anywhere near it. McDermid's craft and generalship, as well as his thrustfulness, were missed in the Aberdeen attack, for McLeod, who was very slow and seldom in position, made a poor substitute. Smith was in form, but he had no one to support him.

The wind had proved a very troublesome factor to Aberdeen in the first half, and with only a two-goal deficit at the interval, I looked for better things from the Dons in the second period. Queen's Park, however, reserved their best form for this half, and rattle on four goals with comparative ease. Crawford scored three goals; McAlpine, King, and Cordiner one each for Queen?s, while Cheyne, the only decent shot in the Aberdeen attack, scored both the Dons' goals. I think, however, that the last two Queen's Park goals could easily have been prevented. When McAlpine registered what I considered the best goal of the eight, the Aberdeen defence was badly at fault. The lanky inside left received a pass from King. He immediately made headway, but, instead of coming out to tackle him, the Aberdeen defenders fell back on Yuill. McAlpine took careful aim and fired the ball with terrific force, Yuill being unable to stop the shot. Then Livingstone was entirely to blame for the sixth goal. He had possession, but, in endeavouring to elude the on-rushing Crawford he fell. The outside right carried on, and crossed to Cordiner, who shot. Yuill brought off a great save, but the ball went out to Crawford, who scored easily.

Cheyne took his goals very smartly. Yuill had much more work to do than Peden, and although I thought he had a chance with King's goal, he saved shots which would have beaten many goalkeepers. His was not an easy task, for he had to work behind a set of players who were outclassed in midfield. Jackson played better in this game, while Livingstone, apart from his mistake, was the best back on view. Black, Muir, and Hill were not in the same street as McDonald, Gillespie, and King, but for whom Queen's Park would have been in a bad plight. Black had the better wing to look after, but was unfortunate in being up against McAlpine in one of his wiliest moods. Muir was a plodder, who had little time for developing attacks, while Hill was not able to do himself justice owing to a recurrence of his old injury. I observed that he used his right foot on nearly every occasion.

The attack needed an old head to steady it up. Yorston was too small, and limped badly in the second half. Cheyne vied with McAlpine as the brainiest forward, although he did not get through the same amount of work. Love was a mixture of good and bad, but I think he could cross the ball better. In fact, I often think that Smith and he could have a better understanding. Both are inclined to shoot the ball across, whereas a lob from one to the other would bring about more goals. McLeod disappointed me, while Smith would have done better had he received more able backing.

I am convinced, after this game, that the Aberdeen club is not rich in Reserves of the right type who can be relied upon to do justice in the first team. Only McLaren and Blackwell have proved their worth in the first team. The club requires a good reserve centre-forward, for Yorston, although he can get goals at times, is too small for the position. His best position is at inside left.
I am certain, too, that Queen's Park will not be relegated. They will be a good team once their back division is strengthened. Further, if there is a better inside left in Scotland than McAlpine, I would like to see him.

Source: Bon-Accord, 29th December 1928

What players as McDermid, Merrie, and McHale mean to Aberdeen was emphasised at Hampden, where Queen's Park trounced the Pittodrie team by 6 goals 2. About 8000 spectators watched a game in which the amateurs were always on top, although the play was not as one-sided as the score would indicate. There was, however, no question which was the better team.
Aberdeen's biggest failing was at half-back, especially on the wings, where the occupants of these positions simply could not hold the fast and elusive amateur forwards. The outcome of this was that the Aberdeen forwards, badly supported, were never much in the limelight. Although beaten six times, Yuill was not to blame for the debacle, in fact he saved many shots that would have beaten most goalkeeprs. Jackson and Livingstone worked heroically at back but got too much do. Cheyne, who scored his side's two goals, was easily best of the Aberdeen forwards, who combined poorly and their passing was often at fault.

Dashing Amateurs.

Queen's Park gave a dashing display and there were occasions in the second half when their forwards had the Aberdeen defence wandered. Walker and Wiseman had an easy passage at back, and Gillespie and King excelled in a splendid half-back line. McAlpine was the most brilliant forward on the field, his unorthodox but effective play delighting the spectators. The wingers, Crawford and Nicholson, were also in sparkling form.

Attack That Faded Out.

The Aberdeen attack flattered at the start, but Queen's Park quickly settled down, and after four minutes' play, Crawford met a centre by Nicholson to give Yuill no chance from close range. Aberdeen never appeared to recover from this early reverse, and they were kept on the defensive. Cordiner with a terrific shot, and Crawford and Nicholson had Yuill in action. Aberdeen, through Yorston, made some response and Peden had to save from Love, but Queen's Park soon increased their lead, King dashing in to score after Crawford had centred and McAlpine had created the opening. The ball was seldom far from the Aberdeen penalty area, but once Hill lobbed in a free kick and Love fired in a shot which Peden stopped. After having fisted clear, Yuill saved finely from McAlpine and Dodds, but there was no more scoring before the interval.
The amateurs went further ahead early in the second half when Crawford got clear away and, after cutting in, beat Yuill with an express shot. Two minutes later, Aberdeen also scored, Cheyne picking up a pass from Yorston to beat Peden with a fast rising shot. For a time Aberdeen showed improvement and both goalkeepers were in action. Yuill, however, having more to do than Peden. It was left to McAlpine to dribble through and give Queen's Park a fourth goal with a characteristic effort, and Nicholson added a fifth when he accepted a pass from Cordiner to run on to beat Jackson and score with a low drive.

Some Consolation.

Aberdeen got some consolation some time afterwards when Cheyne picked up a pass from Yorston and shot a fine goal, the ball finding the net off the crossbar. Even then the scoring was not finished. Livingstone dallied and lost possession and after Yuill had saved at full length from Nicholson, Crawford ran in to complete his "hat trick' and secure his side's sixth goal.

Source: Press & Journal, 24th December 1928