Saving layout

One Moment...

Resetting layout

One Moment...
X

Customise your homepage

default
save
Drag each panel to set your preferred order. Click the eye icon to toggle the visibility of the panel. You can reset the layout by clicking the 'Default' button above.
Slider
Statistics
Introduction
News
On This Day
Social History
Match Centre / League Table
Players / Managers / HOF
The Aberdeen Collection
Squad (Hidden)
Profile / Dark Blue Dons / Wartime Dons
Results / Pittodrie Stadium
RedTV / Milestones

Raith Rovers 3 - 3 Aberdeen

HT Score: Raith Rovers 2 - 2 Aberdeen

Scottish Cup First Round
Raith Rovers scorers: Birrell (pen), Panther, Panther
Aberdeen scorers: Yorston 12, Love 45, Cheyne 50.

18/01/1930 | KO:

ABERDEEN'S ESCAPE. Weakness in Defence Exposed. Raith's Lost Chance.

This game was one of the keenest and most sporting contests ever played on the Kirkcaldy ground, and Raith Rovers did very well to secure a draw. There was no gainsaying that the home men rose to the occasion, and with ordinary luck they would have carried the verdict. Their bad luck, indeed, was a feature of the game, and it was well for Aberdeen that fortune was with them.
Raith showed no timidity, and they played brilliantly up to goal, but many bad misses marred their performance. In this respect Pryde was the worst sinner, no less than a round half-dozen glorious openings being refused by the outside man. Still, it was a pretty stiff task for a young lad making his debut, and in securing a draw Raith did far more than was hoped for, and Aberdeen got a rather unwelcome shock.

Yorston Scores

After a bad miss by Pryde in the opening minutes Raith gave Aberdeen a hot time, but the "Dons" ultimately broke away and Yorston headed in a simple goal when the home defence had got mixed up a bit.
From a penalty Birrel equalised, and when Panther gave Raith the lead from a Beath cross Kirkcaldy hopes were raised. Towards the end of the half, however, Love equalised following a free kick.

In the second half Raith made a good fight, but again the "Dons" were the first to score, Cheyne counting following a pass from Love. This made Raith desperate, and they pressed furiously, only to be baulked time and again. Near the end Kirkcaldy hopes revived as the result of a Panther goal, and in a hectic ten minutes Raith had the better of the play but could not score.
There was an attendance of 10,000, and the "gate" was £500.

Source: Glasgow Herald, 20th January 1930

Aberdeen and Raith Rovers will have to meet again before it is decided which will forward to the second stage of the competition for the national trophy.
At Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy, nearly ten thousand spectators saw them finish level, each side, scoring three times. It was a gruelling struggle, and the Rovers went very near to providing the sensation of the day.
Aberdeen quite failed to play up to reputation, and they were fortunate indeed to survive. They never really settled down, and even when their attack did get going, there was a fatal tendency to play too closely. Rovers, on the other hand, played an open game throughout.

Defensive Weakness.

Time and again the weakness of the Aberdeen defence was exposed, and the left side of the team palpably failed to reproduce anything approaching its best form.
The strength of the team lay at centre-half, right-half, outside-right, and inside-right, and it was due to the occupants of these positions that Aberdeen have been given a second chance.
The Rovers were better served in defence, but their smart and dashing attack should have been able to take advantage of Aberdeen's weakness in rear and put the issue beyond doubt.

Tale of Lost Chances.

From Rovers' standpoint, it was a game of missed chances, the biggest 'sinner' in this respect being Pryde, their outside-right, who lost at least four golden opportunities.

Jackson's Display.

For Aberdeen, Yuill did well in goal, but should have prevented the third point that fell to the Rovers, although it was suspiciously offside.
Jackson, making his initial appearance in the first eleven for the season, stayed the pace well; and was ahead of Legge, who had a bad afternoon. McLaren and Black were towers of strength in the mid-line, but Hill was below form.
In the forward line, Love and Cheyne were easily best. Yorston, if nippy at times, was not his usual self, and McDermid and Smith were both below form.

Rovers' Stalwarts.

For the Rovers, Leckie, who played for the greater period of the game with a sprained ankle, effected many smart saves. Hutchinson and Batchelor were stout-hearted backs, and Hoggan and Campbell accomplished good work at half-back. The outstanding forwards were Beath, Birrell, and Panther.

Yorston early had a chance for Aberdeen but was slow, and Batchelor recovered and cleared. in a fast raid, the Rovers also missed an easy chance, Pryde shooting over with only Yuill in front. Aberdeen retaliated, and Smith forced a corner, but no advantage followed.
Subsequently, the Rovers again took up the running, and after Yuill had cleared from Hoggan, Pryde again shot high from scoring position. The nearest to score, so far, came when Yorston flashed the ball inches wide from out on the right.

Yorston's Score.

With twelve minutes gone, Aberdeen took the lead. Yorston had a shot deflected for a corner and Cheyne's header must have been held by Leckie, but Yorston jumped up to deflect it out of his reach.
On the lead, Aberdeen played better but their football was all too dainty and ornamental for a cup-tie. Reekie injured his ankle in stopping a shot by Yorston, and for fully five minutes Batchelor went into goal until the keeper was able to resume.
A long shot by McLaren was deflected by Leckie for a corner, the flag kick being cleared.

Penalty Goal.

The Rovers swinging the ball about made ground-fast, and in one of their raids McLaren was adjudged to have fouled Pryde in the penalty area. Birrell took the resultant spot kick and the ball found the net off the post.
For a time the Rovers forced pace, and Smith, back assisting in the Aberdeen defence, back-heeled the ball to Booth, who promptly centred and Panther dashed in to give Yuill no chance.
The reverse spurred Aberdeen to greater effort, but they could not beat down a strong defence, which covered up well. Love, Cheyne, and Yorston all had shots charged down. Subsequently the Rovers rallied again, and Yuill saved smartly from Panther and Beath.

One for Love,

Towards the interval Aberdeen made desperate efforts to draw level, and just on half-time they were rewarded. Smith was fouled outside the penalty area, and following Black's free kick Love shot with terrific force into the net.
Aberdeen were kept defending in the early stages of the second half, and Jackson and McLaren were prominent with strong defensive play. They shook off the pressure and took the lead inside five minutes. Love centred and Cheyne let go a terrific shot, Leckie touching the ball but failing to prevent it entering the net.

Defence in Trouble.

After Jackson had missed his kick Pryde should have equalised, but he shot wide with only Yuill to beat. Subsequently the Aberdeen defence had a gruelling time, and Jackson, McLaren, and Black were outstanding. After Yuill's charge had experienced a number of narrow escapes, the Aberdeen attack again got going, and, following a high ball from Hill, there was a series of scrummages in front of Leckie before the danger was disposed of. The Aberdeen goal was in danger following a foul by Legge, but Pryde failed to take advantage when he had a clear field. From a centre by the home left-winger, Panther overran the ball with only Yuill in front, and at the other end Leckie made a great recovery after being dispossessed by Yorston. Smith had chance from a Yorston pass, but the winger skied.

The Equaliser.

After this the Rovers again assumed the offensive and were rewarded with the equaliser. Galloway had a centre fisted clear by Yuill and in the scrimmage that followed Panther scraped the ball into the net.
The game had a rousing finish both sides putting in all they knew to get the lead. Leckie saved brilliantly from Love, Yorston, and Cheyne and in quick succession Pryde at one end and McDermid at the other let possible chances slip.

Source: Press & Journal, 20th January 1930

.
Raith Rovers Teamsheet
Leckie; Hutchinson, Batchelor; Campbell, Hoggan, Drain: Beath, Galloway, Panther, Birrell, Pryde
Aberdeen Teamsheet
Yuill, Jackson, Legge, Black, McLaren, Hill, Love, Cheyne, Yorston, McDermid, Smith.
Attendance: 10,000
Venue: Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
Referee: J. Hudson, Glasgow
Next Match
Dundee
H
09 Nov 2024 / 17:30 / Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen