Rangers 3 - 1 Aberdeen

With their victory over Aberdeen at Ibrox, Rangers are practically assured of winning the Scottish League (First Division) championship for the fourth year in succession. With three games fewer played, they are two points ahead of Aberdeen. The struggle to avoid relegation is much more keen, although the issue is practically confined to four clubs?St Johnstone, Dundee United, Hibernian, and Airdrieonians.

Any hope that remained of Aberdeen continuing to make a fight of it with Rangers for the Scottish League First Division championship, was dissipated at Ibrox on Saturday, when the light blues beat the Pittodrie combination by 3 goals 1. There was an attendance of fully 40,000, and it was the biggest crowd an Aberdeen team has ever played in front of.
Rangers were deserving winners, and quite value their two goals lead. Aberdeen never really got settled down, but there was a period in the second half when they kept up a vigorous offensive. They were unable, however, to get in any really telling shots.
Rangers played brilliant football, indeed they played their best game of the season. Their forwards and half-backs showed delightful combination, and the McPhail-Morton wing was brilliant.

Brilliance of Yuill.

Contrary to the usual experience, Aberdeen were stronger in defence than in attack, but their half-backs were kept so busy looking after the Rangers forwards that they had little time to assist their own.
Yuill was brilliant in the Aberdeen goal, and effected many great saves in both periods of the game. Jackson and Legge at back performed very creditably against a really brilliant attack. Jackson was often beaten by Morton, and Legge was the more successful of the two, although he was unfortunate when two of the goals were surrendered.
McLaren was outstanding in the Aberdeen defence, repeatedly coming to the rescue when disaster threatened. Hill was the better of the wing half-backs, and came out of the game with credit.

Weakened Attack.

The Aberdeen attack was weakened by the absence of Love, as the right-wing combination was upset, and the wing never really got going. Falloon, who figured in the wing berth, was forceful and clever at times, but was not very successful.
Yorston and Cheyne were the best of the Pittodrie attackers, but the centre-forward was not played to as he might have been, and McDermid and Smith were disappointing, the latter appearing to suffer from an injury sustained early in the game.

Rangers? Fine Play.

The play of Rangers delighted the big crowd. Hamilton (T.) had an easy passage, and Gray and Hamilton (R.) played finely at back. Meiklejohn was the mainstay of the half-back line, and in a brilliant forward line Brown, McPhail, and Morton were always prominent.

Run of the Game.

The Aberdeen forwards attacked at once, but Cheyne?s shot went wide. The Rangers? forwards, when they got on the move, kept the ball going with low accurate passing, and the Aberdeen defence was soon tested. Morton and McPhail in their best style, and from a centre by the winger Yuill's goal ran a narrow escape.
Legge just managed to get his foot to the ball at full stretch to clear, with Morton in close attendance. With Morton a little too clever for Black, the Aberdeen goal had several narrow escapes.
After seventeen minutes the expected goal came. It was Morton who took the ball along, and when he centred high Legge, in attempting to prevent Brown-from intercepting missed the ball and it fell at the foot of Archibald, who had no difficulty in netting. For some time Rangers were rampant, but the Aberdeen defence, though at times a little shaky, recovered well enough to stave off further loss.

Another for Rangers.

The Aberdeen half-backs managed to give their forwards more of the ball, and Cheyne and McDermid were prominent with clever work in an endeavour to let Yorston through. The Aberdeen centre, however, was well shadowed by Meiklejohn and got few chances.
A second goal came after thirty-five minutes' play, when Marshall made an opening for McPhail to beat Yuill from close range.
Marshall, who played a strong, dashing game, went through, and after beating McLaren and Legge, shot hard. Yuill was ready, however, and brought off a fine save. The play of the Rangers at this period was right up to their best standard.
Nearing the interval the Aberdeen forwards came into action again, and there were some thrilling moments for the Rangers' defence. Yorston made a brave attempt to get in, but Hamilton fell on the ball, and an exciting scrimmage took place almost under the bar.
It had been a splendid first half, full of life and verve and fast, clever football. Rangers deserved their lead.

Missed Chance.

In the first minute of the second half, a miskick by Jackson presented Archibald with a scoring chance, but Yuill saved splendidly.
A minute later the Aberdeen goal had a great escape, when McPhail shot hard from a few yards out. The ball was going into the net when it struck Jackson and turned out for a corner.
Rangers had got a proper grip, and they kept swinging in on the Aberdeen defence. Jackson and Legge were not very steady, but Yuill was very safe in goal and made two brilliant saves, the first from an overhead kick by Morton, the next from McPhail.
For a time the Aberdeen forwards could not get the ball at all, but when a chance came to Yorston, he was quick to seize it, and a clever feint almost took him through. It was a near thing for Rangers.

Aberdeen?s Penalty Goal.

The Ibrox forwards had another innings. Later, the ball was sent to Falloon, who transferred to Yorston. He dashed in and Hamilton came out to forestall him. The Rangers' goalkeeper failed to get the ball, and Yorston was on the point of running for the net when Hamilton grabbed his leg. It a clear penalty, and McLaren converted.
This gave Aberdeen new life, and they fought back in great style. The forwards discarded the close passing, which had been ineffective, and swung the ball in a way that made ground quickly and brought them into shooting range.
It was a tense game now, with both teams striving might and main. Aberdeen were going well for the equaliser, but the Rangers' forwards, when on the move, were always more dangerous.

Another Goal

Six minutes from the end the issue was put beyond doubt, when Archibald scored a third goal after Legge had failed to get the ball away. Until the finish Rangers were on top.

Source: Press & Journal, 27th January 1930