Aberdeen 1 - 1 Motherwell

Motherwell dropped a point to Aberdeen at Pittodrie Park in a game which was marked more for enthusiasm than clever football. The home team fully deserved their share of the honours. Right from the kick-off they played with a zest which threw the champions off their balance, and before the latter had settled they found themselves in arrears. The visitors in addition to their slowness to settle down, were inclined to play too closely in front of goal, while their finishing could have been better. They certainly provided the more polished football, but their tendency to bunch in front of the goal did not pay against the first-time tackling of the home team.

Aberdeen Attack

A well-taken goal by Moore shortly after the start gave Aberdeen confidence, and their long, swinging game put them frequently on the attack. Of the two goalkeepers, McClory had the more anxious time in the first half. The champions improved after the interval, and, but for a brilliant save by Smith, McMenemy would have got the equaliser when he went through on his own. The goal came 15 minutes from the close. Smith stopped a shot by Stevenson, but before he could get the ball away Ferrier had scrambled it over the line.
Aberdeen's defence was sound. The half-back line showed little constructive capacity. Beattie was the Dons' best forward. Moore, who came to Pittodrie from Shamrock Rovers, looks like becoming a capable successor to Yorston. He distributes the ball well, and is always ready for a first-time effort. His goal was well taken. Love was prominent on the right.

A Sound Defence

Little fault could be found with the Motherwell defence. Wales and Craig were strong, forcing half-backs. McMenemy was the star of a forward line which at times played delightful football. Stevenson and McFadyen also impressed.

Source: Glasgow Herald, 22nd August 1932

Moore's Great Counter for Aberdeen.

DALY SHOWS GOOD FORM.

A whole-hearted, go-ahead Aberdeen team gave Motherwell, the league champions, a fright at Pittodrie. It was only a scrambled goal by Ferrier fifteen minutes from the final whistle that saved the Fir Park team from defeat.
Had the Dons opened their league campaign at Pittodrie with a victory nobody could have grudged them the points. As it was, a draw at the expense of the champions was not an unsatisfactory result from the supporters' point of view.

Aberdeen did not make any serious effort to play pretty football, but they were full of fight, and a quintette of bustling forwards was always on top of the Motherwell defence.
Aberdeen's first-time tactics rattled the champions, and the homesters were the more dangerous team in the first period. Motherwell improved in the second half, but one caught only occasional glimpses of the football which won them the league championship.

Aberdeen Defence Sound.

The Aberdeen defence gave an impressive display and refused to become rattled even when under severe pressure. Daly, the Irish Free State player, whom Aberdeen secured from Shamrock Rovers, was a cool and calculating back and made a capable substitute for the injured Cooper. McGill enhanced his reputation as a fearless and sound defender.
The half-backs were prominent as a destructive force, and this accounts for the fact that the Motherwell attack was not in the limelight as much as usual. Little was seen of the intermediate trio in a constructive capacity, however. Dickie was the best of the trio, and was the only one who made any real attempt to keep in touch with the forwards.
Moore, Aberdeen's centre-forward, was quick and clever, and his goal was a very smartly taken point. Beattie was perhaps the best of the quintette. He showed good ball control and shot strongly, but his distribution of the ball might be improved upon.
Mills, the seventeen-year-old ex-Bridgeton Waverley inside-left, showed cleverness, but is lacking in experience.
Motherwell were well served In defence by McClory, Dowall, and Ellis. Wales and Craig were the strong men at half-back, while Murdoch and McMenemy were the best of the attackers.
The famous Stevenson-Ferrier wing was little in evidence.

Description of Play.

Aberdeen made the running at the start and McClory brought off a great save from Beattie, and then held a clever try from McLean.
In a Motherwell raid Smith had to dash out to intercept McFadyen, Scotland's top scorer last season. Ten minutes after the start Aberdeen took the lead. McLean broke through on the left and Moore banged the ball into the net first time from the winger's cross.
This goal gave the home team confidence, and they continued to have the better of the exchanges. McLean headed narrowly over, and smart work by Beattie saw Moore shoot high. The Motherwell defence was well tested, but played soundly.
The champions retaliated and Smith punched out a free kick from Wales, and Ferrier terminated a clever individual run by shooting past.
At this stage Daly was hurt and It was some time before he fully recovered. Aberdeen continued to do the bulk of the pressing and fully deserved their interval lead.

Aberdeen Attack.

The homesters resumed on the offensive and McClory was called into action by Love and Fraser. Aberdeen forced two fruitless corners, and then the Aberdeen goal had narrow escape in a determined assault by Motherwell.
McMenemy beat man after man and let go a great shot, Smith saved but in doing so lost sight of the ball, and, with McFadyen rushing in, a goal seemed imminent. The 'keeper made a remarkable recovery, however, and dived sideways to punch the ball away.
With about thirty minutes gone Motherwell equalised. Smith pushed down a bard drive from Stevenson and before he could clear Ferrier rushed in to force the ball over the line. Aberdeen made a gallant effort to restore their lead but failed to again penetrate the champions' defence.

Source: Press & Journal, 22nd August 1932