Aberdeen 6 - 2 Cowdenbeath

EASY VICTORY FOR ABERDEEN.

Cowdenbeath Overrun at Pittodrie.

SECOND HALF SPATE OF SCORING.

By Clansman One almost envied the players at Pittodrie on Saturday their freedom keep on the move. For the 4000 odd spectators the intense cold was a severe trial, and the final whistle came as a relief to all.

The pitch, efficiently cleared on the morning of the match, was in good condition, but the game was spoiled by a fierce north-easterly gale, and there were moments when play bordered on the fantastic.
Clearances by defenders facing the wind frequently returned boomerang fashion to be cleared again, and anything in the nature of subtle manoeuvring was impossible under the conditions.
Both sides stuck grimly to their respective difficult tasks, and Aberdeen won handsomely because they were much the stronger team.
The Fifers had the wind in their favour in the first half, but they failed completely to harness it, and Aberdeen got the first goal, Warnock smartly sending into the net a 'cute cross from Beynon.

A Slender Lead.

With the gale sweeping the ball ahead for them, the visitors renewed their offensive, and Armstrong, their centre, gained the equaliser The home defenders had again to admit defeat before the interval, Armstrong heading through when a shot by G. Robertson rebounded from the crossbar.
The visitors' forwards, although almost continually in the Aberdeen half, had not made the most of their chances, and one had the conviction that their lead would not be of long duration.
And so it proved. Within a minute of the resumption, Mills rounded off good work by Beattie by scoring from close in. Then the inevitable duel between the home forwards and the Fife defence began in real earnest.
The defence held out bravely until the twenty-first minute of the second period, when Beynon nodded into the net as the ball came out from a defender. It was only a matter time thereafter for further home goals, and thirteen minutes later Armstrong put the Dons two ahead from close in. The ball had been barely centred when Mills added a fifth, and before the end a free-kick by McGill was swept into the net.

Keeper Protests.

Couper, the visitors' custodian, protested vigorously to the referee against the two latter points, presumably on the grounds of offside. Mills was certainly very close in when he scored, but the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the centre of the field. He was not sure about the last goal, and consulted both linesmen before sticking to his decision. My impression of McGill's lightning shot was that it struck an Aberdeen forward on its way to the net. At all events enter the net it did - as clean as a whistle - and, as stated, the referee decided that everything was in order.
It was a conclusive, if not brilliant victory for Aberdeen. Cowdenbeath were a poor side and I could easily understand Manchester United beating them 10-1 last week without unduly exerting themselves.
Their defence was the best part of the team. Glancy, the veteran, was the only man with constructive ideas in their mid-line, and Armstrong and Venters alone impressed in the attack.

Out in the Cold.

The home defence was very sound. Smith brought off several fine clearances in the trying first period. In the second half Steve's thoughts must have wandered with an understanding pity to the hard lot of the Esquimaux. Only now and again did he handle the ball, this when one or other of the backs passed It back to him. Once he had to run out to baulk a fugitive attack, and he seemed grateful to Cowden for paying him a visit.
I liked Godfrey's work all through, and noted with appreciation how strongly he finished a punishing game.
Armstrong, although not striking the high spots, proved that he is the logical substitute to Moore.
Beattie, as usual, was ever in the picture, and Beynon, the ex-Doncaster Rover, greatly improved on his initial display of last week. He adopts the real winger's game, making ground quickly and getting rid of the ball expeditiously, and usually with benefit to his colleagues.
Mills played a quiet, effective game, and Warnock showed commendable dash throughout.

Source: Press & Journal, 27th February 1933