Aberdeen 2 - 1 Heart of Midlothian
HT Score: Aberdeen 1 - 0 Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian scorers: Falloon (o.g.)61
30/11/1935 | KO: 14:20
DONS CONSOLIDATE LEAD IN SCOTTISH LEAGUE
But Lucky to Scrape Through Against Hearts at Pittodrie
NEAR TO LOSING POINT
Aberdeen Forwards Seem Reluctant to Shoot
DECIDED WITH THE LAST KICK OF GAME
Never will Aberdeen come nearer losing a point than against Hearts at Pittodrie on Saturday. The teams were level with a matter of seconds to go and hundreds had left the ground when Armstrong with the last kick of the match sent the crowd into ecstacies by scoring the winning goal. It was a near thing - how near may be gauged from the fact that there was no time to even to re-centre the ball. One cannot help but sympathise with Hearts on having a point so dramatically snatched from their grasp.Reluctant to Shoot
Had the Dons only shared the spoils they would have had themselves to blame. They were the superior team until Hearts secured a somewhat flukey equalising goal sixteen minutes after the start of the second period, but they failed to translate a territorial advantage into goals. The Aberdeen forwards worked too closely and they seemed surprisingly reluctant to shoot. They gave the impression that they wanted to walk the ball into the net. Hopes are high in Aberdeen and the north that the Dons will make football history this year, but if this is to be accomplished the forwards must instil more thrust into their finishing. When Hearts drew level they became a team transformed. There was a tightening up in defence and the attack became more dangerous. In fact from the time the equalising goal was scored until the last kick they seemed as likely to snatch the winning goal as did Aberdeen.Dons Take Lead The homesters took the lead eighteen minutes after the start. After an exciting race for possession with Beynon, McClure only partially cleared and Armstrong fastened on to smash the ball into the net. This goal enabled Aberdeen to lead at the interval. When the teams resumed Murray and Munro had changed places in the Hearts attack. Sixteen minutes had gone when disaster overtook the Dons. In a Hearts' attack centre-forward Anderson sent in a shot which did not look particularly dangerous, but Falloon deflected it past his own 'keeper into the net. If the equalising goal was a sad blow to Aberdeen, how much sadder was the winning goal to Hearts? During an Aberdeen attack a clearance by Harvey went to Murray on the left, and the winger instead of bringing the ball under control hit it first time and sent it flying into his own penalty area. Three Aberdeen players made a rush for the ball, and in the ensuing scramble Armstrong raced through to bang it into the net.
Wingers Dangerous
The Aberdeen wingers, and Lang, were speedy and dangerous, but the Welshman was a trifle impetuous. Lang gave Anderson, Scotland's international right back, many anxious moments. Although closely guarded by Reid Armstrong was a dashing leader, and deserves credit for the manner in which he took his two goals. Mills and McKenzie were disappointing. The Inside left played far below his best form and seemed deficient in speed, while McKenzie made the mistake of putting too much work on the ball against a quick-tackling defence.Thomson Outstanding
Thomson was outstanding in a hard-working intermediate trio. The left half was and strong in defence, and was always willing to move up in support of his forwards. Falloon was not so sure as usual, and appeared to experience more difficulty in checking the dashing Anderson than has been the case this season with men of bigger reputation. There was no more whole-hearted player afield than Fraser, who though seldom brilliant got through a power of work. McGill and Cooper were a solid pair of backs. The former, who found Munro a stiffer proposition in the second half than had Murray in the first, always played for safety. Smith in goal played confidently, and cannot be held responsible for the shot that beat him.Hearts' Defence Shaky
The Hearts' defence was shaky in the first half, but later settled down to a steady game. Harkness was a capable 'keeper, and Anderson and McClure a serviceable pair of backs, who received valuable assistance from Reid. Massie was the star half-back, combining defence and attack with rare skill and judgment. The forward line, although often dangerous did not impress as a line. Walker was a clever and forceful inside right, and he and Munro struck up a happy partnership when they were paired in the second half. Black was a hard-working Inside left, but Murray did not meet with much success either on the right or the left. Anderson, the former Queen Park player, who led the attack in place of McCulloch, now with Brentford, showed promise.Source: Press & Journal, 2nd December 1935
Smith, Cooper, McGill, Fraser, Falloon, Thomson, Beynon, McKenzie, Armstrong, Mills, Lang.
Harkness, Anderson, McClure, Massie, Reid, Harvey, Murray, Walker, A. Anderson, Black, Munro
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Referee: J. Baillie, Motherwell
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen AB24 5QH