Partick Thistle 3 - 3 Aberdeen

Lucky for Thistle: Tragic for Aberdeen

Dons the more skilful team

A goal scored fifteen minutes from the end enabled Partick Thistle to share the points with Aberdeen at Firhill. It was a lucky goal r Thistle and a tragic one for the Dons.

On play Aberdeen should have emerged victorious. They were a much better balanced and more skilful team than the homesters, and during the first forty minutes of the game the "Jags" were completely outclassed.

Brilliant Football

The Dons played brilliant football, forwards and wing half working with craft and understanding. The forwards interchanged positions with such speed and intelligence that Partick were a badly rattled team.
Two goals at the end of half an hour did not truly represent Aberdeen's superiority, and had the attackers been able to round off their outfield play they would have held a more substantial lead.
Aberdeen's first goal came in eight minutes. Lang nodded the ball back to Armstrong, and the centre's left-foot drive flew off Calderwood into the net. Although the visitors were definitely on top it took them twenty-two minutes to increase their lead.

Clever Goal

This second goal was a clever affair. McKenzie and Mills neatly worked the ball through, and the latter swept it up the middle for Armstrong to race between the backs and send into the net.
With a two-goal lead an Aberdeen victory seemed certain, but there was a complete metamorphosis in the closing four minute. Keenan beat McGill to a high ball and sent out to Regan. Without delay the winger sent across the ground to Wylie, who swept it into the net.
The equaliser came the last minute. A free kick was awarded against Fraser, and Smith, standing two yards out of his goal, failed to stop the ball, which struck the underside of the crossbar. McLeod headed the rebound against the crossbar again, and Keenan headed into the net.

Homesters More Dangerous

These two quick goals appeared to restore some of the Jags' lost confidence in the second half, and although Aberdeen were still on top the homesters were more dangerous than in the first half.
With twenty-seven minutes gone Thomson restored Aberdeen's lead when he found the net with a great shot from a free kick twenty-three yards out.
Disaster overtook the Dons in thirty minutes in the shape of a goal which never should have been scored.
In a goalmouth scrimmage Smith allowed a header by Wylie to pass between his arms and strike him on the chest. The ball rebounded to Cooper, and the right back, in attempting to clear before Hastie could reach the ball, sent into the net.

Severe Blow

The loss of this point is a severe blow to the Dons' Scottish League flag hopes. Unless both Rangers and Celtic falter, Aberdeen are out of the hunt.
The Aberdeen defence was not particularly sound under pressure. Cooper made a shaky start, but settled down to a steady game and Christie was seldom in the limelight. Although McGill worked hard, Regan gave him lot of trouble.
Smith in goal did not inspire confidence, and seemed to be at fault when Thistle got the goal which gave them a point.
Falloon was a steady defender and kept a good grip of Wylie, while Fraser and Thomson served up a splendid display, especially in the first half.
Fraser has not been seen to better advantage this season.

Room for Improvement

Although the forwards played brilliant football, there is room for improvement in their finishing. Armstrong was a clever leader, and he received good support from Mills. McKenzle was smart on the ball and carried it downfield in splendid style on numerous occasions, but unfortunately his distribution was not too good.
Both Lang and Warnock took the eye with speedy runs and crosses, and the former was unfortunate with a great shot in the second half which Johnstone tipped over his head and then turned to retrieve the ball before it could cross the line.
Partick Thistle lacked the skill and cohesion of their opponents, but they were a strong, virile side.
In Johnstone they had a capable keeper, and the backs, Stevenson and Calderwood, although they experienced a good deal of difficulty in holding the Aberdeen attack, defended strongly.
McLeod was best in a mediocre half-line, and in a fast-moving attack which kept the ball swinging, Regan and Hastie were most prominent.
Wylie was a dashing leader, and Kennan, the Firhill club's latest capture from Larne, showed promise at, inside right.

Source: Press & Journal, 10th February 1936