St. Johnstone 2 - 1 Aberdeen

VICTORY DESERVED BY ST JOHNSTONE

DEFENCE DOES NOT SHINE

A goal scored by Lorimer seven minutes from the end gave St Johnstone victory over Aberdeen in a Scottish League match at Perth yesterday afternoon.

Neither team was impressive, but in view of their territorial superiority Saints were not undeserving winners.
The Dons were but a shadow of the team that scored a decisive victory against Hearts on Saturday. The defence was less reliable, and, lacking consistent support from behind, the forwards were disjointed and rarely threatened danger.

RESERVING THEMSELVES?

It may be that the Aberdeen players were reserving themselves for their important Cup semi-final duel with Morton at Easter Road on Saturday first. Let us hope this was the case, for on yesterday's form they have little chance of gaining the trophy.
Even allowing for the fact that changes were necessary through injuries to players, this does not altogether excuse their lack of spirit. The team is capable of much better play. Had they revealed the same form as against Hearts they would almost certainly have beaten St Johnstone.
While the Perth team could not be grudged the points, their play was by no means inspiring. In the first half they held a decided territorial advantage and should have had a more substantial lead than a penalty goal at the interval.

WEAK AT GOAL

Over-elaboration near goal was their principal failing. They played well enough in the outfield, but once they got inside the penalty area they were not content to shoot, but wanted to walk the ball into the net.
Despite strong pressure it seemed that they would fail to open their account in the first half. Five minutes from the interval, however, Thomson handled the ball in breaking up a McCall-Caskie movement, and McCall gave Johnstone no chance from the penalty spot.
When Aberdeen drew level thirteen minutes after the restart, through Ritchie Smith, their play improved, while that of St Johnstone deteriorated. Gradually, however, the Dons fell away again, and Saints resumed the offensive.

LORIMER'S GOAL

With seven minutes left for play a sweeping Perth attack ended in Caskie centring for Lorimer to net from close range. Aberdeen made a bold effort to draw level again, but Saints experienced little difficulty in holding their slender lead.
Johnstone, in the Aberdeen goal, had no chance with the shots that beat him, but neither Cooper nor Temple succeeded in entirely subduing their respective wingers.
Falloon, too, experienced considerable difficulty in keeping Lorimer, a speedy and dangerous leader, in check. Thomson was the better of the wing halves and tried hard to keep the forwards in action. Ritchie played hard, but was too busy in defence to lend the men in front much assistance.

FORWARDS OFF COLOUR

Not one of the attackers touched his best form. Strauss, despite the close attentions of Taylor, was the most dangerous of the quintette. Too many of the balls that came to Armstrong were in the air, with the result that the lanky Moulds almost always got them with his head.
Scott worked hard at inside right, but was not forceful enough, while McKenzie often spoiled clever play by failing to part to advantage. Ritchie Smith, on the left, did little of note apart from scoring the goal.
St Johnstone had a strong rear trio in Wylie, Welsh and Taylor, while Moulds was also a stalwart in defence.
Dickie, the former Aberdeen junior, played well at left-half, and in attack Lorimer and McCall were most dangerous.

Source: Press & Journal, 30th March 1937