Aberdeen 5 - 2 Ayr United

The score 5-2 would suggest that Aberdeen scored an easy victory over Ayr United at Pittodrie. This is not the case. There was always the danger that the visitors would snatch the equaliser until the closing ten minutes, when Armstrong scored twice.
The Dons made things difficult for themselves. They scored three times and generously presented Ayr United with two goals before the interval. The score stood 3-2 from the closing minutes the first period until ten minutes from the end of the game, and in between Ayr seemed as likely to equalise as Aberdeen did to increase their total.

ATTACK IMPROVES

There was nothing brilliant about either team but of the two Aberdeen were the better The Dons showed an improvement in attack compared with the previous week at Paisley but the line is not yet hitting on all five cylinders. There was weakness in defence. Donald, at right back, was not a success, and the rear division as a whole was inclined to get panicky under pressure.
Aberdeen took the lead twenty-six minutes after the start. Dunlop took a free kick just outside the penalty area, and Brady headed into the net. This success was short-lived. From the re-centre Ayr made ground. Donald was harassed by Marshall and passed back. The ball beat Johnstone and the keeper scrambled after it on all fours in a vain effort to prevent it crossing the line.
The Dons regained the lead eleven minutes from the interval. Warnock gathered a long cross from Brady, resisted a challenge from Strain, and raced on to beat Hall with a splendid shot which entered the net between the keeper and the post.

SECOND GIFT

Six minutes later Aberdeen increased their lead. Brady picked up a loose ball on the left and when he lobbed it into the middle Strauss was lying in position to back-head it into the net.
A few minutes later Ayr got their second "gift." Yardley accepted an up the middle pass from Ross and while the Aberdeen players stood appealing for off-side the centre carried on to beat Johnstone.
The Dons fourth and fifth goals came from Armstrong in the closing ten minutes. He scored the first from a neat slip from Hamilton, and headed the second from a well-placed free kick from Thomson.
Johnstone must share some of the blame for the loss of the first goal but apart from this, the 'keeper did all that was asked of him. Thomson was a sound left back and when Cooper resumes on the right may well prove a success.
Nicholson was harassed. He had quite enough to do looking after Yardley, but he had often to go to the assistance of Donald.
Outstanding for Aberdeen was Dunlop at right half. Not only did he pull his weight in defence, but provided Warnock and Hamilton with an excellent service. Taylor, on the left, was strong in the tackle, but must learn to part with the ball with more accuracy. In Hamilton and Warnock the Dons had quite a smart right wing. The extreme winger was quick to get off his mark, and crossed many inviting balls. Hamilton and he co-operated well.
Armstrong atoned for a poor display with two smartly taken goals. Previous to this nothing would go right for centre.
Brady was the hardest working forward afield. Not only did he score one goal but provided balls from which two of the others came. He was inclined to lie too far back in the second half with the result that Strauss saw little of the ball.
The South African kept the right flank of the Ayr defence busy in the first half, but he has still to recapture his best form.
Ayr were a very mediocre team. Their main strength lay at half-back. Hall in goal did not inspire confidence, and Dyer was the more reliable back.
Ross was the best half-back, and he caused the Aberdeen defence a lot of trouble with the length he could throw the ball in from touch. On several occasions he dropped it near the goalmouth. Currie at centre-half was quietly effective.
The attack flickered. It never went out, but it never blazed. Yardley was a trier, but was badly supported, and Dimmer came into the picture only now and again with a forcing run, but he was not consistent.
Gemmell and Marshall, on the left, particularly the extreme winger, wasted their chances.

Source: Press & Journal, 17th October 1938