Aberdeen 2 - 0 Queen of the South

BUT FORWARDS NEED MORE PUNCH

IS this to be Aberdeen's year? They are now on the last lap of the short but arduous journey that leads to Hampden Park, fame and fortune. The Dons have a grand opportunity to bring the Scottish Cup north for the first time in history.

Will they seize it? There's one thing sure and that is if they intend to succeed they will have to play better than they did against Queen of the South in the fourth round at Pittodrie on Saturday.
They won by two goals to nil, but they were not convincing. They got off to flying start when they took the lead in ten minutes, but not until the second goal arrived twenty-one minutes after the start of the second half did their supporters breathe a sigh of relief.

PLENTY THRILLS

It was a hard and fiercely contested game. The football was only of a moderate standard, but there was no lack of excitement. and the fact that Queen of the South looked capable of snatching the equaliser any time kept the crowd on its toes.
Although the Aberdeen defence was by no means impenetrable it was generally sound. It was the attack that disappointed most. The forwards never moved with the fluency and purpose that marked their play both against Falkirk in the third round of the Cup, and against Hearts in the League game.
The two men who played the leading part in taking Aberdeen into the semi-final for the eighth time were Nicholson and Pattillo. The Dons' skipper and centre half was the backbone of the defence.
He it was who threw a spanner into the works of the Queen of the South attack. Pattillo was the best home forward. He was tireless, and gave the Dumfries defence no rest. The visitors failed in their efforts to curb the activities of the Dons' leader - and he scored the two goals that carried Aberdeen forward.
Johnstone, in the Aberdeen goal, was not overworked, but it would be to the advantage of the team as a whole if the keeper and Nicholson cultivated a better understanding. More than once on Saturday this pair went for the same ball.
Cowie gave a splendid display at right back. It says much for the former Dundee player that Lang, the Queen of the South left winger, was little in evidence. Adey was not so successful against Oakes. The left back was often beaten in the tackle, but he stuck to his job tenaciously, and kicked strongly.
Dunlop and Thomson, the wing half-backs, played their part both as attackers and defenders. The right half received a painful ankle injury early in the game, but pluckily carried on although it was obvious that it pained him to kick the ball.
The story of the forwards is not so pleasant. Next to Pattillo in order of merit comes Strauss. The South African was a fast and dangerous raider, but he did not receive enough of the ball. Biggs did not play well. The inside left did not seem to be completely recovered from the injury received against Hearts.

RIGHT WING WEAK

Hamilton, too. disappointed. Only occasionally did we see the clever and cultured inside forward of the previous week. One example, however, was the first goal. It was Hamilton that paved the way for this point. Warnock, his partner, did not impress. The winger seems to have lost form.
Queen of the South put up a hard fight, and had their forwards been able to round off their outfield play the Dons might not now be awaiting the semi-final draw with the same keen interest. Mathieson, in goal, played well, and Anderson, at left back, vied with Cowie as the best back afield. Watson, at centre half, although he found Pattillo a difficult problem, was another stalwart in defence. He was off the field having an eye injury attended to when Aberdeen scored their first goal.
Fitzsimmons was the better of two hard-working wing half-backs. Oakes was the most dangerous attacker He was speedy, and carried a powerful shot. The inside forwards were disappointing, particularly Law, who had poor game. Hay was a plucky leader, but he was given few chances.

NOT UNLUCKY

It is stretching the truth to say that Queen of the South were unlucky. It's goals that count, and in this all-important phase of the game the Dons proved superior to their opponents.
Pattillo gave Aberdeen the lead after ten minutes' play. Hamilton with a clever run turned defence into attack. He parted to Warnock. and the winger, after making ground, sent the ball into the middle. It appeared as if Pattillo had allowed the ball to run too far ahead, but the centre put in a spurt, and beating Mathieson to the ball, placed it wide of the keeper and into the net.
The deciding goal also came from Pattillo. Biggs sent Strauss away on the left, and the winger's cross fell to Warnock. The right winger shot, but it developed into a cross, and Pattillo brought the ball down to send into the net.

Source: Press & Journal, 6th March 1939