Hamilton 2 - 5 Aberdeen

Hamilton Gets Hat-trick Against Accies
By NORMAN MACDONALD

The Dons didn't win as easily at Hamilton as the 5-2 score would suggest. They succeeded because they lasted the pace better than the Accies. The game was played on a stamina testing ground with a heavy ball which was always liable to do the unexpected. These conditions didn't suit Aberdeen's more cultured style of football.
Believe me, the Dons had many anxious moments before they got a grip of the game. Hamilton were leading by the odd goal twenty-one minutes from the end It took the Pittodrie side close on seventy minutes to adapt themselves to the conditions.
Even when in arrears they always looked the classier side. Once they took the lead the writing was on the wall. Four goals in the last twenty minutes - it was a devastating finish.

Defence Blunders

As a matter of fact the Dons were responsible for all seven goals scored. Hamilton Accies' counters were defensive tragedies. The first, in thirty-one minutes, can be traced to bad marking when McGurk took a free kick. The ball should have been cleared before it got as far as it did. Cooper came in to lunge at the ball in an effort to clear and it cannoned off Bremner's body into the net.
Five minutes from the interval came defensive blunder No. 2. Harassed by Steele, Dunlop attempted to pass back and succeeded only in placing the ball out of Johnstone's reach into the net. Just on the half-time whistle Hamilton dived forward to reduce the leeway with a header from a free kick by McKenna.
With seventy minutes played Hamilton started the movement that brought the equaliser. He slipped the ball to Williams, and the winger with neat flick gave Harris the chance to send into the net.
Ten minutes from the end McGurk brought Williams down inside the penalty area, and from the spot kick Hamilton put the Dons ahead. With five minutes to go Campbell went full length to push out a shot from Hamilton and before he could recover Williams had netted.
Hamilton further emphasised Aberdeen's superiority by completing his hat-trick and getting Aberdeen's fifth goal. This counter came after Campbell had saved from Harris.
I feel it would be unfair to criticise the Aberdeen players in view of the conditions and the fact that they outstayed their opponents to finish good winners.

Dunlop's Dismay

Although by no means overworked in goal Johnstone had one or two excellent saves. Both Cooper and McKenna played soundly enough at back, and Dunlop, apart from his fatal pass back, was reliable enough in the middle. The look of consternation on the Dons' skipper's face when he did beat Johnstone had to be seen to be believed.
The forwards did not move rhythmically until the closing stages. To George Hamilton goes the medal of the week. Scotland's inside-right proved himself a real match-winning forward. Campbell, Johnstone and Rothera were Accies' defensive stalwarts. Bremner was the outstanding attacker in the opening period, but he tired after the interval.

Source: Press & Journal, 2nd December 1946

On this occasion, Aberdeen wore blue kit.