St. Mirren 1 - 1 Aberdeen

Thomson Dominates Centre; McKenna Never Better

THERE is an old saying that the best form of defence is attack. On Saturday at Paisley it looked as if some members of the Aberdeen team had never heard of it, and the result was that the Dons could only draw 1-1 with St Mirren after they appeared to have the game in hand.

Taken at its face value, the draw represents a good performance by Aberdeen. Their prospects of reaching the League Cup match-play stages remain bright, but the feeling persists that two points should have been won instead of one.
When St Mirren had the assistance of a strong breeze in the first half tne Aberdeen defence did magnificently.
With the score sheet still blank at half-time it looked promising for the Dons, and their stock rose several points when Harris whipped the ball home from Pearson's cross in the ninth minute.
Aided by the wind, Aberdeen might have been expected to go all out fo more goals, but that fatal tendency to lapse into defence after they had taken the lead was still there. The absurdity of these tactics was proved two minutes from time when Saints equalised and a golden point was gone.

Johnstone Excels

The loss of that goal might prove costly when the final reckoning comes in a fortnight's time, but no blame can be attached to the Pittodrie defence. Johnstone made some great saves during Saints' long spell of ascendance and he was ably protected by Massie and McKenna.
McKenna is Playing better than ever before, while Massie proved that he is fit to join Ken Thomson, his former junior colleague, in the league side.
Thomson gains confidence every week and his domination of the centre of the field lightened Aberdeen's task.
Neither Stenhouse nor Waddell were sufficiently aggressive after the Dons had got in front, and in the closing period they might well have taken a leaf from St Mirren's book. Even the right back, Smith, was coming right up to the penalty area with the ball in that all-out bid - a policy which was encouraged by Aberdeen's rearguard action.

Lacking Rhythm

Before the game it was suggested that the Dons' attack held the key to this match and so it proved. The visiting forwards did produce some flashes of football superior to the Paisley brand, but the line as a whole lacked rhythm.
The right wing pair just couldn't get going. Kelly, in his new berth at inside left, worked tremendously hard without bringing Pearson into the scheme of things. The left winger and Harris caused the Paisley defence most trouble and between them they found a way to goal.
Thomson made a hefty clearance to the left wing, where Pearson gathered the ball and made headway. His cross from near the corner flag was met by Harris as the centre closed in, and Kirk had no chance of stopping the shot.
St Mirren didn't have much football, but in the last half hour they had plenty of what Aberdeen lacked - the offensive spirit. An injury to Drinkwater, which sent the back to the left wing, failed to curb their enthusiasm and they threw everything into the bid to save a point.
They succeeded two minutes from time. Hamilton lost possession to Reid near midfield and the deputy left half slung a tempting cross into the middle. The ball was headed down towards the right of the penalty area and Drinkwater was waiting to net with a ground shot.

Source: Press & Journal, 4th October 1948