Aberdeen 0 - 0 Morton

ANOTHER season of "A" Division football is over, but the anxious supporters of Aberdeen F.C. still don't know whether they will be watching first or second-class fare next season.

If the Dons go down and "B" Division soccer is below the standard of Saturday's game with Morton, the outlook is indeed bleak.
Even allowing for the fact that both teams are awkwardly placed on the league table and must be under severe nervous tension, it was poor stuff.
A goal-less draw was all it was worth, and both sides gave the impression that they were devoid of ideas when it came to scoring.
There was plenty of honest-to-goodness effort, but no studied football. If anything, Morton looked slightly more impressive when their forwards got on the move, but they were no better than Aberdeen when it came to finishing.
Even Tommy Orr, generally a cultured inside forward, developed a get-rid-of-the-ball complex. He didn't look at all like a Scottish reserve forward on this showing.

Easy for Defenders

The general ineptitude of the forward play tended to make things easy for defenders. it is perhaps unfair to criticise a defence which has not yielded goal the last two matches, but there were moments of uncertainty in the Aberdeen rearguard.
Curran compared favourably with internationalist Jimmy Cowan, but both 'keepers spoiled an otherwise good display by weak kicking. Neither Ancell nor McKenna looked happy under pressure, and it was left to Roy stop many of the Greenock attacks.
The Pittodrie pivot, as dominating as Whigham was in the other half of the field, allowed Mochan no more scope than Houliston had the week before. He cut out the frills and was the master of the nippy Morton centre in the air.
Stenhouse was the best of the four wing half-backs. Williams and Harris the Dons' inside men strove hard throughout, but they never really got on top of the dour Greenock defence.
There were times when Rice and Hather had the measure of the full backs, but the promise in their play neve reached maturity. Emery, willing as ever, did have a couple of creditable tries, but not clever enough to outwit the hard-hitting Whigham.
Aberdeen had the test of the scoring chances. Early in the game Rice gave Cowan the opportunity to show why he is Scotland's keeper. A left foot shot by the home winger sermed bound for the far corner of the net. but somehow or other Cowan got to it and clutched the ball safely.

Curran's Turn

It was Curran's turn to do a life-saving act close on half-time. McKenna was caught napping when the hall came over from the left and as Farquhr closed in on goal unchallenged Curran threw himself at the winegr's feet to divert the shot. The ball was scrambled clear.
There were scattered goalmouth incidents in the second half, mostly at Cowan's end. The nearest approach to a goal came when an Emery thunderbolt ws blocked and a defender poked the ball away with Rice running in to connect.
McGarrity almost stole a goal for Morton when he headed on a cute free kick by Gibson. The ball hit the junction of bar and upright and passed behind.
And so the grim struggle goes on. Every game is like a cup-tie, and it looks like being another desperate duel at Shawfield this week when the Dons cross swords with Clyde.

Source: Press & Journal, 4th April 1949