Aberdeen and Clyde "Jitter" Near Goal MOTHERWELL and Morton both took a step towards safety on Saturday, but the relegation problem in the Scottish League is still a complex one.
It is still too early to decide which team will accompany Albion Hovers to "B" Division, but Aberdeen and Clyde are both making it difficult for themselves.
A goal-less draw at Shawfield on Saturday put them both on the twenty-one points mark - one ahead of Morton, who have a match in hand. The fact that both the Dons and the Bully Wee have to play their three remaining games away from home lends additional interest to an engrossing situation.
This was the third week running that Aberdeen had figured in a came without goal. That may be a tribute to the team's defensive qualities, but it throws into bold relief the deficiencies of the forwards.
As far as Clyde were concerned it was difficult to believe that such team had reached the final of the Scottish Cup. They were jittery in defence, and their forwards, given the better scoring chances, were no better than the Aberdeen five when it came to putting the ball between the posts.
Three Switches
The inability the Aberdeen attack to get going was reflected in the fact that there were three switches. Hamilton started off in the centre and went to inside right, while Williams had a spell in all three inside berths, finishing up as partner to Hather with Harris leading.
Hamilton's return didn't provide the expected improvement. It looked as if he wasn't fully tuned up, which was not altogether surprising after his long absence. Even more disappointing than Hamilton was the performance of the wingers. Rice was not progressive enough, while Hather again missed openings that a more experienced player would have turned to account. There was a case iin point soon after half-time when a bad pass back put him in possession near the penalty spot. He was completely unmarked and shot wide of the target.
There was one spell in the second half when Aberdeen looked likely to score. Stenhouse and Waddell kept coming through with the ball, but the forwards were shot-shy. Waddell, in fact, produced the best try the match.
Roy was again the strong man in the Dons' defence. In successive matches he has put a stranglehold on three of Scotland's nippiest leaders - Houliston (Queen of the South), Mochan (Morton) and now Linwood. The former Hibs player was well held at Shawfield, although he had a shot and header in the first half which were not far off the target.
There were "near things" at both goals, and Galletly twice hit the post for Clyde in the second half. It was a disappointing game. Both teams were apparently unable to forget their lowly league position.
Source: Press & Journal, 11th April 1949