Aberdeen 6 - 3 East Fife

But Defence Not so Cheerful
By NORMAN MACDONALD

CONGRATULATIONS to the Dons’ forwards on their contribution to the brighter-football movement in the past three weeks. There is hope for the future in an attack which can hit the target seventeen times in three matches.
Conversely, there is reason for anxiety about a defence which concedes ten goals in the same number of games.
It is interesting to note that only East Fife, the Don's latest victims, have scored as many goals as Aberdeen in the League competition this season.
It is perhaps more significant that Airdrie and Clyde alone are guilty of losing more goals that the Dons.
Nothing could dull the bright lively and joyous football of the Pittodrie attackers against the League leaders on Saturday. Even the most blase Aberdeen enthusiast must have got a "kick" out of the swashbuckling spirit displayed by the front line.

Defence Weak

It seems a pity that now that the match-winning blend in attack has been found the play of the defence should give cause for worry.
There can be no arguing the fact that the Fifers’ forwards frequently created alarm in the Aberdeen rear division. I thought Mitchell was the best and most consistent defender against East Fife. He was speedy in recovery and kicked lustily. Harris was the only other who rated a mention.

Personality

What pity it is that Aberdeen are likely to lose Hugh Hay to the Services before the end of the present season. The young inside left spread his personality all over Saturday’s game.
Brimful of bright ideas, he stole most of the glory in attack and it would be no exaggeration to say that he was a one-man rescue team when the defence was in trouble.
Never have I heard an Aberdeen crowd rise to a player so spontaneously as they did to Hay on Saturday. It gives me additional pleasure to record this in view of the fact that the Pittodrie faithful are reckoned to be severely critical of local talent.
Hay came from Banks Dee, a club which is proving quite a prolific nursery for Aberdeen F.C. This 19-year-old youngster shows every sign of making a name for himself in Scottish football, providing he does not allow his early success to his head.

In Merry Mood

But Hay wasn't the only Pittodrie young man with bright ideas. Alan Boyd was another who impressed his personality on the East Fife match. The right winger has proved a trifle unpredictable since his arrival at Pittodrie.
In the first half on Saturday he was in merry mood and his two goals on the run were well worth going to see. If Boyd can retain this form he will become one of the most dangerous right wingers in Scotland.
George Hamilton "fathered" the attack skilfully. Buckley was an aggressive leader, but Hather got too little of the ball to be as prominent as he has been in recent games, due to the fact that Hay was inclined to be too much of an individualist.
The Dons have ample time yet to fight their way to the forefront. They may well succeed if the defence can pull a zip-fastener across the way to goal.

Source: Evening Express, 27th October 1952