By NORMAN MACDONALD
WHAT is the mystery of the appearance of two English club scouts at the Aberdeen-St Mirren tie? Mr Jack Nicholas, Derby County’s Scottish scout, and Mr Bob Ferrier, the Hull City representative, were amongst the Pittodrie spectators.
There may be some significance in the fact that Jack Nicholas also looked on at the friendly game at Middlesbrough the previous week. If it was an Aberdeen player in which the English representatives were interested the Pittodrie officials have no knowledge of the fact.
Few of the Dons hit the high spots on Saturday, but I should imagine that anybody in search of players must have been impressed with the solid defensive play of Willie Telfer. The big Paisley centre-half played a leading role in keeping the score down to two goals.
It was two defensive lapses, however, plus the loss of Jacky Neilson, their right half, which cost St Mirren the tie.
Hather gets fall marks for his opportunism in accepting the scoring chances. The left winger and Hamilton were the only two Aberdeen forwards who emerged from this game with any real credit.
The Dons should have had more than two goals. The chances were there for the taking. Yorston and Buckley were particularly wasteful. Had they been in the right mood both could have figured prominently amongst the cup-tie goalscorers.
It was a disappointing sort game. The play in the first half hour promised an abundance of thrills, but they failed to materialise during the remaining sixty minutes. The fact that St Mirren were without Neilson for almost an hour may have been responsible to some extent for spoiling the game.
Incidentally, the Paisley right half, who was taken to hospital by ambulance at the interval, was later released and joined his team-mates after the match. Neilson was suffering from a badly-strained ligament.
Anxious Moments
Although the Aberdeen defence had its anxious moments they kept their goal intact. Martin and the two backs Mitchell and Shaw, played soundly. Harris was the better of two hard-hitting half-backs, who could have been more effective in a constructive capacity.
Young did quite a good job at centre-half, although he did not inspire the same confidence as Telfer. I thought the Paisley pivot was the best player afield, and former Aberdeen player Peter Rice both as a winger and when he dropped back to the half-line, played with good spirit and determination.
The Dons did their job - they won - but there will have to be decided improvement in the finishing of the forwards if thev are to stay the pace in the knock-out competition.
Source: Evening Express, 9th February 1953
Aberdeen Teamsheet Martin,
Mitchell,
Shaw,
Harris,
Young,
Allister,
Rodger,
Hamilton,
Buckley,
Yorston,
Hather.
St. Mirren Teamsheet
Park, Lapsley, Johnston, Neilson, Telfer, Reid, Rice, McGill, Stewart, Blyth, Anderson
Attendance: 22,294
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Referee: W. Brittle