Aberdeen 3 - 4 East Fife

Dons Must Strengthen Defence For League
by NORMAN MACDONALD

THE DONS’ FOOTBALL FUTURE IS ANYTHING BUT ASSURED ON THEIR DISPLAY AGAINST EAST FIFE. THERE WERE WEAKNESSES IN DEFENCE. THE HALF-BACKS, NOT THE BACKS, WERE MAINLY TO BLAME FOR THE FAILURE.
To add to the Aberdeen management troubles, Alec Young, their centre-half, submitted a letter during the week-end asking to be put on the open-to-transfer list.
Young was dropped from the first team against the Fifers and played for the reserves at Brechin. While realising that he did not have a good match at Airdrie, Young probably feels that he was not entirely to blame for the defeat.
Young practically went direct from the junior ranks into first-class Scottish League football. A member of Blantyre Victoria's Scottish Junior Cup winning team, he was signed by Aberdeen in 1950 and was almost immediately drafted into the League team.
An ankle injury during the Dons’ Norwegian tour in 1951 resulted in Ken Thomson taking over as first team pivot, but when the former Banks o' Dee junior was transferred to Stoke City in September, 1952. Young returned to the Aberdeen first eleven.
Aberdeen start their league campaign against St Mirren this week and unless the defence
leakages are stopped the situation must be viewed with some trepidation.
There must be something missing from a rear division which concedes eight goals in two matches.
The East Fife inside-forwards were allowed far too much iatitude, particularly Fleming and Gardiner. This pair produced some bright and lively football. Allister and Harris never seemed to catch up with them.

No Medals

But it the defenders failed to draw a zip fastener across the goal, the forwards didn't win any medals either for their enterprise around Curran's charge.
The Fifers had twice as much fire power as Aberdeen in front. If Buckley was 100% fit, he certainly did not produce his usual dash and aggressiveness. Finlay was generally master of the situation in the middle.
Yorston was not the player on Saturday he was against Airdrie, while Hather should have made much better use of his speed against Emery.
Hamilton was the most intelligent of the forwards. Dunbar tried hard on the wing without getting a great deal of support, but found it hard to shake off the experienced Stewart.
Fleming and Bonthrone exploited the faulty team-work in the Aberdeen defence when they scored the first two goals, and the lack of confidence was emphasised when Fleming made the score 3-2 ten minute from the end. 
Although he had to pick the ball out of the net four times Morrison played quite well, Mitchell and Caldwell, although overworked, defended bravely. The left back's coolness and sound tackling confirmed the good impression he created on his first appearance.
Smith did not reveal the same dominance as Finlay of East Fife, but he was the best of the three poor half-backs.
It was an exasperating game from the Aberdeen point of view and unless the players make up their minds to go for the ball instead of waiting for it, the Dons are going find themselves in trouble in the league competition.

Source: Evening Express, 31st August 1953