Aberdeen 5 - 0 Airdrie

By NORMAN MACDONALD

IF ITS GOALS YOU WANT THE DONS CAN PROVIDE THEM! IN SUCCESSIVE WEEKS THEY HAVE BANGED HOME FIVE. THREE HOME WINS - AGAINST PARTICK THISTLE, HAMILTON ACCIES AND AIRDRIE HAVE PRODUCED A NEW SPIRIT ON THE FIELD.

Aberdeen now average a point per game in seven matches, five of which have been at Pittodrie. Joy over the Dons’ success, deserved though it has been, must be tempered with a little caution. Sterner tests lie ahead.
Hamilton Accies were a poor team in the previous week's game, but all things considered, Airdrie were not one whit better. Aberdeen were streets ahead of the Broomfield side in attack as well as defence.
Nowhere was their superiority more marked than at wing halfback. Both Allister and Glen were strong in the tackle and eager and energetic in attack. Glen got his chance in the first team a month ago against Dundee and has certainly proved his worth. He was the best half-back on view on Saturday.

Biggest Discovery

But Aberdeen's biggest discovery this season is surely right winger Leggat. This position has been bit of headache for a long time, but the well-knit Banks o' Dee lad has provided the solution.
Leggat is a clever and intelligent ball player and with normal improvement a bright future lies ahead if he is not spoiled by his early success. T
o all intents and purposes the Aberdeen-Airdrie match was practically decided when the right winger produced the opening goal in ten minutes.
The visitors should have been in the game with a chance when Young was injured ten minutes from the interval and resumed on the left wing in the second half. Instead of Airdrie taking a grip, the Dons emphasised their superiority by collecting a second goal while Young was off the field having his ankle injury attended.

Dons Quicker

The Done were quicker going for the ball and used it far more intelligently than the Lanarkshire team. Apart from occasional flashes from MCulloch and Welsh on the left wing the Airdrie attack was flimsy affair.
If the Broomfield officials had entertained hopes that the return of lan McMillan would provide inspiration they must have been sadly disappointed. He had a poor match and to me did not appear to be thoroughly fit.
It would not have been surprising had the reorganisation of the Aberdeen team, consequent on Young's injury, had an upsetting effect on the side. Such was not fhe case.

More Confident

I thought Smith seemed more confident and comfortable at centre-half than he had been at inside left. Left winger must have been an unusual role for Young, but he seemed to make a good recovery from his ankle injury and was quite lively. He must have got quite "kick" out of scoring the fourth goal.
The Dons make their next appearance in competitive football in a fortnight against Clyde at Shawfield. This game will provide a good test of the strength of their recovery. They should certainlv not lack confidence after their home hat-trick of victories.

Source: Evening Express, 19th October 1953