Aberdeen 2 - 0 Queen of the South

By NORMAN MACDONALD

IT was Aberdeen's three musketeers, Allister, Young and Glen who sabotaged Queen of the South’s championship bid at Pittodrie.
Saturday’s game provided another Scottish football mystery. Who could believe that this Dumfries team possessed the most effective goal machine on this side of the border?
Thanks to the excellent play of Young and his half-back team-mates. Queens were never permitted to look like potential "A" Division champions.

  I won't be surprised if the Pittodrie defeat Is the beginning of the end the Queen of the South challenge.
The Dons themselves are now within striking distance. But for a shaky start to the season they would be close on the leaders’ heels

Last Six Matches

They have a total of twelve points compared with ’’Queens” seventeen and of that total eleven have been gathered from their last six matches.
The true strength of the Dons’ bid for the premier honour should become apparent during the next fortnight To date seven of their ten games have been played at Pittodrie. This week they tackle Falkirk at Brockville and the following week they are engaged with Hearts at Tynecastle.
The Queen of the South forwards played clever enough football in the outfield in the first half at Pittodrie, but there was an almost complete lack of punch when they reached the vicinity of the penalty area. Apart from Black and McGill on the right wing their front line was a very ordinary affair.

Finished Stronger

There was no questioning Aberdeen's superiority after the interval. They finished a much stronger team than their opponents.
The Aberdeen forwards were far more dangerous, but their formation was by no means perfect. Yorston, Smith and Leggat have all been seen to better advantage. The inside right atoned for some of his feckless shooting when he produced Aberdeen’s second goal with a thirty yards drive near the end.
Smith never strikes me as being either happy or comfortable in the forward line. He may originally have been an inside forward with his junior club, Sunnybank, but since joining the Pittodrie staff he has become generally recognised as a defender.
Although opposed to a sound back in Sharpe, Hather always threatened danger on the Dons' left wing and that opening goal of his was a real gem.

Bustling Buckley

Buckley showed any amount of enthusiasm and not a little skill as leader, and with better support from his inside men he would in all probability have figured amongst the scorers.
As was the case against Rangers, the Aberdeen half backs were the strong department of the team. I thought Alec Young was the best defender on the field. In this game the centre-half revealed all his old agility and once again his timing in the tackle was first-rate.
It was well for the Dons that Young was at the top of his form. Caldwell could make little of Black, the Queen of the South right winger and time and again Young was called upon to retrieve the situation.
Mitchell played well at right back and Martin’s handling of the ball was safe and sound, although his kicking in the first half was a trifle erratic.

Source: Evening Express, 16th November 1963