Falkirk 2 - 2 Aberdeen
HT Score: Falkirk 0 - 1 Aberdeen
Div 1 (Old)
Falkirk scorers: McCrae 50, Sinclair 88Aberdeen scorers: Yorston 30, Leggat 82.
21/11/1953 | KO: 14:30
Dons Can Move to the Top
But The Attack Must Be More Incisive
By NORMAN MACDONALD
WHO WILL BE AT THE HEAD OF AFFAIRS ON THE SCOTTISH "A" DIVISION TABLE AT THE END OF THE YEAR? THE DONS ARE IN A POSITION TO STRIKE A BLOW FOR NORTH FOOTBALL.
Allister and Glen are providing a worthwhile service to the front line, and the forwards are responding with some clever football. What is needed to carry Aberdeen to the top of the table is more incisiveness near the opposing goal.
If they succeed In adding punch to the polish between now and January 1 they could replace Queen of the South in No. 1 position. This feat will not be easy of accomplishment.
Between now and the end of the year they play Hearts, Hamilton Accies and St Mirren away from home and Raith Rovers and Stirling at Pittodrie. The Tynecastle and Love Street fixtures are likely to provide particularly severe tests.
The Dons’ draw at Falkirk showed that the team is not short of that very necessary commodity, fighting spirit. Although at a disadvantage territorially at Brockville they played a neater and more cohesive brand of football than their rivals.
Reckless
The Falkirk crowd may complain that their attackers were wantonly reckless in their finishing, but they would find it difficult to argue that Aberdeen did not deserve a point.
In actual tact, the "Bairns" snatched the equaliser two minutes from the end after the Dons had gone ahead six minutes earlier.
The Falkirk attack was a two-man affair. The best football, most trouble for the Aberdeen defence and the two goals came from Sinclair and McCrae. The former Middlesbrough player was the driving force in the Falkirk van.
Sinclair, who was given a free transfer by Aberdeen F.C. at the end of last season, has put on weight and has improved greatly as player since his Pittodrie days.
’Keeper Sound
The Aberdeen defence did not have much leisure on Saturday. Caldwell had little success against Sinclair in the first half, but he made a somewhat better showing after the interval. Martin was a sound ’keeper and he had a couple of sturdy protectors in Mitchell and Young. Glen was the more successful wing half-back, but the fact that Allister provided the final pass from which Leggat scored the second goal demonstrates that he was active in attack.
Buckley was potentially the most dangerous Aberdeen forward, but he again could not boast of an efficient service from his team-mates. Yorston showed signs of regaining some of his old confidence.
Hay time and again mystified the opposition with clever footwork, but spoiled what could have been a really bright display by putting too much work on the ball. What a pity Army service prevents this young player engaging in full time training.
Arsenal Watch
Hather and Leggat played quite well on the wings, but the Englishman was not the jet-propelled raider we saw against Queen of the South.
Incidentally, Tommy Cairns, Arsenal’s Scottish scout, was said to be watching Hay at Falkirk on Saturday, He made no approach to the Aberdeen officials and If he had I fee! perfectly certain he would have received no encouragement.
Source: Evening Express, 23rd November 1953
By NORMAN MACDONALD
WHO WILL BE AT THE HEAD OF AFFAIRS ON THE SCOTTISH "A" DIVISION TABLE AT THE END OF THE YEAR? THE DONS ARE IN A POSITION TO STRIKE A BLOW FOR NORTH FOOTBALL.
Allister and Glen are providing a worthwhile service to the front line, and the forwards are responding with some clever football. What is needed to carry Aberdeen to the top of the table is more incisiveness near the opposing goal.
If they succeed In adding punch to the polish between now and January 1 they could replace Queen of the South in No. 1 position. This feat will not be easy of accomplishment.
Between now and the end of the year they play Hearts, Hamilton Accies and St Mirren away from home and Raith Rovers and Stirling at Pittodrie. The Tynecastle and Love Street fixtures are likely to provide particularly severe tests.
The Dons’ draw at Falkirk showed that the team is not short of that very necessary commodity, fighting spirit. Although at a disadvantage territorially at Brockville they played a neater and more cohesive brand of football than their rivals.
Reckless
The Falkirk crowd may complain that their attackers were wantonly reckless in their finishing, but they would find it difficult to argue that Aberdeen did not deserve a point.
In actual tact, the "Bairns" snatched the equaliser two minutes from the end after the Dons had gone ahead six minutes earlier.
The Falkirk attack was a two-man affair. The best football, most trouble for the Aberdeen defence and the two goals came from Sinclair and McCrae. The former Middlesbrough player was the driving force in the Falkirk van.
Sinclair, who was given a free transfer by Aberdeen F.C. at the end of last season, has put on weight and has improved greatly as player since his Pittodrie days.
’Keeper Sound
The Aberdeen defence did not have much leisure on Saturday. Caldwell had little success against Sinclair in the first half, but he made a somewhat better showing after the interval. Martin was a sound ’keeper and he had a couple of sturdy protectors in Mitchell and Young. Glen was the more successful wing half-back, but the fact that Allister provided the final pass from which Leggat scored the second goal demonstrates that he was active in attack.
Buckley was potentially the most dangerous Aberdeen forward, but he again could not boast of an efficient service from his team-mates. Yorston showed signs of regaining some of his old confidence.
Hay time and again mystified the opposition with clever footwork, but spoiled what could have been a really bright display by putting too much work on the ball. What a pity Army service prevents this young player engaging in full time training.
Arsenal Watch
Hather and Leggat played quite well on the wings, but the Englishman was not the jet-propelled raider we saw against Queen of the South.
Incidentally, Tommy Cairns, Arsenal’s Scottish scout, was said to be watching Hay at Falkirk on Saturday, He made no approach to the Aberdeen officials and If he had I fee! perfectly certain he would have received no encouragement.
Source: Evening Express, 23rd November 1953
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Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen AB24 5QH
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen AB24 5QH