Aberdeen 3 - 1 Forfar Athletic

In pleasant weather the Aberdeen, after an absence of three weeks, entertained the Athletics from Forfar at Pittodrie on Saturday. The visitors lost the toss and kicked off towards the sea, but soon they were acting on the defensive. Mitchell was troubled rather often for a time, but none of the shots seemed to give him much trouble, until C. Mackie tested his resources with a low drive, which the visitors' custodian dealt with in masterly fashion. At this period of the game the Whites were all over the visitors, and it was only the fine goalkeeping of Mitchell and the eagerness of the home quintette that they did not score. Strang tried bard to have the honour of being the first to find the net, and it certainly was not his fault that this was not the case, but the fault of a Forfar man who got in front of his shot. At last the home crowd got what they were yelling for - a goal - D. McKay being the marksman. Boath and his men were trying hard to make headway towards Barrett, but although their chances were numerous, their finishing was woeful. A second goal, rather unexpected, fell to the Aberdeen from a fine shot by C. Mackie, which clean took Mitchell by surprise. The Forfar then had a look in and all but scored - Barrett being laid out after saving, at the expense of a corner, a dangerous shot from the left wing. Nothing came from the resultant corner kick, but not to be denied the visitors again came back and from a free kick they at last found the net after a scrimmage. This goal was a gift to the Athletics in more than sense, for in the first place there ought to have been no free kick as the man was not fouled but accidentally tripped over R. McKay's heels, and was wholly to blame himself. In the second place Barrett and his backs ought easily to have cleared their lines and so averted disaster. Half-time arrived but the players did not leave the field, and after a short interval resumed play.

The homesters at once pressed, and before anyone was quite aware of it, McAulay had headed into the net and thus secured a two goal lead for his club. Play became rather tame after this except for occasional bursts of bad feeling which had crept into the play. Forfarshire strove to get on equal terms, and the two "Macs" were kept busy. Barrett was sometimes called upon to save his charge, and twice with very dangerous tries, the latter with a visitor on the top of him. Strang had a run right through the Forfar defence, and ended by dropping the sphere into Mitchell's arms. Towards the close darkness set in and looked like bringing the game to a premature close, but fortunately for the homesters it did not. As there was no more scoring, the Whites retired with other two points after a very poor game.

After the, recent reverses we were glad to see such a large crowd at Pittodrie, but still it could easily have been much bigger on such a glorious afternoon.
Let us hope, however, that seeing the Whites have struck a winning vein, the crowds will flock back again to Pittodrie and give them the support which is their due.
Of course the Whites will require to keep up their form and do something on their part. That follows as a matter of course.
The Athletics must blame their defence for Saturday's defeat in some measure.
Mitchell in goal, however, must be excluded as he played in magnificent form and saved many a likely shot.
Denholm was the better back, although it must be admitted that his partner, Lees, had the smartest wing against him.
Janes was an easy first as regards honours in the half line, while McFarlane was an easy first in the field for questionable tactics.
The foul awarded to McFarlane from which his team scored was a really smart dodge, and it came off.
What the visitors' front rank would have been without Boath is a poser. He knows how to keep a front rank going. The outside left was very poor, while the others were not much better.
Barrett kept a safe goal for the home team. He saved more than one likely shot.
All the home crowd, who had not seen him, turned towards McNicoll, and he did not disappoint them. McGregor played his best game, so far, at home, and for a section of the crowd that is always inclined to hoot this player will perhaps now give him a chance.
He displayed more dash and judgment than previously.
The halves were in great form, Strang especially, but the others all played above recent form.
If R. McKay is the best outside right in place of Shinner then the latter had better be brought back to the team.
Perhaps he was suffering from nervousness, but he might have proved rather expensive had the game been a hard one.
C. Mackie and Johnstone were the pick of the forwards, McKay in centre tries to plough his way through the opposition and fails too often. McAulay was good and bad in turn, inclined to overdo the fancy work.
Mr. Davidson, Arbroath, was a very efficient referee and pleased the home crowd. This is a capital testimonial for him.

Source: Bon-Accord November 5, 1903