Aberdeen 0 - 2 Heart of Midlothian

These teams met in an East of Scotland League fixture at Pittodrie yesterday afternoon. Aberdeen were fortunate in arranging such an attractive match for the holiday, and the weather being very favourable, there was a splendid gate, about 7000 spectators lining the enclosure. The teams were as follows:- Hearts: McWattie; Collins, Orr; Kay, Thomson, Anderson; Bell, Walker, Porteous, Tait, Wilson. Aberdeen: Ritchie; MacGregor, Bremner; Sangster, Strang, Ritchie; McHardy (Montrose), C. Mackie, McAulay, Shiach, Shinner. Referee - Mr. Edwards, Jordanhill.

Aberdeen kicked off, but a minute later Ritchie effectually checked an initial break-away by the Hearts. Several times the home team found their way down the field, and McWattie was called upon to negotiate many well-directed shots. At the other end Hearts forced a corner, but without result. Five minutes from the start Wilson opened the scoring for the visitors. Aberdeen then came down in dashing style, and McHardy, picking up the leather from McAulay, sent in an oblique shot, which, however, just missed the post by inches. For a few minutes play centred round the home goal, but Ritchie gave excellent proof of his saving powers. The Hearts, however, continued to show their superiority, and Porteous put on a second goal. McAulay afterwards ran off with the leather, but his shot went wide of the mark. The Hearts again invaded, and attacked from the left, but Ritchie ran out and saved. The home forwards took the leather and forced a corner, which, however, they failed to improve. Wilson, Tait, and Porteous showed some good combined work, and gained a bit of ground. Shinner was here conspicuous for smart play, but after carrying the leather for several yards he sent it far over the crossbar. Now and again the Whites had a breakaway, but they never got dangerous, the visitors' back line easily managing to clear. An exciting passage took place n front of the Hearts' goal. The ball came to Shinner, who shot across the goal mouth, but Orr smartly returned, and play was again taken to midfield. Ritchie was playing a splendid game, and several times he fisted in capital style.

On resuming Aberdeen showed remarkably fine form. They early assumed the aggressive, and for the most of the second half they kept up a stiff attack. A few minutes from the start they forced a corner, and made a desperate effort to find the net, but the strong defence was too much for them. Shiach, amid loud cheering, carried the sphere half the length of the field, and finished with a capital shot, which McWattie, however, smartly negotiated. The game during the second half was pretty fast, and time and agin the play centred round the Hearts' but the defence was very sound. Many a time McWattie was called upon to save his charge, and this he did in splendid style. The Whites had bad luck at the goal mouth, for invariably their shots landed in the custodian's hands. Sangster, Strang, and Ritchie were a capital trio, and rendered yeoman service, while each of the forward line played in his best form. Aberdeen continued to keep up a stiff attack, and had very hard lines in not making a score, their play during the second half of the game being superior to that of their opponents. As time drew near, the game became very exciting, and the Whites did their utmost to force the strong defence. A very interesting game resulted - Hearts 2, Aberdeen 0. The drawings at the gate amounted to £122 11s.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 29th September 1903