Hibernian 1 - 1 Aberdeen

This friendly game was played at Easter Road, Edinburgh before three thousand spectators. The playing pitch was frost-bound, but otherwise the conditions were pleasant. The Hibernians tried a new centre in Dow, a Bo'ness junior. Aberdeen also gave a trial to a new player, Bonnar, of Port Glasgow juniors, being played at outside right. After a quiet start, the Hibernians opened the scoring in five minutes, Dow, the Hibernian's new centre, beating Barrett, who had left his charge. Some pretty football by the Aberdeen front rank was then witnessed, and the left pair, McAulay and Johnstone, gave the home defenders plenty of trouble. Johnstone's shooting was particularly good. The Aberdeen lost the service of their right back, McGregor, who was accidentally kicked, and the visitors played with ten men for a time, Owen, an old Hibernian player, who was transferred to Aberdeen, turning out afterwards. The visitors had an equal share of the play till the interval, but failed to score. The Hibernian forwards fell away somewhat in the second portion, and Aberdeen, playing a good game, equalised inside fifteen minutes through Mackie. The game continued on interesting lines, and though Aberdeen deserved to win, the end came without further scoring. Result:- One goal each.

Source: Unknown, possibly The Scotsman 18-01-1904

The Aberdeen team travelled to Edinburgh on Saturday to play their return friendly with the Hibernians, with whom they drew a fortnight ago at Pittodrie. The teams were - Hibernians: Rennie; Gray, Glen; Breslin, Buchan, Harrower; Campbell, Divers, Dow, McGeachan, Stewart. Aberdeen: Barrett; Macgregor, McNicol; Sangster, Strang, Low; Bonnar, Barron, Mackie, McAulay, Johnston. Referee - Mr. Black. E.S.F.A.

The Hibernians kicked off, Dow tipping to Divers, who gave to Campbell, but Low stayed their further progress, and the Aberdeen right took the ball down, where McAulay made a poor shape at a possible chance. Coming away in nice style, the Hibernians caused Macgregor to show his paces, which he did by a capital kick, but Harrower again put his forwards in possession, and Dow, breaking through the defence, scored an easy goal, the custodian leaving his charge, but quite missing the ball. A bit of combination between Mcgeachan and Stewart brought the Hibernians again on Barrett, but he picked up and cleared strongly. The opposing left wing immediately followed suit with a similar bit of work, but Johnston's parting or centring shot carried over, and McGeachan at the other end had an unsuccessful shot. Aberdeen, who had been early deprived of macgregor, were making a fair show with their ten men, and in a run down they had the Hibernian defence beaten, and Gray had to concede a corner, from which Mackie, after a miss by Barron, shot past. Warming to their work, the Aberdeen left made progress, a capital piece of combination enabling Johnston to send a fine shot into Rennie's hands, and after a try at the other end by Divers, MAckiebroke away, and sent out to his left again, Johnstone once more shooting into the Hibernian custodian's hands. Aberdeen continued to hold their own, a beautiful shot from the left wing being stopped on the goal-line by Glen. The Aberdeen forwards made matters warm for the Hibernian defence, and Bonnar brought down the house by a grand shot, which made Rennie bestir himself, while capital shots from Johnston and McAulay, and a smart header from the centre, nearly brought the point they were going so hard for.

When the play resumed, McGeachan had gone off as the result of some accident. After an Aberdeen visit to Rennie, Campbell broke away, but Low tackled, and a feeble effort of Breslin's let the northern men away, but Johnston was offside. The Hibernians, however, gradually found their way to the vicinity of Barrett, and a good effort from Dow found the Aberdonian custodian safe, a similar fate befalling a fine screw from the foot of Campbell. The sport on the part of the Irishmen was not of the lasting order, and they fell back before a bustling rush by the Aberdonians, who got well down, and Mackie drove a good shot, which completely beat Rennie. With the scores equal, the visitors continued to have the pull, Barron having a couple of fine shots, and Mackie causing laughter as he fooled Harrower and Buchan. The Hibernians, aided by a foul, which was nicely placed by Buchan, made a short stay in Aberdeen quarters, but once more the visitors were on the move, McAulay tricking a couple of opponents and passing to his centre, who also went away on an individual effort. After rounding the Hibernian defence, he passed to Barron, who in turn passed when his game was to shoot, and a grand opportunity was lost. A bit of tackling by Strang had a touch of selfishness, which met its reward, when he lost the ground gained, but, on the whole, the Hibernians, with their ten men, were not making so good a show as did Aberdeen when in a similar position. Still working their hardest, Aberdeen kept Rennie continually on the alert, and Breslin, failing to hold McAulay, the inside left waltzed round Gray and struck the post with a terrific shot, which would, with another inch to the inside, have put Aberdeen on the lead, while immediately after Gray conceded a corner from which Johnston put into Rennie's hands, and a great run by Mackie, who made his way through the Hibernian defence in fine style, raised enthusiasm; as it was, he was just bustled in time, Gray passing back to Rennie. The Hibernians towards the close put in some better work, but were never dangerous./p>

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 18th January 1904