Aberdeen 4 - 2 Montrose

In grand football weather and before a large crowd, Montrose met Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday. The game was under the auspices of the Northern League and proved to be a very fast and exciting one. The home team won the toss and played towards the city. From the kick-off Montrose got away, but their attack was easily repulsed, and it was not long ere the Whites were having a try at their opponent's goal. Two shots, in quick succession, were the outcome of an attack by the front line but both missed the mark, although one by C. Mackie looked exceedingly close. The League leaders' left wing then broke away and were only brought to a stand still by Mackie, at back, fouling Henderson. From the free kick, Burgess shot past. McKay forced his way through the Montrose defence and shot, but owing to heavy pressure his try went wide. From a break away add pass by Shinner, the homesters opened the scoring, through McAulay, who found the net with an unsaveable shot. From the kick-off the visitors' left wing broke away, but their effort was weak and came to nought. At last the equaliser came through McNicoll handling and McHardy scored from the resultant penalty. A corner was next forced by the visitors, and Low saved by kicking out from under the bar. McAulay broke away but his parting shot was rather wide. The next moment however, he made up for his mistake by scoring a brilliant goal, from a nice pass by McKay, who had worked the sphere up the field in fine style. A third point was gained from a penalty off Bowman for handling - Low doing the needful. Montrose came away with a rush, and McHardy from close in beat Barrett with hard drive, thus reducing the homesters' lead. From this on till half-time the visitors held the upper hand, but Barrett and Co. withstood all attacks and the Whites crossed over with a useful lead of a goal.
On resuming the homesters had a try for Towns, but found Burgess an impassable barrier. Keillor, who was playing a grand game, tried hard to get the other forwards going, but was too well watched to be of great use. On one or two occasions, however, he passed nicely to McHardy, but McNicoll had the right outside well in hand, and did not allow him much scope for getting in a shot. Shinner raced away for Aberdeen, and crossed nicely to Mackie, who shot, but his try was stopped by Bowman's hand, and of course a penalty was granted. Low again took the kick and scored, thus making the points safe for the Whites. The Montrose had one or two rushes down the field, most of them coming from the right wing, but these were easily accounted for by Barrett and his backs. Towns, on the other hand, had more than one hard drive to negotiate, these coming from Strang, Shinner and McKay. Towards the close, the Whites applied extra pressure, but found a very safe defence. McNicoll from far out almost found the net with a rocket shot, which missed by very little. As no further scoring took place, the game ended-Aberdeen, 4. Montrose, 2.

Points from Pittodrie.

We were glad to see such a large turn-out at Pittodrie, and we are also pleased to state that the spectators got good value for their money.
The Aberdeen directorate should also be pleased, seeing the gate amounted to ninety-six pounds.
As for the game, it was the hardest, fastest, and best of the season, so far at least.
Three penalties in one game, and all put to the best use, is nothing short of a record.
Towns is a grand goal-keeper, but was beaten by four shots that no goalkeeper could have saved. Burgess was the better back, in fact the best on the field. He plays the game on every occasion, and never does he resort to underhand work.
The half-back line worked bard, with good results, Watt being the foremost.
To the visitors' forwards is due the blame of defeat. Their left wing was never seen during the game, while in the second period the right wing was far from brilliant. Keillor and Duncan were the outstanding players.
For the home team Barrett got little to do and was, like the Montrose goalkeeper, beat with shots of the unsaveable order.
J. Mackie and McNicoll kept a resolute defence. The latter player was rather off his game after the penalty was awarded against him, but in the second period he gave a splendid exhibition.
Low was the best of a good half line, yet we have seen the other two do better.
The right half is to be congratulated on his scoring from two penalties in an afternoon.
It would he difficult to assert who was the best forward, as all did well. They were the chief factors in the win and the secret of their success lies in the fact that they all worked.
McAulay is due a word of thanks for his two brilliant goals.
The referee, Mr. Douglas, Dunfermline, was all right.

Source: Bon-Accord November 19, 1903

Saturday was a pleasant day for the much abused directors of the Aberdeen Club. The crowd was one of the biggest seen at Pittodrie this season, the drawings amounting to £96, not including the stand. Aberdeen's opponents were Montrose, the top-markers in the Northern League, and who up till a week or two back were going very strong. The pitch was in good condition. The teams were:- Aberdeen: Barrett; J. Mackie, McNicol; Low, Strang, Robertson; Shinner, C. Mackie, McKay, McAulay, Johnston. Montrose: Towns; Allan, Burgess; Watt, Campbell, McKenzie; McHardy, Keillor, Duncan, Henderson, Inglis. Mr. Douglas, Dunfermline, was referee

Montrose won the toss. Aberdeen at once took possession of the ball and lashed it ahead in a style that showed that they meant business. Charlie Mackie had a good try at goal. The Montrose backs put in all they knew, and repelled the attack. The game was not long in progress when it was seen that the struggle was to be a hard one, the heavy Montrosians playing in a vigorous, robust, go ahead style which kept the home half-backs constantly on the move. The Montrose forwards, ably supported by their halves, worked their way towards Barrett, but they were sent to the right about. For some time the ball was kept well in the middle of the field, both sets of half-backs holding the opposing forwards well in hand. Aberdeen, however, began to work their way up the left wing by smart tactics, giving the Montrose defence a good deal of trouble. Aberdeen scored first, McAulay catching a cute pass from Shinner, who picked up from Low, dashed up and sent in a high, swift shot which struck the crossbar and darted into the net. Montrose after this reverse attacked with vigour. Their revenge came in the form of a penalty kick awarded for what was undoubtedly an accidental handling of the ball by McNicol. McHardy had no difficulty in beating Barrett. The visitors, in spite of the efforts of the Aberdeen backs, were not to be shaken off, and made several excellent tries for the net, Low punting out from a corner just on the line. Aberdeen, playing with great dash, had a run to the other end, as the result of some neat passing by the forwards. Close in on Towns, McAulay accepted a pass from McKay, and, darting past the backs shot straight and swift. The Montrose keeper never saw the ball until it lay in the net. Aberdeen got their third goal from a penalty. Burgess handled within the line, and Low took the kick, and scored. Montrose, nettled at this reverse, attacked in determined fashion, and their onslaught was capped n=by McHardy, who sent in a low, fast shotwhich Barrett had no chance of saving. Montrose held the upper hand until the interval, but they had to face a resolute defence, and the score remained unaltered at half-time.

The teams did not leave the field, but changed ends and resumed after a very short rest. Aberdeen took the game n hand, and delighted their supporters with the vigour of their display. Every man on the field was in dead earnest, and the game, as a result, was exciting and interesting. Both goalkeepers had hot shots to hold, and the backs and half-backs on either side offered resolute opposition to the active forwards seeking to get past them. McNicol in particular was conspicuous, his cool and effective tackling and strong punting and useful placing stamping him as a back to be relied on. The Montrose team as a whole seemed to play better together, several of the Whites occasionally failing to keep their places. The sting seemed to have been taken out of the Montrose attack by the stubbornness of the opposition offered to them, and were not so often dangerous as in the first half. The game was prolific in penalties, a third, given against Montrose for handling by Bowman [sic], being converted by Low, which gave Aberdeen a two goal lead and to all appearance made a win certain for them. The visitors played up pluckily, but all their efforts were nullified by the sterling play of the Aberdeen backs, McNicol's display being particularly fine. The big Aberdeen left back even went the length of shooting at Towns from midfield, one of his shots almost finding the net. No further scoring took place, Aberdeen deservedly winning a stiffly-contested game.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 16th November 1903