Aberdeen 2 - 1 Dundee 'A'

Dundee A were the visitors to Pittodrie on Saturday, when they met the Whites in their return Northern League Fixture. There was a large turnout of spectators to watch the struggle for the points.
The visitors lost the toss, and kicked off towards the sea. They at once took up the aggressive, and it was not long ere Barrett's goal was in danger, but luckily for the homesters, the dark blues were not adepts in the art of shooting. On one occasion, however; the ball landed at Kerr's foot, and the centre sent in a terrific drive, which Barrett just saved more by luck than good management.

At this time the home halves were being tricked on all hands by the A's front rank, and did a great deal of needless running about. From a foul about 20 yards out the visitors scored the opening goal of the match - the sphere striking a player on the back, and putting Brand on side, with the result that Barret was easily beaten by a header. This put the Aberdeen on their mettle, but even then the Dundonians had the best of the play, with the result that Barrett had to save tries from both Horne and Macdonald. Luckily for the homesters the custodian was on the alert, and saved again and again when all seemed lost. This put heart into the forwards, and from a breakaway by the right wing McAulay tested Foster with a hard, drive, which was value for a goal, but the visitors' goal keeper was all there. Johnstone next tested him with a grounder, which was dealt with in masterly style. Keeping up the pressure, the Whites at last equalised - McAulay beating Foster from close in. From This on till half-time the game was in favour of the homesters who, however, did not manage to get on the lead. The teams crossed over on an equality.

On resuming, the homesters at once took up the running, but were met with a resolute defence. Horne got away on the left, and finished up a fine run by testing Barrett with a splendid shot from the touch line. The goalkeeper, however, saved smartly and play was transferred to the visitors' end. Foster was seldom called upon to keep his charge intact, although on one or two occasions the home forwards came within an ace of scoring. Play raged from end to end, and one or two exciting passages took place in front of the goals. Macdonald got off on the right wing, and sent in a low grounder, which struck the wrong side of the post and went past. Dundee kept pegging away and looked like scoring, and had not the Whites defence been steady a goal would certainly have resulted. The home quintette now got away, and Johnstone ended up a run by having a shot which was stopped suddenly on its way to the desired haven by Chaplin?s fist. A penalty was granted, and after a good, deal of palaver the kick was taken by Low who beat Foster with a fast low grounder. Fast play continued until the finish, when the game stood - Aberdeen 2, Dundee A 1.

Points from Pittodrie.

The weather was all that could be desired for a game like Saturday's, and the two teams helped to complete a splendid afternoon's football.
Owing to the fine weather and the fact that Dundee A are only here once a year now, in search for points, there was a good crowd - the gate amounting to £100.
But after the defeat of last Saturday (we hardly like mentioning the subject) and counter attractions, we were surprised at the size of the spectatorate. Politics, however, do not seem to blend with the mind of the average football enthusiast.
That the Aberdeen were lucky in winning the points no one will deny, as a draw would have been the most satisfactory result of the game. A penalty, however, did the trick.
Foster in goal for the visitors' looks a likely custodian, and with experience might give Muir a hard run for this position in the senior eleven.
He was well supported by his backs - Chaplin and Taylor who played a grand defensive game. Their kicking and fine returns were a feature of the game.
Halkett, Murphy, and Morris as a trio were, much ahead of the home halves. The former was easily the best half on the field, and had McAulay and Johnston on toast for the afternoon.
For the first half-hour the visitors' forwards gave a fine exposition of the short passing game, and repeatedly fooled the home defence. Their play, however, became scrappy after this, with the consequence that the front rank did not move in combined efforts.
Brand and Horne on the left wing were the pick of the quintette, and the most dangerous near goal.
Kerr, in centre, except for one great shot in the opening minutes of the game, was never very prominent.
The right wing was not a failure, but appeared to be very weak near goal. Both men were on trial.
Coming to the home lot, we confess we do not understand how they won, as only one man played up to his reputation, and that was Barrett in goal. Judging by Saturday's display, he eclipsed even that.
Both Mackie and McNicoll at back were shaky - the latter especially so. Mackie, however, was injured slightly during the earlier part of the game.
The halves as a trio never played so badly.
We cannot expect more from Strang, who is suffering from a severe injury received at Alloa.
Last week's cup tie has to answer for a lot of things.
Both Sangster and Low have played better before. The latter must have had a grand nerve to score (from the penalty) after the long wait before the kick was allowed to be taken.
Bonnar and Johnston, the extreme men were the best of the quintette, the others being off their game. We are afraid that the former will require another partner than Barron, who roams too much and seems to have little idea of the inside game.
McAulay had: his usual goal and one or two good shots, but did not do much otherwise.
C. Mackie was too well watched and did not get many chances to have a try for goal.
Personally, we thought the referee very fair, besides handling the game well. We wish we could make the same remarks about the visitors' touch judge. His decisions were purely a club affair and nothing short of scandalous.

C.

Source: Bon-Accord, February 4, 1904

Dundee A and Aberdeen met at Pittodrie on Saturday in a Northern League fixture. There was a fairly large crowd. The teams were:- Aberdeen: Barrett; Mackie, McNicol; Sangster, Strang, Low; Bonnar, Barron, C. Mackie, McAulay, Ritchie. Dundee A: Foster; Chaplin, Taylor; Halkett, Murphy, Morris; Macdonald, Smith, Kerr, Brand, Horne. Referee - Mr. Philip, Dunfermline.

Aberdeen had the assistance of a gusty wind, and Dundee, adapting themselves to the prevailing climatic conditions, adopted low passing, and pressed at the start. Barrett was early called upon, and got several shots to dispose of, which he did satisfactorily. Notwithstanding the stubborn Aberdeen defence, Dundee were the first to score, Brand heading through. The Whites woke up at this reverse, but they did not get very much rope. The Aberdeen forwards played very trickily, but the backs and half-backs opposed to them were always on the spot. The game was very keenly contested, and Aberdeen worked hard for the equaliser. It came about two minutes from the interval, McAulay beating Foster with a low shot taken at close quarters.

The game was keenly fought in the second half. Barrett was early called upon to save. Foster was now the centre of attraction, and got a great deal of work to do. The defence was just slightly superior to the heavy attack. Notwithstanding the eagerness of the men and the excitement around them, it was a dour and splendidly-fought return fixture. McNicol had to flop down on a low tip in from Macdonald, otherwise Dundee would have been one to the good, as Barrett was at the other side of the goalmouth. Aberdeen were having a large say in the attack, and Foster saved at critical moments. A penalty was claimed and awarded Aberdeen for Taylor using his hands. The consequence was disastrous for Dundee, for Henry Low netted with a great drive. It would have been a very fair criterion of the play if the game had ended in a draw. Gate £100

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 1st February 1904