Aberdeen 4 - 0 Lochee United

In pleasant weather and before a good crowd the Aberdeen entertained the Lochee United on Saturday at Pittodrie. As this was the Whites' last home match under Northern League auspices more than ordinary interest was attached to the game.
When the teams lined up it was found that both were under full strength. The visitors kicked off towards the city but it was not long ere they were acting on the defensive. Mackie and Shinner both had tries at the United's goal, but neither came near the mark. Just when the home crowd were looking for a goal, a penalty was awarded the homesters for Downie handing, and to many this was as good as a goal. They reckoned without "Short" however, who saved Low's kick in splendid style. Not long after, C. Mackie scored with a high shot which landed in the net out of the custodian's reach. The homesters kept up the pressure, and Short had a lively time of it in keeping them out. This he did in brilliant fashion, saving some very hard and fast shots which were really worth a goal. The United broke away now and again, but there was no real combined effort, with the result that Barrett was seldom if ever troubled. Half-time arrived with the Aberdeen leading by a goal to nil.

The second half opened with the visitors making tracts for Barrett, who, however, was never seriously troubled owing to the very weak shooting of the United's front rank. Aberdeen now took the game in hand and scored another three goals, these being taken by Mackie, Shinner and McKay. The feature of this half was the fine saving by "Short" who distinguished himself again and again. Just before time was up Shiach and an opposing half had a set to which led to them being warned. A very towsy game ended in a four-to-nothing win in favour of the Whites

Points from Pittodrie

The weather was all right, but the ground at Pittodrie was very sodden. Good play was therefore at a discount. The game all over was of a dirty nature, and was far from being an exhibition of football.
Both beams were to blame in this respect - one being as bad as the other. We would remind the players concerned, that if they give offence, then they ought surely to take what they get. Ritchie and Blair kept up the fun during the whole game, but to our mind the Shiach incident was a pure case of bad temper. We do not infer that the opposing half was not a bit to blame, but he might have kept down his bad temper when he got thrown. The referee would have been quite justified in putting both players off the field, and we cannot see yet why he did not take that course.

The Lochee were a man "Short." This does not mean that they played with ten men during the whole game, but that the player who goes under the above name played their game. We had heard many good things about his capabilities as a custodian, and were agreeably surprised to find that these reports were not more than what is his due.
Besides saving the penalty he kept out what looked like one or two dead certainties.
Harvey and Low at back played a good defensive game and could not possibly be blamed for the big defeat. The former was the better back of the two.
The visiting halves were rather mixed, and did not keep strictly to their places.
Clark was the pick of the trio, while Morrice has more than an inclination for questionable tactics. He ought to give up this game.
Their forwards were very slow on the ball and made no headway, while their shooting was wretched.
There was not a decent try from one of the quintette. Blair is another player who attends to the man more than to the ball. We can excuse him as he is an old hand at this game.

In the home goal Barrett got nothing to do but rest.
Mackie and McNicoll had a rare afternoon's punting. The latter quite excelled any of his previous performances in this line.
The halves all played a hard game although we have seen Low do better.
Ritchie has improved with his rest.
The "Penalty King," otherwise known as Shinner, fully justified his inclusion. He has not forgotten the way to shoot, which is more than can be said of some others.
Bonnar still persists in diddling with the ball, and in the end usually loses it. This is very tantalising when the rest of the front rank are in good position.

Source: Bon-Accord, February 25, 1904

Played at Pittodrie before 2000 spectators. There were several changes to the local team. The strangers came strongly represented. Teams:- Aberdeen: Barrett; Mackie, McNicol; Ritchie, Strang, Low; Bonar, MacKay, Mackie, Shinner, Shiach. Lochee United: "Short"; Harvey, Low; J. Morrie, Milne, Clark; Smith, Downie, McInroy, Westwater, Blair. Referee - Mr. John Davidson, Arbroath.

Lochee won the toss and started the game. The Whites at once became the aggressors, and for fully tem minutes play was almost entirely within the United's territory. Many chances came the way of Mackie and his partners, but these they failed to take advantage of. A penalty was awarded Aberdeen for Downie hauling, but Low, who took the kick, failed to convert, "Short" saving a hard low shot. Ere many minutes had passed, however, the home front rank bore down in a body on the Blues' defence, and after some manoeuvring in front of goal Mackie put the ball high into the net far out of reach of "Short." Following a spell of play in and around misfield, Blair got off, and made good progress, but just outside the penalty line he was brought up by Mackie. McNicol getting the leather, ran up the field. Once again it was Aberdeen's turn, and for quite a while it was a contest between the home front rank and the visiting defence. The latter invariably, however, had the better of the exchanges, "Short" and Harvey, in particular, being very reliable. Erratic shooting on the part of the Whites spoilt many likely chances. A few minutes from the close Shinner had a praiseworthy effort, but his well-directed shot was cleverly saved by the custodian, and the whistle sounded with Lochee pressing.

Lochee resumed in determined fashion, and Blair tested Barrett. The visitors proved to be the aggressors for a while, but their spell of superiority was of short duration. Following a well-combined attack, Charlie Mackie drove goalwards, it being left to Shinner to apply the finishing touches, which put his team 2 goals on the lead. Mackie got off, and when a foot or two from the goal sent in a high shot, which "Short" cleverly got rid of. The ball had scarcely been cleared when Charlie Mackie again drove in and scored. A few minutes afterwards Mackie added a fourth.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 22nd February 1904