St. Johnstone 1 - 3 Aberdeen

The visitors earned a well deserved victory. Their football was superior, and only the sturdy defence of the home team prevented a rout.

Source: The Scotsman, 25th April 1904

Aberdeen visited the Recreation Grounds, Perth, last night, and played a deferred Northern League game with St Johnstone. The teams were: St Johnstone: Mailer; Ower and Mallis; McCall, Imrie, and Brown; Turner, Gardiner, Munro, and Smith. Aberdeen: Ritchie; McGregor and McNicoll, Sangster, Strang, and Low; Shinnex, McKay, Mackie, McAulay, and Shiach. Referee: Mr Cathro, Lochee.
Play during the first fifteen minutes was pretty equally divided. Then Aberdeen invaded, and Shiach, catching a well-judged cross, shot hard and true in the direction of the net. The foot of Ower, however, intercepted the ball, diverting behind. A few minutes later a miskick by the right back led to St Johnstone's downfall, Mackie driving the sphere out the custodian's reach. Aberdeen were giving a finished dieplay, their work being characterised by system and vigour. Their superiority was undoubted. A terrifio shot from Shinner struck the cross-bar, and the ball rebounded outwards, the defenders with some difficulty managing to clear. St Johnstone then pressed, and Smith, having manoeuvred himself into fine position, essayed to shoot, but at the critical moment slipped, and the Aberdeen backs redirected the ball Mailerwards. The closing stages of the period resolved themselves into a regular bombardment of the homesters' goal. The defenders, however, sturdily refitted every attack.

Half-time: Aberdeen, 1; St Johnstone. 0.

The second half opened briskly. Aberdeen practically assumed control of the game. Before operations were five minutes in progress McAulay, taking advantage of an opening which presented itself, placed his team another goal up. This reverse gave new life the Perth men, who struggled desperately to retrieve their position. To some extent thev were successful, Moir, after some clever combination in front of Ritchie, registering a goal for the Saints. The players relaxed their efforts. Just on time, Shiach, snatching a magnificent cross from Shinner, defeated the Saints' custodian for the third time.

Source: Dundee Evening Telegraph, 23rd April 1904