Aberdeen 6 - 2 Highland League Select

Bigger Ground Was Handicap to Them,/p> ABERDEEN showed a marked superiority over the Highland League Select in the first leg of the Caledonia Trophy at Pittodrie last night, and won as easily as the score suggests.

The second game will be played on Saturday week, but no venue has been fixed so far.
The visitors found the bigger ground a handicap Instead making the ball do the work, they tried to make ground with close passing, which made things easy for the Aberdeen defence.
The North half-backs found it difficult to subdue the Dons' inside forwards, with the result that the visiting attack received poor support and was seldom in the picture.
Aberdeen went ahead in fourteen minutes through Hather. The winger beat three men before slipping the ball to Baird. He, ran on to the return pass and hit it first-time. Foss got his hands to the ball but could not stop it entering the net.
Baird and Hamilton added further goals before another individual dash by Hather ended with the Englishman crashing the ball past Foss from close range.
The Highland League resumed in spirited fashion, and Donnachie reduced the leeway with a shot from the bye-line which Martin allowed to slip through his fingers.
Yorston replied immediately for Aberdeen, and Hamilton added a sixth from Hather's cross.
Mitchell got the Highlanders second counter when he outstripped McKenzie and McKenna in a dash from mid-field to slip the ball past the advancing Martin.

Foss Uncertain

Foss was not too sure in the Select goal, but Hazle and Wheeler did well at back. Buchan got through a power of work at centre-half, and Robertson was the better wing half.
McBeath and Donnachie were enterprising wingers, but Mitchell, leading marksman in the North, was disappointing. He received little support, however, as Williamson and Martin were well policed by the Aberdeen wing halves.
Best for Aberdeen were Martin, McKenzie, Chalmers, Hamilton and Hather.

Source: Press & Journal, 27th April 1950