Rangers 1 - 3 Aberdeen

Aberdeen's New Year resolution is to win the 1942 Northeastern League flag. They certainly made a promising start against the holders at Ibrox Park yesterday afternoon.

The Dons had to fight hard. Rangers, despite the fact that they had two "unknowns" in their team, refused to accept defeat until the final whistle. And this against an Aberdeen team that had a distinct international flavour about it. The Pittodrie side included Beattie and Mutch, of Preston North End and Dickie, of Blackburn Rovers, while Strauss was on the left wing.

DELIGHTFUL FOOTBALL

Once the Aberdeen attackers became accustomed to one another's style of play in the second half they produced some delightful football.
The only period in which the issue was in doubt was in the opening minutes. In that short spell the Aberdeen goal had three lucky escapes. The first was when Fraser, the young reserve Clyde 'keeper, only partially stopped a free-kick from T. McKillop, and Lyon cleared on the goal-line; the second was when Dempster headed a free-kick by Bolt against the upright; and the third when the same player struck the woodwork with a hard drive.

FIRST GOAL

In eight minutes the Dons signalised their arrival in the game with a goal. With a neat backheel flick Dickie sent the ball ahead to McCall, and although Jenkins got his hands to the inside left's shot he could not prevent the ball entering the net.
Ten minutes from the interval Fraser clutched a cross from the right, and before he could clear was charged into the net by Smith. The issue was decided in the first fourteen minutes of the second half. During that time Aberdeen scored twice.

STRAUSS SCORES?,p> In the seventh minute Dickie was fouled as he went to meet a cross from right,the referee allowed play to continue, and Strauss fastened on to send into the net.
With fourteen minutes played Mutch was brought down inside the penalty area, and Lyon scored a third goal from the spot.
Aberdeen's defence played well. Fraser is a young 'keeper of promise. Beattie showed himself a fine positional player, and Lyon guarded the middle effectively.
The attack, including experienced forwards like McCall, Mutch, and Dickie, played clever football in the second half. They should do even better against St Bernards at Pittodrie to-morrow.

Source: Press & Journal, 2nd January 1942