Kings Park 2 - 1 Aberdeen

ABERDEEN missed their chance at Forthbank on Saturday. A win over King's Park would have put them right in line for the Eastern Section championship.

It was a hard, gruelling game - a test of stamina rather than skill. The Dons would not have been flattered had they secured a point.
Thee Stirling team held the advantage territorially in the opening period, but reckless finishing prevented them opening their account before the interval. Aberdeen's attack was seen only in brief flashes yet they had the two best scoring chances.
Smith suddenly appeared over on the left, and after beating two men shot past. Beattie had an even better opportunity. He beat the backs in a race for a ball travelling down the middle and seemed certain to score. His shot, however, skidded off the outside of his boot and went past.

HECTOC FOUR MINUTES,/p> All three goals were scored in a hectic four minutes in the early part of the second half. King's Park took the lead after eleven minutes' play. Duncan accepted a slip from Moffat and beat Johnstone with a splendid left-foot drive.
The Dons equalised in two minutes. Smith broke clear on the right and after a good run crossed well for Williams to tap the ball into the net. From the re-centre the home team broke away and from a flag kick by Naismith, Black restored their lead.
The defences took the honours. Aberdeen's rear division, in the first half in particular, gave a sound display. Johnstone made a number of brilliant saves, and but for him the Dons might have lost more than two goals.

HALF-Back IMPROVEMENT

Cooper had a good grip of Stewart, and tackled and kicked well, while Graham, though less polished than his partner, worked hard. There was an improvement in the play of all three half-backs.
Conditions were against clever football, and the Pittodrie attack never worked smoothly. Their greatest lack was a general - somebody to hold the line together.
Ferguson was the most successful member of the line, but he lost much of his effectiveness near goal. Smith, on the right, was a dangerous raider, but was not consistent .
King's Park had a sound defence. Laird was an excellent right back, and in a half-back line which combined attack with defence more skilfully than the Aberdeen trio, Moffat was best.

CRAFTY FORWARD

Black, the Hearts inside forward, was a crafty player and engineered many of the attacking movements. Duncan, too, played well. McLintock, the St Mirren centre, who led the attack, got few chances. He was well held by Waddell in the first half and he was no more successful when Thomson took over the centre-half berth in the second period.

Source: Press & Journal, 11th December 1939