Aberdeen 2 - 0 Stenhousemuir

In a quest for a brace of badly-needed Northern League points, Stenhousemuir traveled to Aberdeen on Saturday and engaged with the Aberdeen A. The weather was ideal, and the pitch was in first-rate order. The crowd was a fair one. Mister W. Anderson, Forfar, lined up the following teams:- Stenhousemuir: Silcock; Aiken, Fairley; Archibald Weir, Brown, Alexander Weir; Buchanan, Gray, Hill, Crighton, Milne. Aberdeen A: Barrett; Willox, Brebner; Low, Thompson, Robertson; Knowles, G. McNicol, Hamilton, Caie, Jaffrey.

The opening exchanges favoured the visitors, Milne leading a spirited attack, but Hill failed to take a pass, and a good chance went abegging. The ball was manoeuvred dangerously near Barrett, however, until a fruitless corner broke relief. Once the home halves settled down, the visitors were confined pretty much to their own territory, the whole of the intermediate line playing with great determination. The home forwards found Aiken and Fairley defenders of mettle, but this did not deter McNicol from breaking through and testing Silcock. Jaffrey was very prominent, he having several fine runs up the wing. He also brought out the saving powers of the visitors' custodian. Splendidly fed by their halves, the Aberdeen quintette played with much vim, and certainly exited better football than their opponents. Hamilton, a local junior, shaped very well in the centre, several of his touches being clever. McNicol also was a slippery as an eel, his evasive tactics, as usual, being relished by the crowd. Keeping up the pressure, Hamilton and company encroached on the opposing backs, who - good men as they were - found more than their much. A find concerted run by the Aberdeen forwards was capped by McNicol, who, lying handy, gave Silcock the slip very neatly. The "Stennie" now are flashed towards Barrett, he'll being especially prominent. The extreme wingers were also dangerous, but Brebner's defence was found impregnable. Barrett was scarcely ever called upon. Once Buchanan broke away promisingly, and with the help of Gray, a leather was got well down, with a huge punt by Willox change the venue of play. Thompson and W. Low worked very hard, and the latter excelled in defensive work. Jaffrey's rare turn of speed rendered Silcock's position rather uncomfortable. A lovely shot from the touch-line dropped on the cross-bar. The visitors' halves paid too little attention to Milne, whose individual work went for nil. There was no question that the 'Muir were somewhat off colour, and their halves were the most faulty. On the other hand, Aberdeen's intermediate line was brilliant, but the forwards were ragged in finishing, and might have taken more advantage of opportunities. Knowles was at times ineffective. Play altogether was interesting, some of the touches on both sides being clever. The 'Muir endeavoured to equalise, but Alick Weir was the only half-back who got within shooting distance. A rattling shot from the foot of this player went a little wide. Taken from long range, the effort be served a better fate. At half-time the homesters led by the odd goal.

The 'Muir, at the outset of the second period, showed much improved form, and the strength of the Pittodrie backs was tested pretty severely. Archibald Weir and Willox had some lively bouts, but the back generally emerged on the right side. Subsequently play slackened considerably, and the ball by no means travelled quickly. Caie and Jaffrey formed Aberdeen's best wing, although McNicol was by no means off colour. Hamilton was full of energy, and the work he put in certainly justified his inclusion in the team. He made one bad mistake, missing when he read only Silcock in front of him. The visitors were seldom or never dangerous, while the A's swarmed round their opponents' goal, failing to score. After a spell of uninteresting play, Caie scored No. 2. The inside man accepted a good pass from Thompson, and Jaffrey lending able support, Caie beat the custodian all the way. The 'Muir went off with great vim when the ball was set arolling, but their attack was only momentary, and dull play rolled until the finish. The gate amounted to £26.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 1st May 1905