Aberdeen 2 - 0 Arbroath

Arbroath supplied the opposition at Pittodrie, when they met the Aberdeen reserves in a Northern League fixture. There was a good attendance when the team lined up as follows, under discharge of Mr. Deans, Dalkeith:-

Aberdeen: Mutch; Willox, Brebner; Davidson, J. J. Simpson, Robertson; Macdonald, J. Robertson, Lawrie, R. Simpson, McKenzie.
Arbroath: Johnstone; Law, Clark; J. Petrie, Taylor, Ferguson; Black, Proctor, Fairweather, Guild, Crockatt.

The locals won the toss, and played with a slight breeze in their favour. The opening stages were entirely in favour of the home team. JJ Simpson took the ball from Fairweather, and placed to his brother who gave Johnstone a hard shot to hold. It was apparent from the very start that the game was to be a hot one. It was fully 5 minutes before the visitors managed to beat back the locals. Guild and Crockatt got away, and for a few minutes the Aberdeen backs were kept busy. McDonald, Aberdeen's new right winger, had a capital run from a well-timed pass by Davidson. The outside man and sent in a scorcher, but Johnstone cleared. A minute later Johnstone had to give away a corner in clearing from McDonald. Aberdeen were continually attacking, but Law and Clark were a pair of reliable backs. They played a magnificent game, and never allowed the opposing forwards to get in there kick when near goal. Willox and Brebner had very little to do. The Arbroath forwards were very unsteady. When they did get away, but failed to shoot when near goal. Aberdeen A played a capital combination game, but the strong defence of the visitors defied all efforts at scoring. Arbroath forced a corner, which proved fruitless. The game was very fast, and the visitors' goal had many narrow escapes. Gowie Robertson had a grand try, but his shot was a few inches too high. Several corners fell to Aberdeen, but all proved fruitless. Arbroath made desperate efforts to clear. When they did get away they failed to follow up their advantages. They had several good opportunities, but bad shooting spoiled their chances. A hot attack was kept up on the visitors' goal, and Johnstone saved repeatedly. Law made a weak clearance, and R. Simpson getting the ball sent in a capital shot, which landed in the net. This reverse made Arbroath waken up a bit, and they came back faster than ever. The local backs had now more work to do, but they were quite safe, and repeatedly sent the visitors to their own end. All the Arbroath men with the exception of the forwards, who were very unsteady, played well. The Aberdeen halves repeatedly let their forwards off. Law and Clark, however, were as game as ever, and beat back all efforts at further scoring. Arbroath were never really dangerous, and during the first half Mutch was more or less a spectator, for he did not get a shot to hold.

On resuming it seemed as if Arbroath would carry all before them. Crockatt carried the ball t the corner flag, and centred. Fairweather was almost through, but before he could get in his kick, Willox had cleared. Back again came Arbroath, and Mutch saved from Crockatt. The ball was returned by Law, and for five minutes the game was contested within Aberdeen's penalty area. It would have been no surprise had the visitors scored, but their forwards failed to shoot straight. Away to the other end rushed the home forwards, Lawrie leading the van in capital style. Several shots were sent in from long range, but Johnstone always cleared. Play was very exciting, and exceedingly rough. Many hard knocks were given and taken. Arbroath were quite regardless how they got the ball, and played a very rough game. On one occasion the referee stopped the game, and warned several of the Arbroath men for rough play. Aberdeen still kept the upper hand. R. Simpson broke through the defence, and when about three yards from goal he was fouled. Mr. Deans granted a penalty, and Willox put his side two up. Arbroath tried hard to reduce the leeway, but without success. Play after this was more evenly contested, but there was no more scoring, and a very fast game ended in favour of Aberdeen A by 2 goals to nil.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 29th October 1906