Aberdeen 1 - 0 Kilmarnock

Played at Aberdeen. In the first five minutes Murray of Aberdeen, beat Young, and throughout this half Aberdeen had most of the play. They lost several splendid openings by weak shooting. The second period was more evenly contested, but the defence on each side excelled the attack. Kilmarnock finished strongly but no further scoring took place. Result:- Aberdeen, one; Kilmarnock, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 7th October 1907

Aberdeen engaged the Kilmarnock in a Scottish League game at Pittodrie on Saturday, before 7000 spectators. Teams:-

Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Colman, Hume; McIntosh, Halkett, Low; Muir, Murray, Wilson, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Kilmarnock: Young; Mitchell, Agnew; A. Wilson, Anderson, Shaw; Barton, Howie, Skillen, H. Wilson, Morton.
Referee - Mr. RT Murray, Stenhousemuir.

Kilmarnock's started operations with the sun in their faces, and immediately made inroads on the Aberdeen defence, Skillen finishing the invasion with a good long shot, and it was evident that O'Hagan and Lennie were to be well kept in hand at any rate, but while the local left wing were being closely attended to, across from Low to the right was picked up by Muir, who carried the leather along the margin and centred with rare judgment. Murray was well in at the goalmouth, and a bit of meathead work on his part landed the ball in the net, play having been in progress for only five minutes. An attack by kill monarch from the kick-off resulted in Morton making a strong effort to score, his shot just flanking past the off upright, and then there was a spell of end to end play. A foul dangerously near the Aberdeen penalty line looked like Yielding the equaliser, but Colman blocked the shot, and then cleared. Young had a somewhat lucky save, and then the Killie, by means of fine head work worked down to Macfarlane's end, where they pressed hard amid great excitement. A cross from Barton led to a melee in front of the home goal, during which Rab relieved the tension with a strong right hand. Still keeping at it, the strangers' forced a corner, which was only cleared by Barton placing behind. The goal kick lead Aberdeen off, and amiss cake by Mitchell gave Wilson a clear run for goal. The pivot finished badly, however, and although O'Hagan rushed in and nearly netted, he was clearly offside, so that the effort went for nil. It was a pure exhibition of end to end play, with both sets of forwards going well, but kill monarch were fully more dangerous than the local men, and Macfarlane was exceedingly fortunate in being able to turn round the post a strong shot from Hugh Wilson. Colman was very prominent in the Pittodrie defence, and on not a few occasions his smart tactics were responsible for saving his side. Lennie could scarcely get an opening, but he was constantly worrying the Killie defence, and sometimes got within shooting range. The local half line were mainly responsible for any aggressive work by Aberdeen, but the front line was not at all cohesive in their work. The game was equally shared in the first period, but before the interval, O'Hagan tested young with a hot shot, which the custodian saved on the post.

The opening of the second half so the visitors vainly striving to get that Macfarlane, after which O'Hagan parted to Lenny, who sent in a wide shot. Halkett caused a brief stoppage, but his injury was only slight. Agnew almost brought disaster on his own team through a miskick, the ball curling off his foot and twisting into Young's arms at the goalmouth. A pretty cross from Muir gave Wilson a great chance, but the pivot hesitated, and was lost. Murray stepped in and shot, and the custodian, in attempting to fist out, conceded a corner, from which Lennie sent in a fine cross. Halkett was too anxious, however, and lifted the sphere over, and from the free kick the strangers were enabled to work their way up two wards the C end, where they held the Aberdeen citadel in siege for a time. Kilmarnock's luck seemed to be completely out, and although their work was characterised by smartness and uniformity, the could not find the equaliser. The Aberdeen halves were easily the strongest part of the team, and they constantly turned the nicely-judged movements by the visitors' van. Lennie managed to get a sprint in, but Mitchell was on the watch, and at once pounced on the winger. A foul was granted, and O'Hagan tried a flier, which skimmed merrily over the bar. Following upon this, Kilmarnock pressed in dangerous fashion for a time, but a big bunt by Low relieved, and almost lead Aberdeen up another point. Mitchell, on the maid line, missed his kick, and Lennie immediately seized the opportunity. He made off down the field, in much the same way as he did last week, and raced towards young in an angular direction. The pace was terrific, and the Aberdeen man shot with commendable accuracy under the circumstances, the ball landing in the side of the net. A few inches more to the right, and young would have had considerable difficulty in diverting the course of the sphere. O'Hagan worked a corner very neatly off Mitchell, and from the resultant kick Murray just failed to net. Kilmarnock were full of luck, and the manner in which they manoeuvred the sphere was far and away superior to that of the Aberdeen men, and corps the home defence no little anxiety. All over, the strangers were the better balanced team, and deserved more than the equaliser, which did not fall to them. As the game drew near the close, however, the locals improved greatly in combined work, and the play was certainly worth another point. Wilson, in the Killie some middle lined, made a bad mistake when he conveniently headed the ball back to Muir who, nothing loth, promptly centred. Twice the ball popped in, but only to be returned by young, and then once more was an ineffective shot tried at close range, the custodian getting his fist on the ball and turning it over the line. The pressure was not yet relieved, however, for a splendid drooping shot from Muir had to be hoisted over the bar. Again Aberdeen returned to the attack, and Lennie nearly had the sphere in the net. Kilmarnock's made a fruitless attempt to secure a share of the points, but the home defence was too strong, and the whistle sounded with Aberdeen on the aggressive, and still maintaining their lead.

The gate amounted to £151, while the stands yielded £25 - a total of £176.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 7th October 1907

A Bustling Game.

So that their team should be in the best of trim for Saturday's game, the Kilmarnock team and officials came north on Friday night, and after doing a round of the sights in the forenoon appeared at Pittodrie in the pink of condition to annex the points. That they were determined to take away at least one point was clearly borne out by their play, which, though lacking in prettiness, had plenty of the robust nature about it, to which more than one of the local players can furnish ample evidence. Play never rose to a very high standard of excellence; still there were some very exciting passages which served to keep up the enthusiasm of the spectators. In the open the ball was worked very skilfully, but at close quarters the shooting was faulty and very much off the mark. The goal which served to bring the points to Aberdeen was the result of a clever run on the right, and it was just a duel between Murray and Young as to who was to reach the cross first; the former getting his napper on the ball put it beyond the custodian's reach in the net. The shot looked simple, but there was the difficulty of angle to contend with, and the unexpected leap from Murray which diverted the course of the ball from the goalkeeper.

On two occasions after this Aberdeen should have improved their goal register, but somehow the wrong screw was put on the ball, which went outside the net altogether. How O'Hagan missed one particular incident and pass from Wilson he can best explain himself, but there was a goal in it with a little less flurry on their part. Aberdeen's halves nipped in beautifully when their opponents tried any concerted move, spoiling the best attempts of that master footballer, Hugh Wilson. It was simply the watchfulness of Mitchell and Agnew that kept Aberdeen from further increasing their score in the first half. Kicking into touch to relieve pressure is a splendid safety principle to act on, but it can be overdone. The first half ended without any addition to the scoring.

The most prominent feature of the second period was that the man was more frequently played than the ball. Particularly so was this the case with. Lennie; who had the sole attention of a half sticking to him, with the assistance of a back thrown in to stop him. Halket came in for a little attention, and it was not till towards the close that Kilmarnock gave us an idea of what they were worth. Their forwards hustled well, and combined effectively to elude the halves, and Aberdeen's backs were kept busy. There was real danger then, for if the home backs had made one slip the Killie lads would have scored. The burst came too late, though it was good while it lasted, and. Aberdeen won their fourth victory by 1 goal to nil.

Amongst the Players.

Aberdeen had the pull in this game. They pressed most, were awarded most corner-kicks, and gave Young far more work than Macfarlane got. Kilmarnock were strongest in defence, which is constituted with a view to success and not fancy work.
Anderson was the best half, though inclined to be too attentive to the man. Skileen and Wilson were most dangerous in the front rank, the latter being very unselfish with his young partner, and might have shot on his own with benefit to himself. Macfarlane got very little to do, and was only once in difficulties. Both backs were again sound and reliable in all their work. The halves were the mainstay of the team, Macintosh putting in most work, though there was really very little between any of them. Muir did not appear to be at home at outside right, and could not grasp Murray's passes, though he may come to do so with a little time. Murray worked hard, but let too many of his passes away for free kicks to the back. Wilson improved and kept his place, while a little more experience ought, to improve him. O'Hagan and Lennie were not so nippy as usual, but they were closely guarded by the opposing halves and backs, and got very little freedom to work with.

Chatty Bits.

The talk of the week has been the Quinn sensation.
We were better pleased with the Aberdeen team as a whole on Saturday.
They deserved greater success than came their way. If they keep it up, their reputation is made.
Wilson did well on Saturday, kept his place better, and looked more dangerous than he has yet done.
There is talk of his being rested, but we fancy he should be persisted in until a better turns up.
Aberdeen's defence will be thoroughly tested on Saturday against Falkirk's sharp-shooters.
If they can stand up to it, there is no saying, what may happen.
Lennie was too well watched by the "Killie" defence to get in his usual effective work.
St. Mirren, along with Plymouth, are the only two League teams in the Kingdom who have not suffered defeat in their competitions. If the Saints do come a cropper, the race for the championship will be the keenest we have had for many years.
Sunderland gave Henry Low a much-needed rest on Saturday. They were just taking a little too much out of. him.
The Football Association have now issued their edict against clubs playing any of the new Amateur F.A. teams.
All clubs connected with the A.F.A. are now considered suspended, and this drastic step has led to some searchings amongst the prominent amateurs, who did not realise the pos-sibility of such a drastic step being taken.
This means that the S.F.A. will have to fall into line with the other bodies.
The Lifeboat Demonstration on Saturday will effect the attendance at Pittodrie.
Lochee have some good players just now. One or two are said to be worth looking after.
This will be the first Northern League game at Pittodrie for a long time. We hope they will get a good reception.

Source: Bon-Accord, 10th October 1907