Dundee A 1 - 0 Aberdeen

In consequence of their having to sacrifice their players to fill the vacancies in the first team, Aberdeen reserves took the field with a weakened side in their northern league match with Dundee reserves and Dens Park. Under the circumstances, the Aberdeen side did well to run the home stars to the goal.

THE GAME

Aberdeen opened brightly, but the forwards were loose. Walker and Graydon broke away, and the centre got through, but shot weakly. The visitors lacked understanding, and Dundee pressed severely. King muddled a shot from Gallacher, but danger was averted. Strachan let Walker off, but a couple of yards from goal he sent behind. Graydon and Duncan tested King, who got rid of some nasty tries, and McNabb caused Balfour to handle a stingless shot. There was no understanding in the Aberdeen defence, and Gallacher, profiting by a muddle between the backs, easily beat king with an oblique shot. All over, Dundee were the better side, and Simpson failed to unite the forwards. Strenuous play by the half-backs gave Aberdeen a bigger say in the game, but they could not grasp their opportunities. King confidently stopped a great shot by Duncan, and Gallacher missed from 3 yards. Lawson's stopped Paterson 6 yards from goal. Dundee's superiority was more marked than ever, but weak finishing robbed them of success. King saved magnificently from Gallacher after Hannah and Reid had muddled. Simpson missed narrowly.

The teams resumed without leaving the field, and Neilson called on Balfour from long range. Aberdeen made the mistake of keeping the ball in the air, and the forwards were consequent league in effective. Play was uninteresting, with Dundee doing the bulk of the pressing, Aberdeen being saved by their defence. King was in great form, and saved grandly from Gallacher. Balfour was getting more to do this half, but none of the shots was of the goal-getting kind. Aberdeen were lamentably weak at goalmouth, and did not grasp their opportunities. Dundee were much the more scientific and effective. A capital cross from Neilson was sent over by Paterson, and at the other end Walker missed by inches from 20 yards. Clark nipped the ball from Graydon's toe when a goal seemed certain, and Duncan, after getting clean through the defence, missed badly. Dundee pressed almost continuously, but failed to get the better of the dour Aberdeen defence. Clark prevented a goal by stopping Walker and Graydon close in. The visitors, when they got to close quarters, diddled needlessly. Dickson threw away the best of opportunities on two occasions by shooting when he had ample time to steady. He troubled Balfour later with a raking shot, and Hannah drew up Wyllie in great style. Aberdeen were deservedly beaten through lack of understanding and combination, except in goal and at back they were badly served.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 16th October 1911