Aberdeen 1 - 0 Heart of Midlothian

These teams fulfilled their return League fixture before about 5000 spectators, the drawings amounting to £140 all in. The Hearts were without McLaren and Dickson at half, Henderson and Philip filling the vacancies. The northern representation was strong. Both teams took a long time to settle down, and, although the game was keen and even in the first period, it was productive of a poor exhibition of football. If anything, the Aberdonians were the better of two moderate sides. Certainly they showed better attack and shooting power, but the Tynecastle defence was strong. The second half was entered upon without either team having scored. This period was much more exciting and showed the northerners, whose play underwent considerable improvement, to be the superior combination. They scored through Murray in the opening ten minutes, and from that point they never looked back. But for the stubborn work of the Hearts' defence and Allan's safe goalkeeping, the lead might have been increased, although Murray failed with a couple of fine chances. To the end the visiting attack displayed lack of cohesion and weak finishing, and, despite the great efforts of Walker, were outclassed. Result:- Aberdeen, one goal; Hearth of Midlothian, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 23rd December 1907

The Hearts, from Edinburgh, were the visitors at Pittodrie on Saturday afternoon, when they engaged in Aberdeen in a First Division Scottish League match. Notwithstanding the heavy rain on Friday evening and on Saturday morning, the pitch, although inclined to be soft, was in good order. There were about 5000 spectators present when the teams lined up as follows:-

Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Colman, Hume; Davidson, McIntosh, Low; Macdonald, Simpson, Murray, O'Hagan, Lennie.
Hart's: Allan; Reid, Collins; Henderson, Thomson, Philip; Tomlinson, Walker, Colombo, Reynolds, Dargue.
Referee - Mr. R. F. Lithgow, Glasgow.

Aberdeen won the toss, and Colombo kicked off towards the city goal. Aberdeen opened briskly. A rush by walker and Tomlinson was cutely stopped by Low, who placed the ball to Murray. The centre forward worked his way well down the field. He cleverly outwitted Thompson, but his parting shot was wide. A dangerous cross from Macdonald was promptly cleared by Reid. Walker and Tomlinson were again prominent with tricky work on the right. Walker was playing an excellent game. He outwitted Low, and was making straight for goal with the ball at his feet, when Hume cleverly took the ball from him, and sent into touch for safety. From the throw in Hearts' right winger forced a corner. The ball was well placed by Tomlinson. It hovered about Aberdeen's goal for about half a minute until Colman relieved with a strong kick. Play was transferred to the Hearts territory by Macdonald and Simpson, and for a time a strong attack was kept up on the visitors' goal. Well fed by their halves the local forwards made ground fast. The Hearts defence offered stout opposition, but none was so prominent in defending his Thompson. This veteran internationalist lay well down between his backs. It was mainly due to his grand play that Aberdeen was kept from scoring. Time and again the Hearts backs were left behind, but there was no beating Thompson. When the backs failed the internationalist was always in a position to clear. Murray, from a centre by Macdonald, sent in a good shot, which the keeper saved. Davidson was somewhat unsteady in his tackling, while his placing left much to be desired. Play was for the most part confined to the Hearts' half, but in spite of the repeated efforts of the local forwards to secure a goal, they could not break down the defence. Aberdeen's shooting was not so good as usual. Murray, Simpson, and O'Hagan all had tried, but their shots went wide. Murray, at centre, was playing a grand game. He fed the wing men to perfection, and only the close attention he received from Thompson kept him out. The visitors wakened up, and Thomson and walker was seen at their best. They forced play close in upon Macfarlane. Davidson and then Hume cleared. Back again went to Aberdeen. The local forwards played delightful football. There was netted about their movements which spelt danger, and a great shot by Murray was cleverly saved by Allan. After a run to Aberdeen's end by the visitors, a spell of give and take play followed in midfield. A foul against Hume for fouling Walker looked dangerous. The ball was judiciously placed by Thompson, but Macfarlane cleared. Lennie and O'Hagan got off not be carried the ball well down, and some smart work was performed by Lennie. Little man did as he pleased with Reid, until Thompson rushed across and gave away a corner. The three kick was got away. The Hearts' forwards made strenuous efforts to get past the local halves, but this they could not do. Aberdeen's intermediate line was inspired king form. Perhaps McIntosh was the most prominent. Colombo was rendered useless by McIntosh. The centre got no rope whatever, and the whole forward line in consequence suffered more or less. Walker and Tomlinson gave Hume no end of trouble, but the back was playing one of his best games, and repeatedly sent the payer to the right about. Some sensational play was witnessed at this stage. Lennie and O'Hagan raced a way to wards Alan. Man after man was left standing. The left winger was sent over a beautiful centre. The ball landed a few yards from the goal. Thomson, on seeing Lennie and O'Hagan making such progress, fell back, and when the ball was centred a goal seemed certain. Murray rushed in and kicked, but Thompson threw himself at the ball. The internationalist came down heavily on his face. He was severely injured about the face, and had to retire for a few minutes. Colman was not so steady as he was at the start, and Dargue got in several hard shots, all of which went past. A foul against Macfarlane for holding the ball too long looked dangerous. The free kick was well placed, and after some exciting play in front of goal, Colman cleared. Aberdeen were the superior team, but were prevented from scoring by the grand defensive work of Thomson.

The visitors opened the second half as if they intended to sweep all before them not walker and Thomson forced play well in on Macfarlane. The center-half got the ball from walker. He was in a good position to open the scoring, but his final effort went flying over the bar. The visitors were not easily shaken off. Thompson and walker were most persistent in their endeavours to get through. Ultimately Colman had to give away a corner, and from the free kick, which was badly placed, the same back sent the ball well ahead. O'Hagan and Lennie transfer to play to the other end, and after a find combined exhibition by the local forwards the Irish internationalist sent behind. Aberdeen still continued to press, and Hearts' goal had several narrow escapes. Allan was in good form, and it was mainly his clever saving and the ground defensive work of Thomson at prevented Aberdeen from scoring. After working hard for about five minutes' in front of his goal, Thompson forced the game two wards Aberdeen's goal. Walker cleverly outwitted Low, and sent over to Dargue. The left winger sent in a swinging cross right in front of goal. Macfarlane, for the first time, had seriously to exert himself. He got the ball with difficulty as it was curling into the net. A minute later Dargue forced a corner, but the free kick was sent behind. The locals were not long on the defensive, however, and the halves soon had the visiting forwards tied up. Exciting play followed in front of Allan. Time and again the custodian cleared his lines. Such pressure as Aberdeen brought to bear on the visiting defence could not go long unrewarded. Thomson was about to raise the siege by kicking out, when Simpson, who had all along been playing a very nifty game, robbed the centre-half of the ball. It was very cleverly done. Bobby passed to Macdonald, who, after beating the back opposed to him sent over to Murray. The centre forward shot from a difficult to angle, and the ball screwed past the side of the post into the net. Allan made a capital effort to save, but the ball went about a yard over the line before he stopped it. The goalkeeper was injured in attempting to save the shot, his head coming in violent contact with the post in throwing himself at the ball. He was soon himself again, and a minute later had to save a stiff one from Murray. There was no getting away from Aberdeen's superiority now. The forwards and halves were irresistible. They kept hammering away at Allan, but the ball could not be got in again. Thomson was playing a magnificent game. Wherever serious danger threat and he was seen at his best, being here, there, and everywhere. If it had not been for his strenuous defensive work, the Hearts' citadel would have fallen a few times. Murray in his anxiety to secure another point missed an open goal. Lennie placed the ball right in front of goal. The centre got the ball. There was no one in front of him but Allan, but instead of steadying himself before shooting he struck the ball with the side of his left foot, sending it high over the crossbar. Hearts' pressed the locals for a minute or two, and a corner forced by Dargue proved fruitless. Aberdeen returned to the attack. The halves completely bottled up the visiting forwards, none of whom were more useless than Colombo. Of course this was due to the attention he received from McIntosh. Macdonald and Simpson were more prominent this half. He repeatedly got the better of the opposing halves, but the outside man deletes too long before shooting, with the result that the defence had time to fall back and clear. Aberdeen completely outplayed the visitors in the closing half. The Hearts were seldom dangerous, and would have made a very poor show indeed if it had not been for Walker and Thomson.

The gate and stands amounted to about £140.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 23rd December 1907

Chatty Bits. The Hearts worked desperately hard for a point on Saturday; they would have been pleased with that.
Their forwards never looked like getting there, and with the exception of Walker appeared to be as poor a lot as we have seen for some time.
It is a pity that such an important game should be played in the short days, as both Clubs suffered financially.
The gate drawings amounted in all to £140, which is a good bit below what the Hearts have been accustomed to at Pittodrie.
Charlie Thomson performed his usual task at half, back, and forward whenever he had an opportunity of getting there.
Tom Murray will not forget some of the bouts he had with the international, but we think the home centre ultimately got the better of the big man.
Murray stamped himself as the best forward on the field. Though he made one or two mistakes, his work in the outfield was class.
Taken all over, Aberdeen were steadier in their play and more reliable in their outfield work.
The results of the past eight weeks have been highly satisfactory to the Club and the players.
Their record is five wins and three draws, earning thirteen poits out of a possible sixteen. A great improvement, certainly, which should not be lost sight of.
In the early part of the season one knowing critic prophesied the team would be unable to secure a point away from home.
The results work out, two wins and two draws away, three wins and a draw at home.
St. Johnstone's pitch was again under water, and the A team were robbed of a fixture on Saturday.
The peculiar situation of the Perth Club's grounds lends itself to be easily submerged in times of heavy rain, such as we have been experiencing.
In the replay of the county tie between Keith Strathisla and the Harp the latter got beaten by 3 goals to 1.
This game was ordered to be replayed on account of what was alleged to be extra time allowed by the referee in the first game.
Little sympathy will be shown to the Harp, who have themselves entirely to blame for the replay.
Keith will have to play Peterhead in the semi-final, while Aberdeen meet the University. The final will Alms be a City v County affair.

Source: Bon-Accord, 26th December 1907