Kilmarnock 1 - 0 Aberdeen

This return First League game attracted over six thousand spectators at Kilmarnock. Both sides had changes from their original selection. In the first have the game was keenly and evenly contested. Aberdeen showed the prettiest forward play, but Kilmarnock had the best chances to score. At the interval neither side had scored. Play in the second half was also fast. Shortly after the start Templeton scored for Kilmarnock from a penalty kick. The visitors had a similar chance, but Young saved Murray's effort. Both goals were assailed repeatedly, MacFarlane having more to do than the home custodian. Aberdeen were unlucky not to level the score, the final result being :- Kilmarnock, one goals; Aberdeen, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 2nd March 1908

Aberdeen travelled to Kilmarnock on Saturday to engage for League points, but owing to the recent strenuous cup tie fights, a number of the Pittodrie regular eleven were rested. Macfarlane reappeared in goal, Drain relieved Halkett in the middle line, and Muir and Murray were the only regular representatives in the front division. The weather was unfavourable when the teams lined up as follows, under the supervision of Mr. Muir, Glasgow:-

Kilmarnock: Young; Mitchell, Doolan; Johnstone, Anderson, Walker; McAllister, Wilson, A. Armour, Young, Templeton.
Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Colman, Hume; terrain, McIntosh, Low; Wilson, Muir, Murray, McKinley, Simpson.

Aberdeen kicked off in a slight wind, which blew across the pitch. Killie were first dangerous, first Templeton and then Walker narrowly missing the net. Play was soon shifted into Killie quarters, and with Wilson, Muir, and Murray on him Mitchell shortly cleared from the latter. Two minutes later Kilmarnock retaliated, a header from Anderson being only saved from conversion off Armour at the expense of a corner. Wilson had a solo run, but dallied over long, and was beaten by Doolan, his later centre being equally ineffective. Aberdeen were having more of the play. There finishing was weak, and Young had comparatively little to do. With Macfarlane it was different. He gave away a corner from Armour's finish off McAllister's pass, and from the other wing saved brilliantly from Templeton. The game continued hard and exciting, but the pitch, which had cut up considerably, rendered finer touches well nigh impossible.

To resuming, Killie made a warm attack on Aberdeen's stronghold, and during the melee which ensued two incidents resulted. Walker was temporarily injured, and a penalty kick was granted the home team. Templeton scored from it. Wilson and Muir made a bold attempt to draw level, but were thwarted by Walker, after which Henderson shot past the wrong side of the net. Aberdeen were in difficulties for a spell, during which Macfarlane performed well. Cold, calculating play by Aberdeen saw Kilmarnock in a serious difficulty, and a penalty kick was given against the home team. Murray was entrusted with it, but young got his paws on the ball and saved amidst excitement and cheers. Brisk play followed, excellent tactics being the order. Latterly Aberdeen pressed, but could make nothing of the defence. Open play ensued, and tackling was excellent, and both goals were at times in danger.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 2nd March 1908

Lost by a Penalty.

The Aberdeen team which did duty on Saturday at Kilmarnock had only a semblance of itself from the former week at Pittodrie. So many new faces appeared in the front line that they were scarcely recognisable from the team that has been going so well. The Ayrshire people have a strong fancy that they will meet Aberdeen in the final, and this had a great attraction for them; for, though the weather was anything but tempting, and plenty of snow round about, they came out in their thousands, certainly more than ever they did to Aberdeen on their previous visits. Nor were they disappointed, for they saw a splendid game of football, many stirring incidents occurring which kept the excitement up till the whistle blew.
Aberdeen were uppermost at the start, and but for hanging too long on the ball ought to have opened their account early. Following this some fine defensive work was shown by the visitors, Coleman twice preventing Templeton from getting in his kick, while Macfarlane dealt with some capital shots. Wilson swung across a capital centre which Murray very nearly got through with, Young being hard pressed for a time. So on the play went, from end to end, a punishing first-half ending with a clean sheet. Play was, not long begun ere a penalty was granted, it being alleged that Hume was too forcible in his attentions to Walker. Templeton scored. Not long after this a shot from Muir, we thought, was sailing beautifully between the posts, when it was fisted out by one of the backs - another penalty. Murray did not put enough pith behind his shot, and Young just got it and rolled it behind. The succeeding corner being cleared, Aberdeen worked hard to equalise; and nearly succeeded several times, but the whistle sounded with Kille victors by 1-0, the same score that divided the teams at Pittodrie.

Play and Players.

The game was value for a draw, for we could not see that either side had very much the pull over the other. Macfarlane was great in goal, and dealt with some shots that appeared impossible to save. Colman and Hume were both reliable, but the heavy ball seemed to bother them a bit. The halves were tip-top; Drain, who had another try with the first team, doing very well against such an experienced player as Templeton. The forwards played well but for their attempting to run the ball through, instead of shooting within range of goal. Murray, Muir, and Simpson were best. Templeton was the star of the home side, and led the forwards on at a great pace. Anderson was energetic and watchful to a degree, while Young in goal excelled himself, and satisfied the home crowd better than ever he has done.

Chatty Bits.

Our congratulations to Willie Lennie for the honour he has received in being capped against Wales.
We are sure Aberdonians will wish him good luck, and that he may receive a similar honour against England.
Lennie and Secretary Philip journeyed to Birmingham last week and spectated at the League international.
They had rather a cold journey out and home.
Trainer Simpson had quite a small accident ward at Pittodrie last week. His patients have made excellent recoveries.
So many absentees made the trainer a bit anxious as to how the others would fare at Kilmarnock.
They got on better than was expected, and proved themselves capable substitutes for those they displaced. It is gratifying to hear this.
Aberdeen seems to have become famous all at once in the football world. Charlie O'Hagan has been selected again to represent his country against Scotland on the 14th, in Ireland.
Better still, Charlie is to captain the team, an honour which he had to forego by deciding to play against Dundee in the cup ties.
We are sure that Aberdonians wish O'Hagan every success, and if his team does not win, may they make a good show.
The rumour circulated by a Dundee paper that Aberdeen were to play their tie at Hampden is entirely without foundation.
Such a thing must have originated in the fertile brain of some disappointed Dundonian. The rumour has caused great annoyance to the officials at Pittodrie.
The first international is due at Dens Park on Saturday. It will have an attraction for Aberdonians, who have a representative in the team.
There will be cheap fares to Dundee by the North British Railway with the ordinary morning trains.
The storm on Saturday was worse in England than in Scotland. Only Rugby games were postponed on this side of the border, but many League games were cancelled on the other side.
Aberdeen will have to look out for a permanent penalty kicker in both teams. On Saturday they had three chances to score off these gifts, and failed at every one of them.
We have advocated more than once that something in this line should be done, but still another is added to the list of failures.
McEachran, of the University, gave a fine show at outside right. We should like to see him tried, in the first team.
He has a fine turn of speed, centres accurately, and knows where the goal lies.
Another player who deserves another trial is K. Ross, at half. He seemed in want of training in the second period, but his work at the start was really good.
Owing to Cup ties, Dalgarno, of Mugiemoss, assisted his club in preference to playing at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Nothing definite has been decided on as to the celebration of the majority of the Aberdeenshire F. A.
The final for the Aberdeenshire Cup should be settled this month if a date can be found. Aberdeen A and Peterhead are the contestants.
Clubs should remember that the season is curtailed this year. The playing season finishes on 30th April.
It seems that the fee for internationalists will form the subject of debate at the International Board meeting in June.
England pay their players £10 and a cap, but none of the other countries have shown what they are to do yet.
The Scotchmen will know on Saturday after the Welsh game at Dundee.

Source: Bon-Accord, 5th March 1908