Aberdeen 3 - 1 Dumbarton

Although they opened none too well, Aberdeen A deserved their 3-1 victory over Dumbarton A in their Scottish Alliance match at Pittodrie on Saturday. By the way they started, the west countrymen looked like carrying all before them. The home defence was too prone to short passing and fancy work that spelt danger. The hefty punting of McBoyle, was more effective. When they did get going, the Aberdeen forwards, playing a fine open game, causing anxiety to the visitors. Fraser, Dumbarton inside right, had hard luck with a shot that hit the upright. Grosert was splendid, both in breaking up attacks and in constructive work. His trickiness caused many a laugh. His back-heel passes sometimes went abegging through lack of anticipation on the part of his partners. The extreme men put over one or two splendid centres. In the first half Fisher made Haggo move to clear. Mackie missed two golden opportunities through trying to make doubly sure. He made amends, however, by scoring from a lovely slip through by Stevenson. The visitors were a trifle unlucky to be one down at half-time, Blackwell doing well to hold the hottest shot of the match from Taylor, Dumbarton's outside left, in the closing stages.

Aberdeen opened the second half with a sparkling run by Yule, but nothing accrued. The visitors were out to equalise, and Gilligan gave Blackwell a fright. He drove the ball across the goal-mouth, and striking the upright, it rebounded out behind the custodian, and had cleared at the expense of a corner. Their opportunity came, however, through a penalty off MacLachlan for handling. Blackwell had no chance of saving. After this Aberdeen dominated the game, and a delightful piece of play by the left wing, manoeuvred by Grosert, resulted in Aberdeen again taking the lead. Grosert's cross was taken by Stevenson with a first-time shot that went into the far corner of the net.

A burst of energy by the "Sons of the Rock" soon died and a splendid solo run by Stevenson was rewarded with an equally fine goal from the foot of the inside right. From a corner Rankine who was playing well, scored from close range, but offside was given against Mackie.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 29th August 1921