Orion 2 - 1 The Aberdeen

The football season opened in earnest at Aberdeen on Saturday, when the Orion and Aberdeen teams met in their first Northern League fixture. Several new faces were to be seen on the field, especially in the team wearing the Aberdeen colours. The weather, although dull, was dry, but the pitch was a little soft owing to the heavy rain in the earlier part of the day. The teams lined up as follows:- Aberdeen: Bisset; Brodie, Reid; Robertson, Sangster, Thomson; McKay, C. Mackie, Murphy, Shiach, George. Orion: Ritchie; Willox, Bremner; Campbell, Low, Esplin; Prophet, Shand, Henderson, Roy. Mr A. Watt, Victoria United, was referee.

Aberdeen won the toss, and decided to play up the hill in the first half, and Shand (late of Peterhead) kicked off for the Orion. No sooner was the ball set going than the Cattofield men rushed down on Bisset, who was called upon to throw out on the first minute of the game. Give-and-take play followed, but the display of both teams was of a very poor description. Of the forwards, the Aberdeen lot were showing up best, and Willox and Bremner were kept frequently busy defending. A blunder on the part of Willox let Murphy past, and had the Aberdeen centre only steadied himself up a little he might have scored, but instead shot strongly past an open goal. Brodie, the 'Varsity player, who is to assist the Queen's Park soon, played a splendid game at back for Aberdeen, and was perhaps the fastest man on the field. Half-time arrived without any scoring.

On the restart Orion, although now playing up the hill, were frequently dangerous. Shand opened the scoring with a difficult cross shot, which Bisset was unable to reach. Aberdeen now woke up, and played with great dash. From the midfield the "Whites" by good passing tactics, got down, and C. Mackie equalised in the midst of a scrimmage. Aberdeen might have scored again had McKay passed to C. Mackie a few minutes earlier instead of keeping the ball for so long. The game now became very fast and exciting, both teams striving hard for the lead. A few minutes before the close, Roy succeeded in giving Orion another point, and they ultimately ran out winners by a single goal.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 18th August 1902