Probably no Aberdeen side has been seen to such poor advantage as that which sustained 3-0 defeat from Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Saturday. Defeat would have had momentous consequences to the home club, but they rose nobly to the occasion, and were no means flattered by the big margin of victory. Almost from the start they ran the Aberdeen team off their feet, and their play greatly delighted the 4000 spectators. Aberdeen were without King, Davidson, McIntosh, and Lennie, and were handicapped in having to take the field after participating in a strenuous northern tour during the week. These circumstances appeared to influence the play of the side and they never really supplied any serious opposition to the winners. Kilmarnock showed fine understanding, but were weak in front of goal. In the outfield the Aberdeen defence proved but a slight barrier to progress, but at close quarters the shooting of the home forwards was wretched, although all their goals were the result of brilliant efforts. The first goal came in ten minutes, after Cunningham had missed a penalty kick. Two corners were forced, and from the second of these Shortt from well outside the penalty line scored a lovely goal. After Greig had effected some good saving, Logan headed through a second goal before the interval. Main once got clean through for Aberdeen, but with only Blair to beat he shot wide.
EVEN WORSE
Aberdeen were seen even to worse advantage in the second half, only the brilliance of Greig and the weak finishing of the home forwards prevented a mammoth score from being registered. Fully half-an-hour had gone before Aberdeen got the ball to the home goalline, and then Blair was lucky to block a shot by Wood. Kilmarnock's third goal came as the result of a grand shot by Logan, but it was left to Cunningham to have the best effort of the game. From twenty yards out he had a terrific drive, but the ball hit the crossbar, while later Greig effected a marvellous clearance from the same player. It was easily Aberdeen's worst display this season, and they were fortunate in not having a bigger score recorded against them.
Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 29th April 1912