Dumbarton 2 - 1 Aberdeen

With all their faults, Aberdeen were an unlucky side at Dumbarton. They had fully three-fourths of the game, and while they encountered sheer bad fortune at times, their sensational defeat must be attributed to their own mistake and tactics. They were opposed to Second Division football, and this being so, a team of their experience should have known how to effectively combat team which in the football sense he could have swallowed up. The repeatedly had the Dumbarton goal at their mercy, and yet they simply could not shoot with any effect. Time after time they ran through the Home Lines only to be beaten by their own tactics near goal. They had many good efforts brilliantly stopped by the Dumbarton goalkeeper, but considering the pressure and a manner that past the opposition in the outfield, we should have obtained far more than one goal, and indeed should have won hands down. The peculiar pitch at Boghead always troubled the First Leaguers. In some parts the ground was nearly ankle deep in mud, and Aberdeen did not take kindly to the conditions. On the other hand the Second Leaguers reveled in the heavy going. Their football seldom had the pretension to be classed alongside that of Aberdeen, but they never hesitated. Putting the ball away first time, they disconcerted Aberdeen. Near goal they were all bustle and shot, and when their goal was in danger - and it often was - the crowded in front, and cleared anyhow. The other side of the picture saw Aberdeen, once they were a goal in our ears, striving desperately for the equaliser, but the muddled terribly at goal. When they ought to have been following the example of the opposition and shooting at every opportunity, the eve of that-tapped the ball to each other or hesitated to long. They were badly served in the centre forward position, especially in the first half, when many excellent chances went for nothing. From start to finish it was a game full of thrills, with Aberdeen most unlucky to lose, although they brought about their own undoing by mistake and tactics.

THE PLAY

Boghead was densely crowded, and about 8000 people saw a sensational start. After 3 minutes "Robertson" beat the defence, and flashed the ball into the net. Thus early in the lead, Dumbarton played with great confidence. Aberdeen kept up a consistent pressure, but they could make no impression near goal. Milne repeatedly broke off, and got through only to miss chances galore. On one occasion he was past the backs, and with an open goal, lifted the ball over the bar. Later, Miller was saved sensationally from Milne and Travers, and he diverted several shots which looked like counting. Seldom was King troubled, the play being confined to the Dumbarton half of the field, but Aberdeen could not get through. Maine, Scorgie, Soye, Travers, Milne, and Wilson all had tries, but the ball could not be forced through. Aberdeen were a goal down at the interval.

LAST-MINUTE CHANCE

Aberdeen continued attacking after the restart, but Miller was brilliant in the home goal. Milne got the ball through, but was ruled offside, and the story continued with Aberdeen doing all the forcing. When they broke away Dumbarton were always dangerous, and once King saved in wonderful fashion from Robertson, while following upon successive corners Davidson on the goal-line luckily blocked a shot that would have found the net. There were more missed chances by Aberdeen, but at last, from a cross by Soye, Scorgie got the equaliser. In the following minutes Aberdeen relaxed their efforts and lost the match. The Dumbarton right-winger got off from McConnell, and beating first Hannah and then Colman, he squared brilliantly to Robertson, who gave King no chance. In the closing minutes Aberdeen made frantic efforts to equalise, and in the very last minute a great chance was lost. It was a thrilling finish, and there was a remarkable scene of enthusiasm amongst the home club supporters after the match.

The gate money amounted to £150 and the stands to 25, making a total of £175.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 10th February 1913