Dumbarton 0 - 1 Aberdeen

At Dumbarton. The first half was goalless, and practically featureless. Aberdeen had more scoring chances, but the forwards were poor finishers. There was no scoring in the second half until ten minutes from time, and the point then went to the team which was not most deserving of it. Until then Dumbarton had had the bigger say, and so feeble had been the efforts of the Aberdeen forwards, and so sound the Dumbarton defence, that Bryson had seldom been called on to handle. Soye, however, sprung the surprise. Smartly beating three defenders, he shot from forty yards out. Although the ball had all this distance to travel Bryson did not so much as get his hands on it. Generally speaking, the game was spoiled by the conditions. In a good defence for Dumbarton Thomson and Gildea were best, and Rowan was the only forward to show anything like form. If Soye be excepted, the Aberdeen forwards were a poor lot. The defence was, however, uniformly good, the backs being a fine pair. Result:- Aberdeen, 1; Dumbarton, 0.

Source: The Scotsman, 2nd February 1914

Aberdeen's progress in their work of rehabilitation goes on apace. To followers of the club the fact that the team triumphed over Dumbarton on Saturday gives a double satisfaction. It is just a year ago come Saturday since the Sons of the Rock blasted the hopes of the Pittodrie club in the second round of the Scottish Cup that "Fatal" Boghead, and as Dumbarton had one at Pittodrie this season under league auspices, Boghead was until Saturday not avenged, but that is now no longer the case. Aberdeen were there on Saturday, and although for a long time it looked as if there might be a repetition of last season's display, so many chances were lost in the first, it all came right in the end, and the defence and Soye pulled them through.

GAME OF MISSES

It was in nothing but and a favourable for football, and the pitch is well named Boghead. Under the circumstances, it was not ill suited to the heavy Aberdeen half-back line, who dominated the situation in the first half. At the end of that period, if they had taken all the chances, Aberdeen might have been leading by as many goals as they beat Hamilton Academicals the previous week, move but the Dumbarton goal had a charmed existence, and positively brilliant in their leading up work, the Aberdeen forwards could simply do anything but the right thing in front of goal. I have seldom seen a home team so badly outplayed as Dumbarton were in the first half-hour, and have never seen such missing as was crowded into the period when Aberdeen were all over the home crowd. It developed into a farce at times, and even the home crowd laughed.

DESERVING WINNERS

Did Aberdeen deserve to win? The did! They were much the better team in defence, but their attack, if better balanced, was scarcely so good as Dumbarton's. In the first half the brilliance of the defence and bright passages by the forwards kept the Aberdeen showing the way, and it was really difficult to believe that forwards who made rings around the opposition in the outfield could make such a mess of matters at goalmouth. In the second half Dumbarton were the aggressive side, but there were no loopholes in the Aberdeen defence, and none of the chances that had fallen to Aberdeen ever came to the lot of the home side, when they return to attack came. Aberdeen played well, but the defence carried the owners of the day, although Soye won the game off his own bat.

ABOUT THE PLAYERS

Greig's Goalkeeping

Greig had some difficult work to accomplish in the first half, and the greasy ball did not in the least affected his fisting. He had an easier time in the second half, when Dumbarton were attacking more, and he handed in the first half, when their occasional rushes and crosses from the wings required all his wits. In the first half he had two fine saves - one when he ran out and dispossessed row one in the act of shooting, and another when he fisted away from Thom.

THE MIGHTY ATOMS

Colman and Hannah were a brilliant pair of "mighty atoms." Colman was frequently beaten in the first half until he understood the movements of his new half-back in front of him, but in the second half he played a truly brilliant game, and, considering be going, and display deserved to be marked as one of his best of the season. What a brilliant partner he has in Hannah. The x-East End lad was in his element on Saturday. He did not kick always quite so acutely as Colman, but he always got their. And the present time there is no better club ere in the League.

HOME RULE

Both figured in an exciting incident in the second half on the only occasion in the period that the Aberdeen goal was really in danger. Greig had run out to clear from Ferguson and fell, and before he could recover McConnell lifted the ball into the unattended goal. The ball was going all the way when Hannah and Colman both the threw themselves at it. Hannah got in his kick, but both fell at the foot of the goal post with their legs locked together. A gentleman beside me hit off the situation nicely when he exclaimed, that's "home rule with a vengeance." The incident showed how the Crerar the two Aberdeen backs to save the charge, and it was to their credit that they should both have been on the spot cover up their last line of defence.

A PROMISING RECRUIT

Alexander Wright, of the East End Club, made his debut at right half, and a most promising appearance did he make. There was a remarkable similarity in his play to that of Stewart Davidson, now of Middlesbrough, and considering it was his first effort in league football he gave a very satisfactory exhibition. His weight helped him a deal, but Wright but brains into his play. All he did was not perfect, but he could not well have done better. He passed finely to his wing, and when in difficulty did not hesitate to pass back to Colman. He came near to being put on the referee's bad books when he accidentally kicked Thom on the head. It was a pure accident, but the crowd did not think so. As mentioning the source of Wright, I might quote an incident in the second half. He fell near the touch line with the ball wedged between his feet, and was tackled by an opponent. He could not get the ball away, and promptly worked himself backwards on all fours until he and the ball were into touch. There was not much in the incident, but his showed his brain was working at the same time. He has a splendid idea of the game, and although he requires further training, he is a promising recruit, and one of the best Aberdeen has got for some time. He is not strong in his heading, which should make good in time. He gave a splendid all-round exhibition, and can scarcely be left out of the side this week.

Wyllie and Brewster

Wyllie gave a very sound defensive exhibition and kept a fine grip of Rowan, the home centre. He revelled in the heavy going, and was a very useful man to Aberdeen on many occasions when Aberdeen were in straits.
But there was badly disappointed with the play of Brewster, who should have made good on the heavy going. The lad, however, got a free-kick shot on the stomach early in the game, and was sick throughout afterwards, and that may have accounted for his lapse. He frequently miskicked, and made a glaring blunder in the second half, which, but for Hannah, might have led to the losing of the game.

The Forwards

The forwards were badly affected by the heavy going in the second half, their exertions in the first period having told against them. None of them were exceptionally brilliant in the period, but in the initial half-hour Walker gave a dazzling display of dribbling. He swerved wonderfully on occasion, and quite bewildered the opposition. He was not the same force in the second. The most consistent forward was Soye, who was always dangerous. His goal was a very clever effort, as he first beat two men and then drove with his left foot, the ball going in off the upright. Maine played cleverly in the outfield, but it was his off-day in front of goal. He was, nevertheless, a clever leader, but will not always have to play under the same circumstances. Travers dribbled and past nicely, and in spite of the heavy going he stood up well. Much of his good work was lost on his partner Scorgie, who appeared able to do nothing right. The weakness of the outside-left nullified many good efforts on the part of the line, even although he was not anymore ineffective in front of goal and the majority of the forwards on view.

A GOALKEEPER'S RESORT

Mr. Tom Robertson refereed the game, but I have seen him officiate to greater satisfaction. How he failed to observe the Dumbarton goalkeeper throw his camp out Soye when the player was in the act of shooting in the first half, it is difficult to understand. It was a most glaring subterfuge, and merited a penalty kick since Soye's effort was spoilt.

The Losers

Bryson kept a good goal for the losers, and Thomson was a better back than McAlpine. The half-backs played splendidly after the first half-hour, but they were badly at C previous to that. Speedie was the best player on the side, but McFie, although opposed to a brilliant wing in Soye and Walker, came well out of the ordeal. Thom was the best forward, and Rowan and McConnell did good work.

Source: Evening Express, 2nd February 1914