Aberdeen 1 - 3 Raith Rovers

Raith Rovers gained their third victory from home this season when they defeated Aberdeen at Pittodrie by 3 goals to 1. They were the superior side on the day's showing, although in justice to the home side it should be added that they lost the services of Main, who was injured before the interval. Aberdeen opened the scoring through Main, who beat Neish with a hard drive, but before half time and after Main had been carried off, Scott equalised with a header. Short-handed as they were, Aberdeen put up a good fight in the second half, when there would be 7000 spectators, but the Rovers wore them down, and added goals through Turner and Scott. Just on the close Wyllie was sent off the field.

Source: The Scotsman, 9th November 1914

Had it not been for an unfortunate mishap to Main, their centre forward, who had to retire from the game after 20 minutes' play, it is very questionable if Raith Rovers would have recorded their first win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Main had been leading his side with great dash, and his mishap occurred while he was attempting to repeat an effort with which he had previously given Aberdeen the lead. The effect of his absence was clearly seen in the later movements of a Aberdeen, for they never showed the same precision in their play, and their attacks, while determined, had never much of the scientific element about them. So far as actual aggression went, Raith Rovers were flattered by their 3-1 victory, not that they did not deserve the goals, but they did not merit such a big margin. There were periods in the game when Aberdeen were virtually all over the opposition, and it was at these times that the absence of Main was most felt. The game abounded with exciting passages, and more shots reach two goalkeepers than in any previous game at Pittodrie this season. All the goals were characteristic efforts. Maine early beat Neish, but the goal was struck off on the ground of offside. He got satisfaction 15 minutes from the start, however, when he cleverly beat Morrison for possession and shot and the like full goal. Then followed his mishap, which marked the real turning point in the game. The Aberdeen goalkeeper had been busy before Scott, catching on to a beautiful centre by Gibson, beat him with a strong head effort. There was fast play until the interval, both custodians having a lot of work, but the period was devoid of further scoring.

For 20 minutes in the second half Aberdeen maintained terrific pressure on the visitors' defence, and good shots by Archibald, Wyllie, and Chatwin were parried, while Morrison and Neish distinguish themselves by the manner they stood up to the desperate rushes led by Wyllie. Gradually the Aberdeen pressure slack and, and the order of things was reversed. Hume had twice cleared from below the bar before Turner gave rovers the lead. From that stage Aberdeen were well beaten, and Scott added another goal for the Rovers. In the course of a hot rally Aberdeen made a confident appeal for a penalty against one of the visitors' defenders, but after consulting with a linesman the referee disallowed the claim. In the closing stages Aberdeen came very near to scoring, Neish tipping two dangerous balls over the bar. In the last minute there was an unfortunate incident, as the result of which John Wyllie, the Aberdeen centre half-back, was ordered off the field. He raced off on his own, and Neish, who came out of his goal, robbed him of the ball and kicked clear. Meanwhile Wyllie ran on, but on stopping he turned round, and his being ordered off was the sequel to the subsequent incident in which he and Neish figured.
Aberdeen owed their defeat primarily to the absence of Main, who damaged his ankle. In the second half Wyllie made a commendable effort to carry on the duel positions of centre half and centre forward, but in the circumstances the team was too disorganised to be effective. The players who were most prominent in the game were Anderson, Colman, Hume, McLauchlan, Wyllie, and Main for Aberdeen; and Neish, Morrison, Anderson, Scott, and Gibson for Raith Rovers. The attendance numbered 6000.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 9th November 1914