Aberdeen 2 - 0 Rangers

IT'S BEEN a long time since a performance by an Aberdeen reserve team gave me as much pleasure as last Saturday's display in their 2-0 home victory over Rangers A. It was a triumph for teamwork and every one of the lads' did his bit.
Everyone was looking for the ball. Everyone was ready and willing to help a team-mate and goals by Ian Purdie and Jimmy Miller achieved the result the young Dons deserved for such an effort. Andy Geoghegan maintained his splendid form. He was as safe as houses and the knowledge that you have a keeper like Andy behind you is a confidence-booster in itself. Jim Smith, who has been out with an ankle injury, provided a sound full back partnership with Chic McLelland, who is now re¬capturing his best form. With pivot Ian Hair injured in training and sweeper Tommy Wilson called up to the first team, we had to field a scratch pairing of Willie Miller and Billy Williamson at the back and how well they filled the breach. Willie, normally regarded as a scoring centre, has done well as a centre half in practice and he justified our confidence, ably backed by Billy, who was never flustered and showed a grand turn of speed in recovery.
Jimmy Miller did a great job for us out on the right flank. The Rangers defence was never at ease with his barrage of crosses and Arthur Graham and John Craig were as skillful a pair of midfield men as you can see in the senior ranks. Attack leader George Buchan gave Ronnie McKinnon a hot time and Bobby Street's work-rate was as high as ever. He was unlucky not to figure on the score-sheet. Ian Purdie took his goal very well with his head from a Jimmy Miller corner and then reversed the process for Jimmy to net No. 2.

Source: Match Programme, 23rd December 1972