Aberdeen 1 - 2 Clyde

AN AWAY victory followed by a home defeat has been the Reserves' rather topsy turvy opening form line but with the average age of the team around the 18 years mark we can expect some in-and-out results until they settle. We have been handicapped in our team choice in that George Murray and Willie Young, who helped to form the backbone of the side last season, have been unavailable for one reason or another. Kenny Gordon, a former team-mate of Ian Hair who joined us from East Kilbride Burgh United, has been spending a few days at Pittodrie and he played a trial at centre half in last Saturday's 3-0 win at Dens Park. Kenny played soundly but was unavailable for the mid-week game against Clyde who beat us 2-1. Jim Hamilton stepped in at centre half for his first ever game in that position - and he played well in a position which must have been strange to such a free runner.
The young Dons' outfield play was smart enough against Clyde but once they got to the 18-yard line they didn't have the know-how to break down an experienced defence. One or two of our players were inclined to be put off their normal game by the opposition's tactics but this is another factor which only experience will cure. Ian Hair, who missed training with a knee injury after the Dundee tie, had to come off in the second half. His substitute was Willie Miller, who is likely to be farmed out to Peterhead in place of Charlie Elvin. Elvin is an asset on the right wing. He takes up good position, and uses the ball well.
Right back Sandy Clelland, who broke his right ankle last season, could be well satisfied with his midweek performance but Chic McLelland took an ankle knock in the first minute and was handicapped thereafter. Chic this season is reverting to the midfield man he was when he joined the staff. His injury restricted the service to the forwards of whom only Ian Purdie was ready to have a go at goal. Purdie, at the moment, is the only young Dons' attacker with real pace. We could do with Ian Taylor's speed up front and this is why we are concentrating on working the ball up from the back as there is little point in pumping balls over or past the opposing defence if we don't have the speed merchants to take advantage of this ploy.

Source: Match Programme, 21st August 1971