Aberdeen 2 - 2 Airdrieonians

THE YOUNG DONS made an inauspicious start to the New Year by only drawing 2-2 at home with bottom-of-the-table Airdrie last Saturday, but in the end I was quite pleased to see them salvage a point with a late goal by Ian Purdie, his second of the game. After this Ian can boast that he has burst the net with a shot, but we could have done without the anxious moments until referee D. F. Syme confirmed that the ball had gone between the posts and then through a hole in the side netting and not past the post as the Airdrie players claimed.
The average age of the Reserve side was about 18, probably one of the youngest ever fielded by the club, and it would be foolish and unfair to the lads to look for a sudden improvement In the team's fortunes. With about 80% of the play, I thought they should have been a couple of goals in front instead of one down at the interval, but our shooting wouldn't have won any prizes at Bisley. Purdie was our only forward who looked like scoring and it was one of his crackerjacks from 30 yards that brought the scores level in 70 minutes after Charlie Elvin had come on for Ian Hair. Then we fell behind again and it took Purdie's late counter to gain our 16th point of the season from 17 games.
Jimmy Smith is improving with every game in his new role as sweeper and Tommy Wilson was a useful stopgap centre half. Chic McLelland. who was drafted in at right half at the last minute after Ian Taylor had been called up to first-team duty, looked uncomfortable until he switched positions with right back Billy Williamson in the second half. Jimmy Miller gave another hard-working display, but he'll have to watch his temper. I was looking for a lot more from George Buchan, and Joe Smith has the ability, but he'll have to sharpen up if he is to make the best use of it. Our goalkeeper, making his Pittodrie debut, was 15-year-old Jim George, an "S" form signing from East Kilbride Burgh. He has joined the ground staff and will probably be farmed out to a local juvenile side.
One final word about referee Syme. I think he is certain to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was a top official.

Source: Match Programme, 15th January 1972