Match ended 0-0
Match Information
Attendance: 26,294
Referee: J Binnie (Falkirk)
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
Don’t believe that the Aberdeen people take their pleasures sadly. That is, if anyone tell you they do. I never found anything sad about the Aberdeen people, and if confirmation were wanted that there is none, you had only to be at Pittodrie yesterday. Sad! I never saw such a joyous crowd, never. Their favourites didn’t win, yet they were satisfied. Good sporting crowd, the Aberdonians. They came in from the fishing villages; they came from the villages around. They created a record. Yes, a record. In Aberdeen 26,200 PAID for admission. If you have any doubts about that write James Philip Esq Pittodrie. He will allow you to count the money, over again, perhaps. And there was £932 ‘divisible.’ I met some fisher men from Newtonhill at the match. I should say the combined ages of the quartette might reach something like 240 years. And yet it was the first time they had seen a game. And the verdict was this, from the oldest of the four “we’re nae gane to sea again whan there’s a League match on.” Now to the game. The conditions were too good. The sun blazed down on Pittodrie, with the gas tank overhanging the enclosure as if it would like to come over and give Vic Milne a helping hand when he has been beaten. In a word le me commend the players for lasting out a game which was strenuous from start to finish. At times it was tousy, but never dirty. The draw was a good result. Each side came near to scoring at times, but it would have been hard had either got the lead in the closing stages when each goal was assailed in turn. All over the cleverer football came from the Rangers. Still, the Ibrox lot had nothing better in their locker than what McLachlan, Rankine and Smith served up on the Aberdeen left. Most of the Aberdeen danger came from that airt. That Rangers seemed to be satisfied with one point was obvious in the closing stages. At one period it appeared as if they had eight backs. However, a point at Aberdeen is quite good fishing, and no doubt the Ibrox people realised that. The opening minutes of the game were fought out with great keenness. Rangers were the first to show prominently and Archibald sent over a high ball which Blackwell went out to clear. Henderson, running in, caught the goalkeeper, who was stunned for a minute. The Light Blues forced the first corner. Lawson getting the ball on to Hutton’s leg. The kick was nicely placed, but when the ball went out to Meiklejohn he shot over. Aberdeen came into the picture, and matters were warm round Robb for a minute or two. Smith was prominent and put across some nice balls. Meiklejohn was laid out, but soon came round. Archibald gave Cunningham a nice opening, but Andrew shot past, much to the relief of the Pittodrie defenders. Clever play by the Aberdeen half-backs in which Rankine and Grant shone, ended in Smith being given the ball. The ex-Ranger made no mistake with his finishing effort, and Muirhead in endeavouring to kick clear conceded a corner. This was cleared, and so rapid was play that in another kick or two McLachlan gave away a corner at the other end. Muirhead, who got the ball, shot over. Aberdeen were down on Robb again in a jiffy, but their shooting was not too good, and Thomson sent the ball over. A minute or two later Henderson got the best chance of the game so far. He went right through from a Cunningham pass. Hutton made a desperate effort, and just nipped in time to clear. Bank went the Aberdonians to Robb, and Rankine and Moir both had a chance to get through, but the Rangers defence was sound, and again the home team had to return with a blank, just as their supporters were ready to acclaim them heroes for scoring. Then, Thomson missed a glorious chance, and just to vary things off went Rangers again, and Blackwell had to clear when Henderson was going in from a delightful pass by Cairns. Manderson fouled Smith as the latter was passing him, and McLachlan’s well placed ball passed across the goal with no one up to take advantage of the opportunity. There was no mistaking the keenness of the game in summer-like conditions. The players never restrained themselves, and the crowd were kept on edge all the time. A grand centre by Smith was driven past by Thomson after Moir had been penalised, then Forsyth missed his kick, and Hutton again came to the rescue close on the interval. Moir next had a chance but missed badly. The game was fought out strenuously to the finish. Rangers were forced to defend toward the close, and as the score shows they did so effectively. Both teams were strong in defence, but in their defences, nothing stood out so brilliantly as that little emerald, Billy McCandless. There is a line in familiar verses which run thus :- “Wondrous neat and clean.” That applies to the broth of a boy from Belfast. Hutton, on the other side, was quite a different type, but very effective. Big and strong, he only used his physical advantage legitimately, and he is at his best when he does that. Little fault could be found with either Forsyth or Manderson, but they were not quite so good as their respective partners. The half-backs play was chiefly of a spoiling nature. The men hadn’t time to pay attention to their forwards, so keen was the contest. Milne and Muirhead were best, but they weren’t so very much better than any of the others. There were no failures, and I consider Grant did very well indeed out of position. I mention this lad because he had a trying ordeal. We didn’t see much forward play out of the ordinary. As I have indicated, the attacking men didn’t get much chance, so keen and vigorous were the tackling of the half-backs. The Ibrox forwards never really settled. In the first half the inside men did much that was clever, and Archibald and Lawson got over some nice crosses. The centre missed one great chance, but all over he did well. In the second half it seemed to me that Cairns and Cunningham tired. Rankine and Smith formed the strong part of the Aberdeen attack. The former is a fine player. Moir gave Middleton many good chances, but the outside man was nearly always beaten by McCandless. The goalkeeper were safe, and Robb had one fine clearance from Grant – the best shot of the game.
