Motherwell 3 - 3 Aberdeen

After being badly outplayed in the first half by Motherwell, Aberdeen nearly snatched victory in the end. In the first half Motherwell counted three times through Ferguson (2) and Ferrier, Aberdeen only finding the net once through Connon. On resuming the Aberdonians attacked strongly, and quickly equalised the scores through Hutton and Archibald.

Source: The Scotsman, 6th October 1919

A wonderful recovery by Aberdeen in the second half enabled them to share in a draw of three goals each with Motherwell at Fir Park. In the first half Motherwell confined Aberdeen to the defensive, their forwards time and again getting through only to be baulked at close quarters, where one or other of the Aberdeen defenders intervened when a goal seemed imminent. After 25 minutes, in which Motherwell had applied severe but unavailing pressure, Ferguson cleverly beat the backs and gave Anderson no chance. Aberdeen were on level terms immediately, as before a minute had gone Connon capped a clever and swift move by sending a had drive well out of Rundell's reach. After the ball had been centred Motherwell got right away from the kick-off, and Ferguson put his side on the lead with a goal, against which the Aberdeen players strongly protested. The referee consulted is linesmen on the matter, and as a result his decision stood. More thrills were in store, and Aberdeen had not recovered from their previous reverse before Ferrier added a third goal for the home team with a brilliant effort from 20 yards out. Up to the interval Motherwell had much the better of the exchanges, and were value for their lead, Anderson having many clever saves.

A Transformation

There was a transformation of form in the second half. The period was but minutes old when, after a tricky move, Hutton gave the home goalkeeper no chance with a swift ball. The success roused Aberdeen to greater effort, and for a period, and they were as much superior to Motherwell as they had been behind them in the opening half of the game. Playing with a vigour and precision that would not be denied, the Pittodrie players repeatedly had the opposition in a tangle, and it was no more than their due when Archibald secured the equalising goal with a fine shot twenty minutes from the end. From then until the close play was in the nature of a duel between the Aberdeen attack and the home defence, and the Motherwell goal ran many narrow escapes. Motherwell had one or two dangerous rushes, but these only brought out the fine qualities of the Aberdeen defence. The result was a tribute to the grit and determination of the Pittodrie players, especially in view of the run of play in the first half, when it seemed that Motherwell would win in overwhelming style. The outstanding players in a remarkable game were Anderson, Hannah, Brewster, McLaughlin, Archibald, Connon, and Hutton for Aberdeen, and Rundell, McGregor, Jackson, Brown, Ferguson, Ferrier and Rankine of Motherwell.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 6th October 1919