Source: The Scotsman, 29th November 1920
Narrow Escapes.
Under such conditions it would be out of the question to enter into a detailed appreciation or criticism of the work of the players, suffice it to say that it was no place for weaklings, and Aberdeen carried none. Aberdeen teams have invariably been partial to heavy grounds, and Boghead supplied further confirmation of the fact. Two determined sides had a desperate struggle. In the opening minutes a cross by McDiarmid had the Aberdeen goal danger, but Milne came to the rescue, and later Anderson saved well from Walker, while McDiarmid and Fraser headed past. When Aberdeen did get going they took a grip which they never relaxed, and although their goal was occasionally in danger, the escapes were as nothing in proportion to the lets-off which the home citadel experienced. For Aberdeen, Rankine and Flanaghan both missed by the narrowest margins, and then Dumbarton were deprived the services of Till, their left-back, for about ten minutes. During his absence Aberdeen continuously attacked, and were repeatedly unfortunate in failing to find the net. Connon had a brilliant, run and shot, but Millar saved the effort by pushing round the post. Flanaghan, Thomson, and Rankine all had good efforts, and Milne and McCombie also tried their luck at shooting, but the eccentricities of the ball and the ground conditions interfered with direction. On the run the first half, Aberdeen were unfortunate not to have been on the lead, and a goal-less draw at the interval flattered Dumbarton.Middleton's First Goal.
Dumbarton began the second half in promising style, and after Anderson had saved from Walker, McDiarmid nearly found the net with a fast ball that ran across the goal. After twelve minutes Aberdeen took the lead, Rankine, who played well throughout, gained possession in his own half of the field, and after beating Brown, sent forward a long oblique ball to the right. Middleton eluded Cotterill and raced ahead, and although harassed by both the home backs, drove hard from twenty yards' range, the ball flashing into the net at a terrific speed, and completely beating Millar, who had left his goal to intercept. This was Middleton?s first goal for Aberdeen, and it was the outcome of a brilliant piece of work, which brought out spontaneous applause from the bedraggled spectators. Aberdeen came near immediately to increasing their lead. A similar effort by Middleton found the crossbar, and from the rebound Thomson sent narrowly past. Subsequently Aberdeen had slightly the better of the exchanges, and Thomson, Rankine, Connon and MacLachlan all had tries. Towards the close, Dumbarton strove desperately for the equaliser, but they found the northern defence as hard to pierce as the historic rock on which the local castle stands. In the closing minutes McDiarmid, the Dumbarton outside left, was hurt in collision with Hutton, and had to be carried off. The game finished in semi-darkness with Aberdeen worthy winners.Unruly Spectators.
Following upon the incident in which McDiarmid was injured, a section crowd invaded the field of play, and surged round the players, but when the referee re-started the game the intruders quickly cleared off. At the close, the dissatisfied elements gathered near the pavilion, and the referee was accosted by a spectator. This was the signal for a rush on the part of the crowd, and the paling guarding the pavilion was broken down. The police were immediately on the scene, however, and the grounds were cleared without further untoward incident.
Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 29th November 1920