Kilmarnock 1 - 0 Aberdeen

Kilmarnock, playing at home, well deserved their win over Aberdeen. The first half was strenuously contested, and nearly forty minutes had gone before J. R. Smith scored with a long shot. In the second half Kilmarnock had most of the outfield play, but in shooting they were deficient, and occasionally they experienced hard luck, especially during a couple of scrimmages in front of goal, when the ball would go anywhere but the net.

Source: The Scotsman, 13th December 1920

There were 6000 spectators at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock where by the only goal of the match Aberdeen sustained their first defeat in the Scottish League since Third Lanark beat them at Pittodrie on November 6. There was no denying the Kilmarnock superiority, and had the margin in their favour been bigger it would have been no more than they deserved. All over it was a poor exhibition of football - it usually is when the exchanges are keen. Aberdeen really never found their feet, and did not appear to find the ground to their liking. The surface at Rugby Park is soft, and the Aberdeen attackers frequently slipped just at the climax of movements that might have brought success. On the whole, the Kilmarnock players were faster and nippier with the ball, and their greater familiarity with the peculiarities of the pitch stood them in good account. If it was always a keen struggle, Saturday's game was not very interesting to watch, and at times was not nearly as enjoyable it might have been. There was far too much of the referee's whistle, and the frequent stoppages often for imagined and frequently trivial infringements tended to irritate players and spectators alike with the result that the game was not fought out in the best sporting spirit. Frequently both teams were made to suffer from doubtful decisions by the referee, and nothing is more galling to players than to be unjustifiably penalised. As a combination the Aberdeen forwards never got steam up, and was not that harmony in the play of the team that had marked their work in the previous four matches. The defence did its work well, apart from the one chain of incidents that led the all-important goal. The robust element was pretty strong in the game, and it was not surprising that several players were in the wars. In the second half Sutherland brought off a great save, and was lying on the ground when was kicked by the onrushing J. R. Smith, who evidently could not draw up in time avoid him. The keeper sustained a severe injury, but pluckily continued. Others of the Aberdeen who were injured were Connon and Hutton; and on the Kilmarnock side the trainer's services were required for the two Smiths.

One Goal: Many Escapes.

In this game it was a case of the first score making all the difference. The Kilmarnock goal had three wonderful escapes before the goal came along. In the opening minutes Fisher switched over a great ball which the goalkeeper was fortunate to tip over the crossbar, and from the ensuing corner the home goal was again in luck's way, Thomson's header being a couple of inches high of the bar with the goalkeeper beaten. Of course, the Aberdeen goal had many narrow escapes later, but these were after Kilmarnock were playing with the confidence begotten of a goal lead. The actual goal was one that might have been averted. To begin with, Grosert miskicked into the centre, and Shortt passed the ball through to J. R. Smith, upon whom the Aberdeen backs were late in closing in. Without stopping, the centre forward, taking the ball on the run, whipped goalwards, Sutherland, although getting down to it, was unable to gather, and the ball ran over his shoulder into the net. It was rather unfortunate on the young goalkeeper, who before and after gave a sterling display. Indeed, some of his stoppings were a feature of the match. There was one occasion before the interval when Aberdeen might have equalised, and this was when Fisher sent over a ball which crossed the Kilmarnock goal and rolled harmlessly behind. Aberdeen were often attacking, but were seldom dangerous, in the second half, when one of the best of their efforts was when Victor Milne, after beating two opponents, rained in a long drive which Hillcoat saved.
On the other band, the Aberdeen goal had several narrow escapes, Sutherland bringing off some really grand saves, but in addition J. Smith twice drove over from a few yards' range. Near the end the Aberdeen goal was fortunate to escape further disaster. J. Smith hit the crossbar, and M. Smith, who met the return, had his shot blocked below the bar by Forsyth. Because they pressed for the greater part the game Kilmarnock deserved their win, and whilst the absence of more goals was in a measure due to erratic shooting, credit must be given the Aberdeen defence for its work.

Outstanding Players.

Sutherland kept goal admirably for Aberdeen. Hutton and Forsyth were strong backs. In the later stages Hutton especially was outstanding, although earlier his judgment had frequently at fault. A. R. Grosert, Milne, and MacLauchlan acquitted themselves well in the middle division, but as a line the forwards did not work well together, and not one was outstanding. On the Kilmarnock side Hillcoat had little to negotiate. Hamilton gave a most convincing display at right back, and after seeing him play it can be understood why Kilmarnock have refused an English club's offer of £4000 for his transfer. In the middle line Shortt and Cherry were always prominent, and as much as anything else it was the spoiling tactics adopted by the home half-backs that accounted for the ineffectiveness of the Aberdeen forwards. The best of the Kilmarnock forwards were the two Smiths. J. R. repeatedly shot from all angles, and it was his perseverance that brought his goal. Both Houston and McPhail were serviceable wingers, and in the line understanding was much more apparent than in the play of the visiting quintette.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 13th December 1920