Aberdeen 1 - 1 Motherwell

About 14,000 spectators saw a good game between Aberdeen and Motherwell at Pittodrie. Two goals were scored in the first half, Flanaghan counting for Aberdeen and Reed for Motherwell. There was no more scoring, though the second half was a duel between the home attack and the Motherwell defence .

Source: The Scotsman, 20th December 1920

Motherwell's lucky star was shining on the "frozen north," at any rate They were fortunate, indeed, to divide two goals with Aberdeen at Pittodrie where 13,000 persons saw the home team attacking for a good three-fourths of the game. The pitch was frostbound, and hard as iron, and did not provide a footing for the players, and, as violent contact with "Mother Earth" was dangerous, a decree of caution had to be exercised. Throughout it was always an interesting struggle, and while the home team generally held the whip-hand, the exchanges were such that the issue was always in doubt.
In the opening stages there was some delightful defensive play on both sides, and while Aberdeen were oftener dangerous, Motherwell were the first to infuse anything like sustained method into their play. The working of their half-backs and forwards in midfield was delightful, and wonderfully accurate in view of the underfoot conditions, but was equalled by the solid play of the Aberdeen middle and back divisions. The first incident of note was when Rundell, who slipped when getting off his mark, just managed to divert a drive from, Milne, and later the visitors' right-back missed his kick, and in a desperate rush for the ball, Rundell just got his kick in before Connon. Sutherland's charge was in danger for the first time after twenty minutes, when Ferrier, getting away from an seemingly offside position, had his effort diverted by Hutton for corner. For Aberdeen, Rankine had a great shot which was a trifle high, and at the Aberdeen end Ferguson had a shot blocked in a scrimmage. At the end of half-an-hour, and after Rundell had been repeatedly tested, Connon cutely allowed the ball to travel to Rankine, who, in turn, parted to Flanaghan, lying unmarked, and with a first-time effort with his left foot, the winger beat Rundell with a fast grounder, the ball finding the net just Inside the post. A fine shot on the run went high of the mark, and the exchanges generally favoured Aberdeen until Reid equalises for Motherwell close on the Interval. The goal was the outcome of a pass forward by Ferrier, who worked towards the corner flag, when he neatly passed the ball back to his partner, whose oblique shot beat Sutherland all the way.

Ball That Was Through.

After a quiet opening of the second half, Aberdeen took matters in hand, and in the period they were decidedly unfortunate not to take the lead. Milne opened their pressure with a great shot which must have beaten the goalkeeper had it been a few inches lower. Then Flanaghan, cutting into goal, was brought down the penalty line. MacLachlan took the tree kick, and from the press box, which is in line with the goal-line, it appeared that the ball was over the line just under the bar before Rundell held it. Several the Aberdeen players claimed, and were justified in doing so, but the referee, who was not in a good position to judge, took no heed of the claim. Aberdeen continued to press home the attack, and it was only at the second attempt Rundell was able to dispose of a header by Connon. In a hot Aberdeen attack a Motherwell defender handled inside the box, but it was obviously accidental, and the referee rightly ignored the incident. Following upon a corner by Middleton, the ball hovered in front of the visitors' goal, but the defence prevailed A clever piece of work by Connon who back-heeled from the goal-line, allowed Middleton get over a dangerous cross, and Thomson's header almost beat Rundell, who was fortunate to be on the spot. It was only in the closing stages that the Motherwell attack again came into the eye, and following corner, it was with difficulty that Sutherland tipped a long shot from Rankine over the bar. A. well-taken free kick by MacLachlan almost counted for Aberdeen, Rundell clearing with difficulty. The keeper also saved from Rankine and Thomson, and on the run of the play the visitors ought to have been well beaten.
For Aberdeen the outstanding players were Forsyth, Milne, MacLachlan, and Flanaghan, and for Motherwell Rundell, Macdougall, Dr Ginlayson, Paterson, Rankin, and Ferrier.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 20th December 1920