Aberdeen 1 - 0 Alloa Athletic

ONE GOAL AND TWO POINTS FOR ABERDEEN. PLUCKY FIGHT BY ALLOA

After struggling for 70 minutes, during which they were fortunate not to have fallen in arrears, Aberdeen secured the only goal which enabled them beat Alloa and register their ninth Scottish League victory of the season. Probably due to the early start, the attendance at the game was only in the region of 11,000, a disappointing figure considering this was the first visit of Alloa since being promoted to the First, Division. On the whole, it was a rather disappointing game, and If Aberdeen were worthy their victory, it was only because of their undoubted superiority in the later stages of the game, when the Alloa backs stood between them and a more decisive win. Until Aberdeen scored the visitors played better football, their forwards moving quickly by means of deft ground passing. Repeatedly the Aberdeen defence was in difficulties, but the visitors were unequal to accepting the chances offered. The Aberdeen attack, on the other hand, often flattered, but made a poor impression at close quarters, and it was only in the later stages that the defence attained something like a state of solidarity.

End-to-End Play.

In the first minute of the game the visitors should have taken the lead. A cross from the right was missed by the home defence, and Craig, but the latter retained possession, and at, the second attempt shot straight into Blackwell's hands. The ball travelled rapidly from end to end, and following forcing play by Smith, Connon was dispossessed when about to shoot. Forrest was a serious menace to the Aberdeen defence, and Hutton did well to head away his cross. Later Forrest cleverly beat Forsyth to miss the goal narrowly with a splendid shot. Connon replied for Aberdeen, but Thomson went to the relief of his backs, and at the other end a shot by McInally brought out an unproductive corner. For a lengthy period neither side could lay claim to superiority. Aberdeen threatened to monopolise the attacking, but made little headway against a set of keen tacklers, behind fast-moving forwards, who never lost an opportunity to make ground. Smith manoeuvred to send over a centre off which Thomson headed against the Alloa crossbar. After another raid by Forrest had been repulsed, Connon let Middleton away, and the letter raced in on goal. His first shot was blocked by the visitors' goalkeeper, and his second from the rebound was cleverly diverted over by the Alloa custodian. Craig had a shot deflected by Hutton for a corner, and at Thomson's end Smith swept the ball over the bar from an acute angle. Neither goalkeeper had a great deal to do, but their charges were often endangered. Blackwell effected a fine save off a hard drive by Dunn, and Thomson was just able to deflect a fast shot by MacLachlan. Until the interval each side attacked in turn. Several efforts by the Aberdeen forwards were charged down. Headrick got past the Aberdeen backs, but fell when about to deliver his shot, and Hutton relieved. Following a centre by Grant, Middleton shot high, and Blackwell at the other end had to hold a fast shot by Cochrane. At half-time neither team had scored.

Game of Lost Chances.

Aberdeen were fortunate not to fall into arrears on the resumption. Slackness by the defence allowed Headrick through, but he shot weakly and Blackwell, at full length, was just able to push the ball away from near the upright. Alloa kept up the attack for some time, and ultimately Aberdeen found relief when Blackwell, out on the 18 yards line, had to throw away. A cross by Forrest gave the home defence trouble, but MacLachlan initiated the first attacking movement by Aberdeen. This nullified by Smith being dispossessed a few yards from goal. Middleton followed with a centre, and Connon headed into Thomson?s hands from beyond the penalty area. Layer, when Thomson crossed from the right, Connon again headed in for the Alloa keeper to clear. Aberdeen shaped well at this stage, but Orrock and McGregor defied all their efforts. A bad miskick by Forsyth gave Forrest a chance, but the back recovered, and was equal to blocking the winger's shot. Connon and Milne, for Aberdeen, and Headrick and Dunn for Alloa, had shots which went high and Headrick and Dunn each missed good chances after the home defence had muddled.

The Only Goal

With twenty minutes gone, Aberdeen took the lead. Smith got possession close to the corner flag, and cleverly outwitting Ford, lopped over an accurate centre. The ball dropped only about a yard in front of the Alloa goal. Thomson found it an easy matter to head it into the side-net out of the goalkeeper's reach. Alloa came very near to equalising immediately, and after the home defence had faltered, Wood just missed with a terrific shot. This proved to be the last kick of the Alloa attack as from this Stage until the end Aberdeen were easily superior, and it was due to the superb defence of Orrock and McGregor that the lead was not increased. Rankine just missed with a surprise shot from long-range, and Grant and Connon had tries which met a similar fate. The Alloa keeper saved well from Thomson, and headed a ball by Rankine past only inches wide of the goal.
Aberdeen were best served by Blackwell, MacLachlan, Milne, Rankine, Smith, and Connon, and Alloa s best were Thomson, Orrock McGregor, McInally, Forrest, and Dunn.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal 4th December 1922

IGHT BY ALLOA.