Aberdeen 1 - 1 Queens Park

A draw of one goal each fairly represents the run of play in the match at Pittodrie Park, Aberdeen. Aberdeen, who had much the better of the exchanges in the first half, were outplayed in the second period, and the visitors were unfortunate in not scoring the equalising point earlier than in the last minute of the match. Moir's goal for Aberdeen was obtained fairly early in the match with a fine left foot drive. Just before the whistle was blown Queen's Park equalised with a remarkably swift shot from close in by A. Morton, the youthful centre forward from the Strollers' XI, who worked exceedingly well with R. Moreland, inside right. W. Wiseman, the Aberdeen University player who joined Queen's Park, gave a good display at left back. For Aberdeen, Hutton and Forsyth in the defence, and Moir, outside right, were the outstanding players.

Source: The Scotsman, 26th September 1923

In a game in which two goals were divided yesterday, Aberdeen were exceedingly fortunate to save one of the Scottish League points at stake in their meeting with Queen's Park. On a delightful forenoon there were fully 16,000 spectators, and these were regaled with a rousing game in which a fast pace was maintained from start to finish. The result was not altogether in accordance with the run of the game, Queen's Park, especially in the second half, were much the superior team, and, opposed to a weaker defence than that of Aberdeen, must have won and won well. As events turned out, they came near losing both points, it was only about a minute from time that they got in an effective reply to the goal snatched Aberdeen with the game ten minutes old. So busy were the amateurs concentrating on attack that on several occasions they left Blair exposed, and if the Aberdeen forwards, and Miller and Mutch in particular, had been equal to accepting opportunities the home team would not have been so hard pressed to save a point, even if on the run the game they scarcely deserved to do so.

Chances Taken and Lost.

Aberdeen secured the lead after ten minutes' play when, after Grant had shot against the woodwork and Smith had centred, Moir caught on to a clearance by a defender to beat Blair with a brilliant left-foot drive. The Queen's Park goal came a minute from the end when Morton on the run cleverly tricked Forsyth to send in a terrific drive from twenty yards' range, the ball finding the net off the underside of the crossbar.
Dor about two-thirds of the period of play the game resolved itself into a duel between the fast moving Queen's forwards and the Aberdeen defence, and yet, in a game they were lucky to save, Aberdeen had the greater number of scoring chances. In the home defence Blackwell was always safe, and in the second half he delayed the equaliser more than once by really good saves.
Hutton, Forsyth, and Jackson excelled in dour defensive play, their fine covering up, which left comparatively few loopholes, accounting for the inability of the visiting forwards to get in many telling shots. The Aberdeen wing halves were clever without being quite up to the standard of the other defenders named. MacLachlan found the wing opposed him rather speedy, and McBoyle gave quite an effective display against strong opposition.

Forward Weakness.

It was forward where the weakness of Aberdeen was manifest. The right wing met with a large measure of success ? indeed, the work of Moir and Grant went far to redeem the line. On the left, Smith saw too little of the ball to shine, and Miller at centre-forward quite failed to do himself justice. He failed repeatedly at comparatively easy chances, and his distribution of the ball was faulty. Mutch was neat but ineffective at inside left, and missed one of the easiest opportunities to score that was presented.

Smart Amateurs.

The amateurs proved themselves a well-balanced, well-trained, and speedy side, able to maintain a fast pace throughout, and for individual and collective cleverness they outpointed the home team. Blair was a reliable goalkeeper, and since his Aberdeen University days Wiseman has blossomed into a splendid back. Cool and resourceful and possessed of a powerful kick, he extricated his side from many tight corners. In Sneddon, too, he had a capable partner, but the pair did not cover up as well as the Aberdeen backs. Gillespie was always conspicuous at centre-half, and strong in defence and attack, was one of the outstanding players on the field. The wing half-backs were not quite so skilful, and yet they did their work well. Crawford showed tremendous speed at outside-right, and controlled the ball well considering the pace at which he travelled. He also got across many telling centres. Scott and Morland were two clever inside forwards who never failed to force home the attack, and Morton at centre-forward is a young player of great possibilities. McAlpine only occasionally showed glimpses of the form of which he is capable, and for once was rather outshone by his colleagues in the line, Hutton having much to do with this state of affairs.

Source: Press & Journal, 25th September 1923