Aberdeen 0 - 1 St. Johnstone

St Johnstone deserved their victory over Aberdeen, at Aberdeen. They deserved it because from start to finish they were persistent triers, and played with a steadiness which their opponents could not emulate. The shot which secured them victory was the result of a well-combined effort by the brothers Kirkwood, the old Rangers players. A. Kirkwood took a free kick just outside the penalty area, and on the ball reaching D. Kirkwood it was swiftly and forcibly sent in to Blackwell, who, although he got his hands on it, failed to hold it. Page, the Perth goalkeeper, on the other hand, made no mistakes. He was frequently called upon to save from both Reid, Love, and McLeod, who played a strenuous game. The defence of Hutton and D. Bruce was good, and MacLachlan played a capital game at half-back. In addition to Page, the most prominent Perth players were the backs, Penman and Jamieson, the brothers A. and D. Kirkwood, the centre-half and inside right, and the left winger, Thomson. Aberdeen's weakness lay in the front line. The St Johnstone players combined much more effectively. Towards the close of the second period Hutton essayed to show the men in front how they ought to shoot for goal, and though his shot was held by Page it was a warm one, and against a less brilliant custodian might have succeeded. Ten thousand spectators saw the match.

Source: The Scotsman, 23rd November 1925

At home, Aberdeen once again disappointed their followers, the team suffering its ninth defeat of the season conceding the only goal to St Johnstone. Twelve thousand spectators saw a game in which the standard play never rose above mediocrity, and they were two evenly matched but poor teams that did duty. Aberdeen on the whole accounted for more attacking than the winners, and it was a reflection on their penetrative ability that they failed to score. St Johnstone, too, were not at all deadly in front of goal; indeed if they had been, with the chances that came their way, they must have won by a more decisive margin. On the home side, Bruce and MacLachlan were easily the best of the rear divisions, and in a disjointed attack McLeod was far ahead of his fellows. For the winners, Page risked a great deal, but was brilliant in goal and received great assistance from Penman, and in a set of sprightly forwards, D. Kirkwood, McLean, and Thomson, in that order, were best.

RUN OG THE GAME.

Aberdeen were first to attack, drives by Pirie and Hutton just missing the mark. Blackwell, however, was the first to handle, being called upon save a ground effort by Dick. At the ether end Page had to run out and intercept a turn in by Love, with Jackson and Bruce in attendance. Another St Johnstone attack followed, and Kirkwood sent over from close range. Subsequently each side attacked in turn, and D. Kirkwood again failed when well placed. After a corner for the visitors had been disposed of, Aberdeen set up a vigorous attack. Page saved from Reid at close range at the expense of a corner, the goalkeeper conceding another in saving from Jackson. Finally Aberdeen were repelled as the result of Page punching the ball clear, but the relief to the visitors was only temporary. Twice McLeod let go capital shots which only missed by narrow margins. On another occasion he manoeuvred cleverly for position, and passed into the centre, but Bruce was unprepared. In a raid by the visitors Blackwell saved cleverly from Dick, and at the other end Page was repeatedly in action fisting away high balls and running out to the assistance of his backs. He saved finely from Jackson, and a lobbed centre by Love was dealt with in masterly style by the Perth goalkeeper. Thomson relieved the pressure, and following a centre by the St Johnstone left-winger, D. Bruce headed clear from underneath the bar. Most of the play, however, was in the vicinity of the St Johnstone goal. Following a raid on one occasion by Bruce there was a prolonged scrimmage until Page ultimately cleared. Once with the goalkeeper out, McLeod lobbed the ball over his head, but it slipped behind just wide of the post, Page making a wonderful though unnecessary effort at recovery. The Perth goal was repeatedly assailed after this, but Page was brilliant, and cleverly countered all attempts to rush the ball through. The Aberdeen pressure was maintained until the interval, near which McLeod had a splendid effort deflected from a corner by Page, whose work was the feature of the first half.

GOAL FOR ST JOHNSTONE.

When play resumed, Aberdeen set up a vigorous attack, and R. Bruce had a great drive rather luckily blocked by Jamieson. After this St Johnstone retaliated, and a fine individual effort by D. Kirkwood nearly led to the first score. He parted nicely to McLean, whose cross was missed by Blackwell out of his charge, and the ball was going for the net when Bruce intervened. Following this, D. Kirkwood was in the act of shooting, when Dick dashed in and swept the ball over the bar from his colleague's foot. St Johnstone kept up the pressure, and Blackwell cleared with difficulty following a corner well placed by Thomson. At the other end, Page saved from Jackson at long range on two occasions. The Perth forwards continued to be very sprightly, and several times the Aberdeen backs were in difficulties. A long drive by MacLachlan was deflected at one end, and at the other Kirkwood, McLean, and Thomson shot over. After 20 minutes play St Johnstone took the lead. D. Kirkwood was fouled by Pirie Just outside the penalty area, and A. Kirkwood slipped the ball accurately to his brother, whose hard drive was handled by Blackwell, but with such force behind it he failed to prevent the ball going over the line. After this success, St Johnstone attacked with great determination, and Thomson and Black both had the home goal in danger. Ultimately Aberdeen again got going, and R. Bruce just missed with a surprise shot. Page was often in action, but was equal to all calls. A fine shot by Thomson was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Blackwell for a fruitless corner, but from this stage until the close Aberdeen attacked without however being able get the better of a resolute defence backed by a clever goalkeeper. In the later stages several players came by slight mishaps and required the trainers' attention, but none had to withdraw from the game.

Source: Press & Journal, 23rd November 1925