Aberdeen 3 - 1 Clyde

After 20 minutes play Clyde took the lead, Hood beating Yuill, and Aberdeen were unable to equalise before the interval. In the second half, however, the home side made up the leeway and scored two more goals, Merrie being the scorer of all three. Estimated attendance 12,000.

Source: The Glasgow Herald, 23rd September 1928

For three-fourths of the game at Pittodrie on Saturday it looked as if the Clyde would do what Aberdeen did at Kilmarnock, score in the opening minutes and hold on to a single goal lead to the end. Thanks, however, to the persistence and perseverance of Merrie, the home centre, Aberdeen were able to retain their unbeaten home record. Not only did he secure the equalising goal, but he gave his team the lead, and, I daresay, he would have accomplished the "hat-trick" had Gibson, the Clyde pivot, not put the ball past his own goalkeeper instead. Merrie was on the spot ready to take advantage of the opportunity. Merrie thus had the distinction of being the first centre-forward to score against Gibson.
The play of the Aberdeen team prior to Merrie's equaliser was far from satisfactory. It was fortunate for the team that Yuille, Jackson, and Livingstone were at their best, else Clyde might have enjoyed a much larger lead at the interval. Clyde were, to my mind, the more convincing side in the first half. Their defence guarded its fort well against the haphazard attacks by the Dons, while the visiting forwards worked better together than the home five, who were in the opening stages a rather strange and unsettled company.
Merrie's first goal, however, had the desired effect. It served to rouse a lackadaisical eleven to its responsibilities, and from then onwards Clyde were a beaten team.
Still I don't think the Clyde will be fighting to escape relegation this year. They have a grand defence, but lack a good leader. The play of Fraser, McGuire, and Blair was admired, and I question if we have a better back than Blair. Summers, Gibson, and Wallace were robust in their tackling, and for a long time were maters of the Aberdeen attack.
Yuille, the Aberdeen goalkeeper, did his work confidently, while Jackson gave a bright and brisk display at back. He had a sound partner in Livingstone. The halves never rose above mediocrity, while Merrie carried the honours in attack. Love and Cheyne were moderately good.

Source: Bon-Accord, 29th September 1928

Aberdeen made a promising start with the first of a series of three home games, Clyde being beaten at Pittodrie by 3 goals to 1. Although they had the better of the exchanges, the winners found themselves goal in arrears with only twenty minutes left for play. Desperate onslaughts on the Clyde defence were rewarded when Merrie equalised, and the Aberdeen centre-forward proceeded to score other two goals and complete his "hat trick," his first for Aberdeen.

Clyde Spring a Surprise.

Apart from his scoring feat, Merrie contributed materially to his side's win. Not only did he distribute the ball excellently, but he repeatedly harassed the Clyde defenders and disconcerted them.
In the first half, Aberdeen were generally on top, but try as they might, they could not break down the Clyde defence in which Gibson, Blair, and Fraser excelled.
The Clyde attack, if less in evidence than that of the home team, was exceptionally nippy, and keeping the ball swinging they frequently had the Aberdeen defence in difficulties. Jessiman twice had good shots that Yuill saved; and Hird was an alert centre-forward. He showed his opportunism when catching the Aberdeen defence scattered, he slipped through to give Yuill no chance. On other excursions, usually led by Simpson, the visitors were often dangerous. Still Aberdeen had the pull, and the Clyde goal had numerous narrow escapes. The visitors were fortunate to retain their lead at the interval.

An Aberdeen Revival.

Right from the commencement of the second half Aberdeen were on top, and had their attackers steadied in their shooting they must have scored long before they did.
It was twenty minutes from the end when Love broke away, and, squaring in front of goal to Merrie, the latter hooked the ball past Fraser from close range. Seven minutes later the Aberdeen centre forward accepted another cross from Love to give Aberdeen the lead. Occasionally Clyde broke away, and Yuill had capital saves from Hood and Simpson, but the issue was put beyond doubt when, after Smith had lobbed the ball forward, Merrie went on to beat Gibson and McGuire to find the net a third time with an overhead kick. Later McDermid again netted, but was held to be offside.

Deserving Winners.

Aberdeen were deserving winners. Yuill was not overworked, but had several fine saves, and, apart from the occasion on which they were found apart, the backs, Jackson and Livingstone, were brilliant. McHale was the strong man in a serviceable half-hack line. Forward, Merrie was a host in himself, and he was best supported by Love and Cheyne.
Clyde defended well until the closing stages, when they wandered. Fraser, Blair, and Gibson were the shining lights in defence, and in attack Hood, Simpson, and Jessiman were most prominent.
There was an attendance of 12,000.

Source: Press & Journal, 24th September 1928