Aberdeen 6 - 0 Morton

Unpopular Penalty at Pittodrie

HOW PADDY MOORE MADE MORTON MOURN

by Clansman

It was not the delightful spring weather alone that conveyed the end of season feeling at Pittodrie on Saturday. There was a lack of fire in the game which proclaimed that the ringing down of the League curtain is within measurable distance, this, despite the fact that for Morton at least there was a great deal at stake. By their defeat the Cappielow side lost any faint hope they may have had of escaping relegation. Of course, the issue is not yet settled, but only a miracle can save Morton, and there is little time left for the working of football miracles.
Let me say at once that even keeping in view two misfortunes which befell the visitors - their dashing centre, Hunter Lyle, was injured quite early on, and they lost the opening goal through an unpopular penalty award - they were soundly beaten; completely routed, in fact.
But for the first forty minutes they gave a capital display, and at the end of that period were ahead of the Dons on play.
That their clever work had not been translated into a two or three goals' lead was simply the fault of their own forwards. Time and again by clever, open work Morton had the home defence in a tangle, but ridiculously easy chances were missed.

The Turning Point

By comparison, the work of the home side, if more direct, appeared somewhat ponderous, though it is true as time wore on the Morton misses were balanced by some near things at their goal. And then came the turning point in the game. Something like forty minutes had elapsed when McArthur, the Morton 'keeper, was penalised for over-carrying, and a free kick inside the penalty area was awarded. The visitors survived this, but it was a near thing, and then, when it looked as is the plucky Cappielow men would turn about on level terms, Mr McLean, the referee, spotted another defensive infringement in the Morton penalty area, and this time he exhorted full punishment, despite the frantic protests of the visiting defenders concerned.
Love converted the penalty-kick, but instead of cheers there was an outburst of booing as the players walked to the centre of the field. The spectators' innate sense of fairness was the cause of this remarkable demonstration, and surely never before had a penalty award been jeered by the home crowd.
What was the penalty for? That was what the crowd were asking. Evidently Mr McLean's drastic decision was based on the fact that one of the Morton backs, in keeping off Moore while his partner essayed a clearance, fouled the centre by elbowing or some such forcible method.
To my mind it was not worth a penalty-kick. Even if Moore had got to the ball there was little likelihood of him turning the chance to account, the incident occurring away in the vicinity of the corner flag. But there it was; Aberdeen got a penalty, and Morton were a goal behind. Morton's fate was sealed before the interval when Moore got his head to a ball which McArthur misjudged, and the leather rolled slowly to the back of the net.
In the second half Morton were completely subdued, and after Beattie had scored a third goal with a lovely shot, Moore went on to complete his hat-trick with two beautifully taken goal, one a header from a high cross and the other a lightning drive delivered with consummate coolness and accuracy.
The referee was consulting his watch when Benyon streaked through to score a sixth goal with a brilliant angular shot.
Moore's return to the leadership of the attack made all the difference in the world to Aberdeen.
The little Irishman's deft touches imparted a sparkle to the attack which was most refreshing. He was a real leader and a great opportunist. His three goals were typical Moore efforts. I don't think there is a centre playing today who could have snapped up three chances as he did.
Beattie was a great help to Paddy by his clever distributive play, and while not a huge success Robertson from the reserves paid his way all right.

Buoyant Benyon

Benyon pleased by his spirited showing on the extreme left, and his goal proved that the ex-Doncaster Rover can be looked upon as a real scoring unit.
Love was very disappointing on the right wing. Players have off days now and then, and this was certainly Andy's off day. In a not particularly distinguished half-back line Fraser and Godfrey were hard workers. Cooper and McGill were just ordinary at back and Smith in goal, while keeping his charge intact did not give a very polished display of goalkeeping.
Poor Morton. What can one say about them? Cleverness they had individually, but their goalmouth weakness was dreadfully apparent. Lyle might have snatched a goal or two, but following his injury he was greatly subdued, and after going on the left wing in the second half, he finally limped off altogether, the game being won and lost by this time. Clunas and Campbell were smart raider for the luckless visitors, but their half-backs and backs were little more than good plodders. McArthur gave a valiant display between the sticks, and could not be blamed for the loss of any of the six goals scored against him.

Source: Press & Journal, 13th March 1933