Airdrie 0 - 1 Aberdeen

AIRDRIE'S EFFORTS REPULSED.

Aberdeen Defence Shines.

BEATTIE "WATCHED" BY BLACKPOOL.

One of the hardest games seen at Broomfield for many a long day was the general opinion at the close of the Airdrie-Aberdeen match on Saturday.

It was a game in which defence proved superior to attack, and this explains why there was little good football displayed by either side.
There were many who thought Airdrie were worthy of a draw, and on pressure they were, but thanks to a resolute Aberdeen defence and lack of punch at goalmouth, they conceded both points.
The points went to the Dons because they grasped one the few opportunities that came there way.
Strangely enough it was in the first half, when against wind and sun, they were almost entirely on the defensive, that they secured the all-important goal.

Armstrong Sees It Through.

It came about this way. Eight minutes from the interval Beattie forced his way down the right, parted to Beynon, and the winger centred adroitly for Armstrong to head into the net.
Although the wind had died down considerably in the second period, Aberdeen held the advantage.
Airdrie defended strongly, however, and their breakaways were always fraught with danger, so that the issue hung in the balance until the final whistle.
The Dons were handicapped during this period by injuries to Mills and Thomson.
When the centre-half retired at the interval he was dazed as the result of a punch behind the ear received when Smith was clearing a ball, and in the second half he and McGill collided, with the result that Thomson had to leave the field and have his head bandaged.

Honours to Defence.

Against Ayr United it was the attack that took the honours, but at Broomfield on Saturday the defence outshone the forwards. Smith, who had much more to do than Morrison in the Airdrie citadel, struck his best form, and brought off one or two very smart saves.
Cooper, after a somewhat indifferent start, developed into the best back afield, and this against Mooney, a dangerous and smart winger.
McGill tackled strongly and kicked cleanly, while Thomson covered his backs smartly and kept a tight grip on Gunn, the Airdrie leader.
The Aberdeen half-back line as a whole gave a grand defensive display. Against the wind in the first half O'Reilly stood out above the others by his resolute and daring tackling. Fraser on the left flank was little behind the Irishman.

Cohesion Lacking.

The Aberdeen attack did not reveal a great deal of cohesion, the Airdrie intermediate trio proving effective spoilers.
Beattie, who was under the observation of three Blackpool directors, was not seen at his best, but he put in a hard afternoon's work and was the instigator of the movement which led to the goal.
Mills had not fully recovered from a leg injury received against Ayr, and the fact that he received another knock further detracted from his effectiveness.
Gall and Beynon were quite good on the wing. The former was the more prominent of the two, but his finishing was not the best.
Armstrong, despite the fact that he received close attention from Sharpe, was a dangerous leader, although a trifle slow at times, and prone to get offside.

Weight Needed.

Airdrie have a safe defence, and with a little more weight in attack would be a dangerous combine.
Calder was the better of two sound backs, and in an effective and hard-working mid-line Todd took the honours.
The forwards were clever and combined nicely at times, but their lack of weight was evident at close quarters.
Mooney and Johnston were a pair of fast and dangerous wingers, and Harrison at inside right gave a clever display.

Source: Press & Journal, 21st August 1933