Queen of the South 1 - 1 Aberdeen

Their First From Dumfries

RESULT FAIR TO BOTH TEAMS

Aberdeen have never won at Palmerston Park, Dumfries, since Queen the South entered the First Division in season 1933- 34. Saturday was their third visit to Dumfries, and was the first occasion they did not return pointless.

It was a hard but by no means brilliant game, and a draw did neither side an injustice. There were occasional flashes of clever football, and for the most part these came from Aberdeen. The bumpy nature of the ground militated against good football, and Aberdeen suffered more in this respect than did Queen of the South.
Ball control was difficult, and this suited the first-time methods of the defenders. It was a day in which the defences proved superior to the attack, and the result was that the 'keepers were seldom seriously tested.

Unspectacular Goals

Both goals were scored in the first half, and neither was a spectacular nature. Queen of the South opened the scoring fix minutes from the interval. A free kick against Steve Smith for handling outside the penalty area brought the goal.
Allan sent the ball against the crossbar, and it was scraped out to Tulip. McGill could only partially block the winger's drive, and McKay nipped in to send the ball into the roof the net. The homesters did not long enjoy the lead, for within two minute the Dons drew level. Armstrong headed the equaliser when Allan, seemingly under the impression that Fotheringham would leave his charge to clear a Beynon lob hesitated in going for the ball.
In the second half the Queen of the South middlemen forced the pace and with the forwards swinging the ball about the Aberdeen defence was kept busy. In the closing stages the visitors rallied in an effort to secure the deciding goal, but they were no more successful than Queen the South.

Neither Attack Impresses

Neither set of attackers impressed, but Aberdeen s was the more disappointing because of its greater reputation. The Pittodrie quintette was certainly more cohesive and better balanced, but as against Kilmarnock the previous week, there was a lack finishing power.
Some idea of the impotence of the respective attacks may be gained from the fact that the number of direct shots the two 'keepers were called upon deal with could have been counted on the fingers of one hand.
Aberdeen's most consistent and enterprising attacker was Brown, who deputised at inside right for McKenzie. He was quick to gather the ball and make ground, and once he gains experience will develop into a clever and dangerous inside forward.

Clever at Times

Mills, Armstrong and Brown revealed clever combination at times, but their movements usually broke down in the vicinity of the penalty area. Mills tried hard but never settled down to his best form, and Armstrong, too, was disappointing. The centre lacked his usual dash and enterprise, and found Allan a stumbling-block.
Lang gave Smith, the home right back, a good deal of trouble in the first half, when he was often dangerous, but after the interval he was inclined to get rid the ball in too great hurry. Beynon, on the other wing, was quick and keen, but Culbert saw to it that he was seldom allowed to become dangerous.

Falloon Outstanding

Falloon was the Dons' outstanding personality in defence. Despite a big disadvantage in height and weight he held a vice-like grip of Haywood. Time and again the Irishman put an end to threatening Queen the South movements with head and feet.
Fraser worked hard in defence and did his best to urge on the attack, while Ritchie, who came in for Thomson, although he tried hard, was on the slow side.
Cooper and McGill defended well. The right back went out to meet Tulip confidently, and the result was the left winger was seldom prominent. McGill found W. Anderson a speedy and tricky right winger, but held his own.
Smith, in goal, had a comparatively easy time, but was accidentally kicked above the heart by Tulip in the first half, and was handicapped by this injury during the remainder of the game.

Weakness in Attack

Queen of the South's weakness lies in attack. They are sound in defence and strong at half back. The Dumfries men would be quite satisfied with a point, as it seems to make their position secure.
Culbert was the more confident back, although Smith kicked a good ball. Allan, too, was a stalwart in defence, but the honours at half back go to Thomson, who blended defence and attack skilfully.
W. Anderson was often prominent in attack, while Cumming was clever but lacked thrust. In McKay Queen of the South had a hard-working inside left.

Source: Press & Journal, 23rd March 1936