Aberdeen 4 - 1 Albion Rovers

But Albion Rovers Go Down Fighting

VISITORS' 'KEEPER INJURED

Handicapped by an injury to Ferguson, their goalkeeper, Albion Rovers were beaten but not disgraced at Pittodrie on Saturday. They gave a grand display of pluck and fighting Spirit, and although it seems probable that Aberdeen would have won even if the Rovers had not lost the services of their 'keeper for a time, it is doubtful if they would have won by a three-goal margin.
Neither the Aberdeen defence nor attack revealed form in keeping with their position in the League, and there will have to be an improvement when they tackle Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday first.

Honours Even in First Half

Albion Rovers had as much of the play as Aberdeen in the first half, and scarcely deserved to be a goal in arrears at the interval. It was a great shot by Strauss seven minutes from the interval that did the trick.
McKenzie and Mills took the ball through, and when the inside-left parted to Strauss, the South African rounded a defender and found the net with a terrific drive.
This proved a blow to the Coatbridge team in more ways than one. In his attempt to save, Ferguson was injured, and although he resumed after attention, three minutes from the interval he suddenly collapsed and had to be removed from the field on a stretcher.

Quick Goals

McFarlane went into goal, and when the teams resumed after the interval Ferguson was still absent. It was in the opening minutes of this period that the Rovers' fate was sealed. The Dons scored two goals in three minutes.
Strauss got the first when he accepted an Armstrong pass and smashed the ball past the deputy 'keeper. Beynon neatly headed home the second, but it was Strauss who crossed the ball.
Immediately after the scoring of these goals Ferguson resumed, and the Rovers staged a plucky revival. Even when Armstrong scored a fourth goal after a combined movement in twenty-one minutes the visitors refused to admit that the points were lost.
In one of their raids they deservedly got a goal. The movement started on the left and finished in Connor heading into the net.
On two occasions they came near to adding to their total. The first was when Trotter shot after a try by Bruce had struck the woodwork and McGill cleared on the goal-line. Then, later, another try by Trotter seemed certain to enter the net when McGill once again came to the rescue.

Brilliant Save

Smith and Falloon were sound in an Aberdeen defence that was inclined to waver under pressure. The 'keeper had one brilliant save in the first half, when he managed to touch over a header by Connor which seemed destined to land in the net.
Falloon was responsible for holding up many of the Rovers attacks. McGill was the steadier back, and brought off one or two good clearances, Temple, who deputised for Cooper, was never comfortable and his kicking was weak.
Fraser and Thomson, the wing halves, were disappointing. The Dons' skipper, who was making his first appearance in the League side since he was injured against Hibs on August 19, never settled down and failed to keep in touch with his forwards.
Thomson, too, was weak, and never got a grip Connor.
Honours in attack go to Strauss, the most dangerous forward afield. The South African possesses a fine positional sense as well as a terrific shot. He has scored fourteen goals in twelve matches, and is the leaning marksman.
Mills took the eye occasionally with a neat pass, but was not impressive, and although Armstrong had many tense duels with Bruce he was more subdued than usual.
Beynon was opposed to a good back in Beath, and was rarely allowed to become dangerous, and McKenzie, although he worked tremendously hard, usually finished weakly.

Rovers May Improve

On Saturday's form Albion Rovers should quickly climb from bottom of the League. Waddell was the better of two strong backs, and Bruce was outstanding at centre half. The pivot combined defence and attack with rare judgment.
The attack kept the ball swinging In fine style, and would quickly increase their goals total were they to display a little more thrust in their finishing.
Their best and most dangerous forward was Connor, although Trotter and Dudley also showed smart touches.
As mark of respect to the memory of E. Anderson, one of the Aberdeen directors, who died on Saturday, both teams wore black armlets and a minute's silence was observed before the kick-off.

Source: Press & Journal, 2nd November 1936