Aberdeen 0 - 1 East Fife

Niven's Lucky Star Hovered Over the Methil Team's Goal
THAT BOGEY AGAIN!
By NORMAN MACDONALD

Men in the news - Archie Aikman, of Falkirk, and Henry Morris, of East Fife.
They fired the shots that killed Glasgow and North hopes of another Rangers-Aberdeen League Cup final.

Just how much their goals are worth in £. s. d. to Falkirk and East Fife won't be known until they meet at Hampden Park on October 25.
East Fife are certainly Aberdeen's bogey team in cup-ties. Give the Fifers their due, on Saturday they fought hard and they fought well.
The goal that sealed the Dons fate came within ten minutes of the final whistle. It might have been prevented.
Johnstone advanced from his goal to intercept a cross from Duncan on the left. The ball looked as if it would go past, but it glanced off the 'keeper's left arm towards McKenna and Morris. The back failed to clear and the centre pounced on the ball and, half wheeling, drove it into the net.

Adams' Greatest Miss

If Tommy Adams, the East Fife right winger, and survivor of the 1938 Scottish Cup-winning team, ever writes his memoirs he will describe Dens Park as the scene of his greatest miss.
It was two minutes from the end. A cross from Duncan struck Johnstone's feet and went to Adams. He was standing clear a yard or two from goal. A gift if ever there was one. The winger took his time and then flicked the ball past. He threw up his arms disgust.
Niven, the East Fife 'keeper's lucky star must have been hovering over his charge on Saturday. Four times the woodwork came to his rescue.
Williams started it six minutes from the interval. The ball came over from the left. The South African beat Finlay in the jump and breasted it down to hit it on the drop towards the right-hand corner of the net.

Spun Across the Goal

The ball came spinning off the inside of the post right across the goalmouth, and actually went over the bye-line at the other side.
In the second half, when Kiddie lobbed over a dangerous cross, Williams scooped the ball on to the top of the crossbar where it bounced twice before going over.
Later the South African sent another centre from Kiddie against the woodwork and five minutes from the end Baird headed a corner from the right wing against the crossbar.
All this was perhaps bad luck, but bad luck doesn't explain how other scoring chances were missed. The answer is bad finishing.
The responsibility for the Dons' defeat rests mainly on the forwards. They failed to take their chances.
The line lacked a general. Hamilton would have made a difference. His ability to hold the ball, draw the defence and release that split-second pass was badly missed.

Taylor Improvement

Johnstone, Cowie, Waddell and Taylor were the soundest and most consistent Aberdeen players. The left half in particular, showed improvement on recent form.
Kiddie showed some smart touches in the second half and crossed some dangerous balls, while Millar was sprightly at times in the first period.
None of the inside forwards impressed, and in the, matter of missed ohances Williams was the greatest sinner.
East Fife deserve congratulations. To reach the final and claim as their victims Hearts and Aberdeen is a record of which Methil may justly be proud.
They had a sound left back with sood positional sense in Stewart, and Philp and Finlay worked tremendously hard. Aitken was a trifle disappointing.
Morris, their centre forward, got one scoring chance and he made the most of it. In Duncan they had a left winger who believes in direct methods and possesses a powerful shot. Adams, on the right, may have lost some of his speed, but has lost none of his cunning.
Falkirk may beat East Fife in the final on October 25th but if they do they'll have to be on full throttle for the ninety minutes.

Source: Press & Journal, 13th October 1947