Dons Take Big Step On Road to Safety [by Norman MacDonald} THE Dons' 3-0 victory over Airdrie enabled them to take a big step towards the safety zone. The Dons deserved the points, but their win was by no means as convincing as the score suggests. They had the artillery, but lacked the ammunition. The forwards could take the ball to the Airdrie penalty area, but they couldn't get it into the net. Until the last five minutes they held a slender lead of one goal, cleverly headed by Pearson two minutes after the start of the second half. The game finished on a sensational note. Kelly was downed in the penalty area. Taylor took the kick and sent past. G. Mitchell, Falkirk, the referee, ordered the kick to be retaken. The only explanation seems be that goalkeeper Downie moved. Baird took the second chance and smashed the ball into the roof of the net. The loss of this goal shook the resolute Airdrie defence and along came Harris with a third. He netted with an acute angle shot after Kelly had sent him through. I felt sorry for the Broomfield defence. Their forwards produced little constructive football, but their defence was strong and courageous. The grim figure of Old Man Relegation hung ominously over this game. It was reflected in the play. The anxiety complex was responsible to some extent for the Aberdeen forwards' poor finishing. And there were traces of it in the defence, too.
Tension Relieved
This success may have relieved the mental tension among the Pittodrie players. The Dons are not out of the wood yet, but they are moving in the right direction. I thought Cowie and McKenna adopted the right tactics. They cleared their lines first time. The wing half backs, Waddell and Taylor, were keen enough, but their energy was not always expended to the best advantage. Roy, if he didn't make a spectacular League debut at centre half, certainly policed the middle effectively. He was rugged and reliable, and must be given a chance to prove his worth. Harris played a useful game both on-the wing and at inside forward - he and Williams changed places in the second half when the South African was suffering from an ankle injury.
Kelly a Trier
Kelly tried hard at centre forward, and, if he did nothing else, he kept Kelly, Airdrie's best defender, fullv employed. Peters, the Airdrie right back, pulled a thigh muscle early in the game, and in the second half they rearranged their team. Peters went on the wing and Black took over the right back duties, with Duncan at left half and H. Watson inside left. If Airdrie are to escape relegation the attack must be improved. The defence will do.
Source: Press & Journal, 1st March 1948