Third Lanark 0 - 1 Aberdeen

‘New ’Buckley A Success
By NORMAN MACDONALD

THE Dons’ victory over Third Lanark at Cathkin has practically dispelled any lingering doubts that they might be dragged into the struggle to escape “B” Division football.
The value of the win, their second of the season away from Pittodrie, cannot be over-rated. It may well have sounded the death knell of Third Lanark as an “A” Division club, and should prove the Dons' passport to freedom.
The Dons have a stiff programme ahead. Twenty-four points is generally regarded as the safety margin and they require only three points from their remaining nine games to reach this total.
Four of Aberdeen's fixtures are due at Pittodrie and five away from home. The games are:— Home - Raith Rovers, Queen of the South, Rangers and Hibs.
Away - Clyde, East Fife, Motherwell, Hearts and Falkirk.
Aberdeen did not exactly set Cathkln on fire on Saturday, but they were a cut above Third Lanark as a team. They impressed more against the wind in the first half than when they had it with them.

Poorest

With a lucky break, or against a less alert ’keeper than Marlin, Third Lanark might have saved a point, but at no stage did they create the impression that they could win the game.
I have seen Third Lanark twice at Catkin in the past three weeks, and I regard them as just about the poorest team in “A” Division. Their attack tried hard enough, but it was grit rather than intelligent football which took them 'o the vicinity of the Aberdeen goal.
The forwards were shockingly ineffective and only a complete reorganisation in this department will give them a fighting chance of escaping relegation.
The fact that he received a telegram in the dressingroom before the game announcing that had just become the father of a  daughter probably had an inspiring effect on Fred Martin, the Dons' keeper.
Anyhow he will be remembered at Cathkin as the man who baulked Thirds’ best efforts to save a point. He had three really notable saves from Cuthbertson on two occasions in the first half and Dick in the second.
 
Tight Grip

Mitchell and Shaw played soundly at back. They generally had the young Third Lanark wingers, Wilson and McLeod, in a tight grip.
The play of the Aberdeen half-backs, however, rarely rose above mediocrity. There is room for improvement in this department, as well as in attack.
Smith made no major mistakes at centre-half, but he is still inclined to be a trifle too casual in his approach to his new job.
Hather and Buckley were the Dons’ most dangerous forwards. The shot with which the left winger scored the all-imporlant goal was a real trimmer.
Buckley changed his tactics in this game. He was prepared to hold the ball and beat his man. The centre was unlucky not to score more than once.
I don't know if he was playing to instructions, but he was certainly a more effective spearhead and he will probably find it will pay him to continue with these tactics.

Source: Evening Express, 19th January 1953