Aberdeen 0 - 1 Rangers

Squandermania Cost Them The Cup
BY NORMAN MACDONALD

ABERDEEN F.C. HAVE ONLY WON THE SCOTTISH CUP IN THEIR FIFTY YEARS’ HISTORY - IN 1947. THE DONS COULD AND SHOULD HAVE MADE IT TWICE IN LAST NIGHT’S REPLAY.
Rangers name will be inscribed on the trophy for the fourteenth time, but their 1-0 victory last night had a somewhat hollow ring about it.
The final has been a tragedy for the Dons. They should have won on Saturday and they should have won again yesterday. The explanation for their failure in both games lay in the inability of their forwards to get the ball in the net.
The Pittodrie attackers were all-star cast at Hampden Park yesterday evening but they certainly weren’t shooting stars.
The sympathy of the vast majority of the 113,700 spectators was with the Dons in their hour of defeat, but the sympathy must be tempered with criticism of their failure to seize their chances.
Rangers were the luckiest team in the world to be a goal up at the interval They were bemused by the dazzling play of the Pittodrie forwards in the outfield. It was one-wav traffic for most of the forty-five minutes and the movement, was towards Niven. The Ibrox 'keeper must have been amazed by the frequency with which the ball was in his vicinity and he must have been even more astounded by the fact that the Aberdeen forwards almost invariably developed an attack of squandermania inside the penalty area.
If the Dons had possessed one forward with real up-to-the-minute scoring ideas the city of Aberdeen would to-day be celebrating their second Scottish Cup success. At no lime during the ninety minutes did Rangers match the first-half soccer skill of the Dons. It was a tragedy that a team should play such fascinating football and find themselves one down at the interval.
The goal which took the cup to Ibrox came three minutes from the interval. A quick transfer from Paton to Grierson and the inside right moved across field to put Simpson in possession. The Rangers centre-forward found the far side of the net with an angular drive.
It was a case of cheers for Rangers and tears for Aberdeen.
Far and away the most highly skilled football of the game came from the Hather-Hamilton partnership. Their clever football and telepathic-like understanding had Young and McColl in a continuous state of anxiety during the opening period.

Burned Up

Against the sun and wind the Dons played with terrific verve, enthusiasm and quite a good deal of artistry. I gained the impression that they burned up most of their energy in the first half. Certainly they seemed to have lost some of their "steam" after the interval.
Admittedly Rangers took a more active interest during this period and the fact that they failed to add their total simply emphasises the impoverished state of their forward play.
The Light Blues snatched a goal and concentrated on holding on to it. The success of their tactics is reflected in the result.
The Dons put in tremendous fighting finish but the Iron Curtain was closed. In the excitement of Aberdeen's final bid to save the game, Young the Rangers captain, had his name taken by the referee, apparently for something he said during a goalmouth incident.

Hather’s Shot

It is sad to relate that for all their first-half superiority, Aberdeen’s shot-shy forwards seldom threatened to do any damage.
Outstanding incidents were Hather’s shot which almost dented the crossbar, and Buckley's fine try which struck Niven and shot up and over the bar.
Had that shot of Hather's found the net instead of the woodwork I reckon the Dons, not Rangers, would now be Scottish Cup holders.

Young a Star

The Pittodrie defenders had their anxious moments, but apart from that tragic lapse just before the interval, they generally proved a match for the Rangers attackers.
The star performer was Alec Young who played with terrific gusto at centre-half. He did a grand evening's work.
Martin was equal to all calls in goal, and Mitchell succeeded in keeping Hubbard quiet.
Harris is also due praise for his untiring energy and forceful work in an attacking capacity.
The honours in attack must be awarded to Hamilton and Hather for their entrancing first-half display. And Buckley, too, is due a word of praise for his enthusiasm and tenacity. The poorest members of the Aberdeen front rank were Rodger and Yorston.

Forward Switch

In the second half the Dons pulled the forward switch which brought the equalising goal on Saturday, but last night Rangers refused to fall into the trap a second time.
The honours of the game I would award Aberdeen, but it's goals that count. And the Light Blues produced the only one of the game.

Source: Evening Express, 30th April 1953