Western Province 3 - 7 Aberdeen

AUSPICIOUS START TO TOUR

MILLS, ARMSTRONG "HAT-TRICKS"

"Hat-tricks" by Mills and Armstrong were the outstanding features of the game in which Aberdeen, Scottish Cup finalists, opened their tour of South Africa with a smashing victory by seven goals to three over Western Province at Cape Town yesterday.

Aberdeen's fine play during their previous tour of the Union ten years ago is still remembered in Cape Town, and the Dons were given a warm welcome both by the sun and the 5000 spectators when they were played on to the field by a pipe band.

DONS DISPUTE GOAL

The weather had cleared up following recent heavy rains, and brilliant sunshine prevailed for the match. The home captain won the toss and elected to set his team against the sun in the first half.
The Scots, who fielded the identical team which was defeated by Celtic in the Scottish Cup final, were ragged in the opening stages, but a disputed goal by Bundy, the home right winger, after eight minutes put them on their mettle.
Van Den Berg, after making ground on the left, swung over a long centre which struck the crossbar. Bundy, standing in close, pushed the ball in with his chest from the rebound. The Dons appealed for "hands," but the referee maintained that the goal was a legitimate one.
Following this reverse the Scots settled down to some delightful football, and within ten minutes were on equal terms. Mills netting with a magnificent oblique shot from twenty yards.
Another ten minutes later a brilliant criss-cross movement, in which the ball was passed with great precision from backs to forwards, had the home defence spread eagled, and Mills put the visitors ahead.
Thereafter the Scots had matters all their own wav, and further goals were added by Mills, who thus performed the "hat-trick," and Beynon before half-time.
Aberdeen continued to dominate the game after the resumption. Combining more effectively and keeping the ball in the air they gave the Province no chance.

ARMSTRONG'S TURN

They increased their lead when after the defence had been drawn by a clever forward movement Armstrong, the centre-forward, was left with an open goal. He scored easily.
The Province centre-forward, Smith, was impotent against the diminutive but ubiquitous Falloon, who marshalled his side so ably that the home side found it at times almost impossible to approach the visitors' goal.
Eventually, following an exciting melee in front of Aberdeen's goal, Smith just got the ball over the goal-line, but Johnstone immediately pushed it out. The referee signalled a goal despite the appeals made by Aberdeen.
Immediately afterwards a long pass by Thomson resulted in Armstrong banging in a terrific shot to notch his side's sixth goal.
Then came a brilliant solo effort by Smith. The Western Province leader took the ball from the halfway line and, after "waltzing" through the opposing defence, scored with a fine shot.
Before the end, Armstrong retaliated with another perfect long-range goal to make the score 7-3 in Aberdeen's favour.

Source: Press & Journal, 25th May 1937