Aberdeen 0 - 1 Highland League Select

Men from North Strike - and Dons' Promise Goes West.

A HIGHLAND League select that differed greatly from the original selection showed at Pittodrie on Saturday that the North is still capable of producing good footballers. A 1-0 win for the Northerners provides an ideal set-up for the second leg of the Caledonia Trophy at Elgin on Wednesday.

An ankle injury to Harris, which sent the Dons' inside left to the pavilion after fifteen minutes, took some of the gloss off the Highlanders' victory, but one or two of their players showed up really well in a disappointing game.
Aberdeen looked good for a brief spell at the start, but the injury to Harris was not the sole reason for the fact that they failed to get among the goals.
They tried hard enough, but simply couldn't find a way past the defensive barrier. The North forwards had much the same trouble. Clever enough, individually, they didn't knit too well, and it a was surprise when they ultimately got the ball past Curran. They had several chances before that, but their shooting was atrocious.
The big man of the North team - physically and otherwise - was Roy, the lanky pivot from Keith. His height gave him a big advantage over Emery, and the Dons' centre had a lean time.
He had one good chance to score from a Hamilton pass, but shot recklessly over the bar.

UNNECESSARY FOULS

McGregor, a former Aberdeen junior, compared favourably with McKenna. He kicks cleanly, and it is unfortunate that he will be an absentee from the return game. He is unavailable, and the probable deputy is Mrowonski (Elgin City).
If the Polish player comes in he will be playing behind his clubmate, Macaulay, who stood out in the Pittodrie game because of his clever play and shrewd passing.
McIntosh. the other wing halfback, gave away many unnecessary fouls by his over-robust tactics.
Davidson, the Fraserburgh centre, must have been a big disappointment to his sponsors. He never caused Roy any concern, and on this form he is not such an effective centre as Mackenzie, who was at inside right for the day.
The young Caley forward showed clever footwork, and although guilty of one bad miss he had the satisfaction of scoring the only goal two minutes from time. On this occasion he was right in goal and gave Curran no chance.
Hendry and Davidson, the left-wing pair, got good service from behind, and they were capable of giving Ashe some uncomfortable moments. The young back was the better of Aberdeen's two first-team debutants, and his kicking with both feet is impressive.
If the Dons are to retain the trophy they will have to play better than this. Even allowing for the fact that the forward line was put out gear they didn't show up well against the first time tactics of the Highland defence.

Source: Press & Journal, 25th April 1949

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