Aberdeen 3 - 1 Arbroath

The Aberdeen reserves occupied Pittodrie on Saturday afternoon, when they played Arbroath in a Northern League fixture. The weather was excellent, and there was a fair attendance when the teams lined up as follows:-

Aberdeen A: King; Hannah, Forbes; Davidson, Macfarlane, Low; McEachern, Scott, Dalgarno, Roberts, Ritchie.
Arbroath: Johnstone; Ferguson, Lorimer; Guild, Taylor, Fullerton; Black, Willox, Thomson, Dorward, Ritchie.
Referee - Mr. Deans, Dalkeith.

The game was only a few minutes started when Aberdeen took the lead. Roberts, after getting round two opponents, crossed to Scott. Taylor endeavoured to intercept the pass, but failed, and Scott, running ahead, scored with a high shot. It was a well-taken point, and Johnstone had no chance to save. Aberdeen continued to attack, but the visitors' halves held the local forwards well in hand. Scott, of Peterhead, who was making his first appearance for Aberdeen A immediately took the eye. He and McEachern were playing well together. Arbroath forced two fruitless corners, and then Aberdeen attacked strongly. Numerous good openings were lost by the local forwards, the specially by Ritchie and Dalgarno. On one occasion the center-forward had no one to beat but Johnstone, but instead of shooting into goal he sent the ball yards wide. Arbroath had a look in a occasionally, but the most of the attacking work was done by Aberdeen. Arbroath some goal had several narrow escapes, and combined with johnston's good saving on a good deal of luck, the locals were prevented from scoring. The visitors attacked for a few minutes, but when the locals shook them off, Dalgarno placed his side two up. Ritchie, Aberdeen, shot for goal. Johnstone was beaten all the way, but the ball struck the inside of the post and rebounded out. Dalgarno, who was lying well in, caught the rebound and sent the ball into the net. Aberdeen were now all over Arbroath, and the game from now until half-time was all in favour of Aberdeen. The visitors made strenuous endeavors to get into contact with King, but without success. Close on half-time Aberdeen secured another goal. McEachern, after running along the whole half of the field, crossed to Scott. The Peterhead man sent in a somewhat soft shot, which Johnstone allowed to slip out of his hands into the net. The ball was very greasy.

The second half was opened in brisk fashion by the visitors. They rushed down the field towards King, and, although they had many good openings, they were lost through overeagerness in front of goal. Aberdeen gradually settled down, and fast end-to-end play followed. Both goalkeepers were severely tested at times. Arbroath played hard to secure a point. Thomson repeatedly broke through the defence, but his parting efforts were all held by king. The game was not nearly so interesting this half, and it was only when the visitors scored that some life was put into the play. Thomson, after a long run along the whole half of the field, scored a beautiful goal. After this, play was very exciting and stubbornly contested. Both goals were visited in turn, but neither side could claim any advantage. Had the visitors showed the same form in the first half, they would not have been two goals down. It was very difficult to follow the game on account of mist, which came rolling over the east embankment from the sea. The closing stages were uneventful.

The gate and stands amounted to £30.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 2nd November 1908

An improved " A" Team.

Aberdeen A were out in force on Saturday, and put forth the strongest team that has represented them this season, against Arbroath. Forbes was in his place again at left back, and the right wing was McEachran and a lad Scott from Peterhead. The game was not long begun ere the Buchan lad showed his worth by scoring a lovely goal from a cross by Roberts, which he hooked into the net at tremendous force. Usually, Arbroath put up a great game at Pittodrie, but their play was below their usual in the first half, while the A's gave a better exhibition of football than they have yet shown. It was delightful to watch some of their movements, and when Dalgarno added a second goal and Scott a third before half-time, an idea may be had that the play was not dull to watch. The home side appeared to take the game by easy stages in the second half, and, as a result, Arbroath bucked up, and were really more dangerous than they had ever been. As a result of a tussle in front of goal, the visitors scored a point they deserved for their perseverance. Aberdeen once or twice put in some good runs, but their play was far below what they gave in the opening half. Aberdeen A won by 3-1, which is their second success this season, and now that they have got another start, we trust to see many more victories for them.

Source: Bon-Accord, 5th November 1908