Port Glasgow 1 - 1 Aberdeen

Aberdeen journeyed to Port-Glasgow on Saturday to engage in their return League fixture with the Athletic. The first game between the teams earlier in the season resulted in a win for Aberdeen by 3-1. Lennie, O'Hagan, Halkett, and Macdonald were not included in the Aberdeen side on Saturday, their places being taken by R. Simpson, McKinley, K. Ross, and C. A. V. MacEchern. Clune Park was in fairly good condition, although somewhat soft on the surface. There was a poor attendance when the teams lined up as follows:-

Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Colman, Hume; K. Ross, McIntosh, Low; MacEchern, Muir, Murray, McKinley, Simpson.
Port-Glasgow: D. Thomson; Thomson, Ritchie; Cunningham, Ross, Bulloch; Hamilton, Mitchell, Taylor, Steele, Lynch.
Referee - Mr. Stark, Airdrie.

Low, who had captained the Aberdeen team in Halkett's absence, won the toss, but, no wind, little advantage was gained. Taylor started the game for the Athletic. Aberdeen were the first to become dangerous, and twice the visiting forwards were pulled up by the Port-Glasgow backs near goal. After five minutes' play, however, the athletic created a surprise by scoring the first goal of the game. Near midfield Lynch sent the ball across to Hamilton on the right. Low intercepted the cross, but failed to get the ball away. He passed back to Hume, but, before the left back could get his kick in, Hamilton rushed in between the two Aberdeen players, and that once raced ahead with the ball at his feet. Hume made a great effort to pull up the Port right-winger, but Hamilton never lost possession of the ball, and beat Macfarlane with a fast drive and close range. The game was keenly contested, Aberdeen playing up strongly after the Port had scored. Led by Hamilton, the Athletic forwards almost got through for a second time, but Colman and McIntosh were safe, and it was a long drive from midfield by the centre-half that enabled Aberdeen to draw level. The ball was kicked high in the direction of the port backs, who got mixed up in their attempts to clear their lines. Ross, centre-half, rushed back, I and, in his anxiety to clear, he headed the ball into his own goal. Thomson saved, but was unable at the first attempt to get the ball away. However, he did ultimately succeed, but the leather went only a few yards up the field, and Simpson had little difficulty in scoring with a high shot. On equal terms, both teams infused plenty of spirit into their play. The game, however, was lacking in the finer points of football. There was a great deal of running about and strong kicking on the part of the backs, but combination among the forwards was at a discount. The reckless kicking of the halves, however, was largely responsible for this. The Aberdeen middle line did try a occasionally to feed their forwards, but the athletic trio, although they tackled effectively, invariably sent the ball too far ahead. Hamilton was very troublesome on the Athletic right wing, I and, after cleverly him eluding Low and Hume, the right-winger crossed to the left wing, but Lynch spoiled an easy chance by shooting high over the bar. Aberdeen now monopolised the game for a time. Murray and Muir were prominent with neat work in midfield, while Simpson and MacEchern were equally good on their respective wings. A smart bit of work by Murray was followed up by Muir shooting strongly almost from goal-line. The goalkeeper saved, however, and from the succeeding corner Simpson shot over the bar. Gradually the Athletic began to assert themselves, but were invariably beaten back by Colman and Hume. The right back was in particularly good form, kicking judiciously and tackling with great effect. Murray was stopped by Thompson just outside the penalty line when the Aberdeen centre had practically a clear course for goal, while next minute Murray missed scoring with a fast drive, the ball skimming the crossbar. Aberdeen had much the better of the game, but found Ritchie and Thomson very difficult to beat. The latter was is specially good in keeping Aberdeen in check. Ross at centre-half was also noticeable for his strong defensive play. McEchern was a success on the Aberdeen right wing, several very dangerous cross is by the University player being cleared with difficulty by the Athletic backs. Simpson and McKinley were also a success on the left wing, the outside player being one of the best forwards on the field. A capital shot from a kick from was finally cleared by the Port goalkeeper, while Murray had the goal at his mercy immediately afterwards, but was pulled up for offside. Both teams missed comparatively easy chances of scoring near half-time, but the interval arrived with a game standing - Aberdeen 1 goal, Port-Glasgow 1 goal.

Port-Glasgow went off with a rush when the game was resumed. Steele and Lynch forced the game on the left wing, and Colman twice got the ball away close to the Aberdeen goal in the first few minutes. Port-Glasgow were now full of running, but the eagerness to score was responsible for several blunders on the part of their forwards. A sudden breakaway by Murray almost brought a goal to Aberdeen. The centre forward headed the ball to McKinley within a few yards of goal, but the inside left was bustled by Thompson and Ritchie, and the chance was lost. The Athletic were also unfortunate near the Aberdeen goal when Hamilton crossed finely from the right wing. The ball landed right in front of Macfarlane, and while Taylor, Steele, and Mitchell could not make up their minds as to who would put the finishing touch to Hamilton's cross, Hume stepped in and banged the ball up the field. Play for fully 20 minutes was over most uninteresting description. Strong kicking by the backs was freely indulged in, there being little or no combination among the forwards. The athletic monopolized the play, but made poor use of their opportunities near goal. Aberdeen, on the other hand, were more dangerous when they got within shooting distance. Mckinley had one particularly good shot from fully 30 yards range. He got the ball on the run and let drive with his left foot, the Port-Glasgow goalkeeper bringing off a grand saved close to the crossbar. McKinley's shot was undoubtedly the best effort witnessed during the game. Kenneth Ross, who had done fairly well at the start of the game, improved greatly during the second half. He fed McEchern very judiciously, with the result that the right-winger put in some very clever runs on the wing. His crosses were a feature during the last quarter of an hour, but somehow Murray could not turn them to account. Simpson had one very good try, following upon a sprint along the left wing, while McEchern was also prominent with a fast low shot, which the goalkeeper saved on his knees. Ultimately the Athletic transfer to play to the other end of the field. Lynch and Steele were particularly aggressive on the left wing, and a fast drive by the inside left struck the crossbar. Hume luckily caught the rebound, and kicked the ball clear of the goal. Once ran round Colman and Ross, and finished with a fast shot along the ground, Macfarlane, however, rushed across the goalmouth and cleared. Aberdeen made a last effort to pull off the game, McEchern being conspicuous on the right wing. He raced past the left half and back, and from the penalty line he shot with great force, but Thomson saved at full stretch on the ground. The closing stages of the game we're very exciting, but the play as a whole was comparatively poor.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 16th March 1908