Aberdeen 1 - 0 Airdrie

Eight thousand spectators were present at the League game at Aberdeen. In the first half the play was good on both sides. Ewart saved finely from Lennie and Soye, while later on Hume and Colman were kept busy defending at the other end, but King was seldom tested. Towards half-time Aberdeen played with great dash, but were met by a splendid defence, Hill and Mackie saving their side on numerous occasions. In the second half, Lennie was always good when on the ball, and it was from one of his crossed that Soye was able to score the only goal of the game. To the close the game was full of interest, and Airdrieonians almost equalised on time. Result:- Aberdeen, one goal; Airdrieonians, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 24th October 1910

Played at Pittodrie in wet weather on Saturday before 7000 spectators. teams:-

Aberdeen: King; Colman, Hume; Wilson, Wyllie, Millar; Soye, McIntosh, Murray, travers, Lennie.
Airdrie: Ewart; Hill, Mackie; Affleck, Duff, J. Young; Neilson, Chalmers, Thomson, Donaldson, S. Young.
Referee - Mr. Kelso, Hamilton.

In the first half Aberdeen played with the wind in their favour. Rain fell heavily, and soon the ball got very greasy, but the players on both sides and we settled down to a fast, go-ahead game. Aberdeen invaded the Airdrie territory right away, Lennie and Travers being prominent on the left wing. The Airdrie right half, however, got the ball away, but Aberdeen came back strongly on the right. The game was keenly contested, and Aberdeen soon found out that they had strong opponents to face in the men from Airdrie. Allan, on the right wing, broke away in conjunction with Chalmers, and so well did the first-named work his way towards King that it appeared that any odds on the Airdrieonians opening with a goal. Allan, however, shot outside the post. McIntosh next came into prominence with a fast drive. A minute later the Aberdeen backs were hard pressed by the Airdrie inside forwards, Hume ultimately passing back to King for safety. By this time the players had got thoroughly soaked, while the pitch was badly cut up, rendering the foothold very insecure. On several occasions Donaldson, S Young, and Thomson came away with smart work for Airdrie, with the result that the local half-backs and backs were kept continually on the move. Two crosses from Young almost brought goals, Hume on each occasion clearing just in time. The Airdrie backs, too, had many anxious moments, but Hill and Mackie set up a solid defence, the kicking of the first-named being specially good. A splendid shop by Wilson gave rise to a great outburst of cheering. Aberdeen fought desperately for a goal, Murray, Soye, and Lennie all having good tries. Good work by the Airdrie half-backs - Duff being specially prominent - led up to a spell of exciting play near the Aberdeen goal, where Donaldson and Thomson came very near scoring. Colman and Hume, well supported by Wyllie, beat back the attack in spirited fashion. Near half-time Aberdeen monopolised the attack, but were unable to get the better of the stubby in the defence.

There was a welcome change in the weather when the game was restarted. Aberdeen lost no time in getting into their stride, but nothing tangible resulted. Gradually the Airdrieonians assumed the aggressive, but their pressure lasted only a few minutes, the local backs been practically unbeatable. Keeping the ball low, and moving in quite their best style, the Aberdeen forwards were now playing better than at any previous stage in the game. The Airdrie defence was taxed to the utmost. Murray kept his wings well supplied with the ball, while Soye and Lennie invariably sent across the ball into the goalmouth just at the right time. Hill and Mackie, however, defended with rare skill, while Ewart was always safe in his clearances. After 15 minutes' continuous pressure, Aberdeen at last got their reward, Soye scoring with a left-foot drive. Lennie, however, shared in the honour, for the left-winger crossed the ball. Interest in the contest never waned, for the Airdrieonians frequently broke away with dangerous runs. Thompson on Donaldson each had fairly easy chances of scoring, and against less capable backs they would probably have scored. On one occasion Hume saved practically a certain goal when he blocked Thomson and then Chalmers right in front of King. And the other end of the field, Lennie, McIntosh, and Murray all had good attempts. The match was keenly fought and full of excitement right up to the call of time, Aberdeen eventually running out winners by the odd goal.

He estimated gate was £160.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 24th October 1910

Aberdeen experienced a new sensation on Saturday, when for the first time this season the weather broke down just before the game started, and it goes without saying, seriously interfered with the attendance. Shortly before play started it was a meagre crowd inside the enclosure, but with a lull in the rainstorm the spectators arrived quickly till a decent attendance welcomed the 'Onians.

Aberdeen was again out at full strength, while the visitor's wing men - Davidson and Neilson - were perforced to stay away, the former for business reasons and the latter on the sick list. Quite a gale was blowing down the field, and the rain was pouring when the teams appeared to go through the preliminaries. Colman was successful in naming the right side of the coin, and Aberdeen played towards the west goal. It was soon apparent that the greasy surface of the pitch would make the players less able to secure a good foothold for correct passing. Plenty of involuntary slides were made through the mire, and in spite, of these mistakes the players put in a lot of hard work.
Some of the play that failed to materialise on Saturday would have paid nicely on a dry pitch. Particularly was this the case with a good shot from Tom Murray and a header from Macintosh, when some footing would have enabled them to get more sting behind their efforts. So also would a great drive by George Wilson, who hit the crossbar with terrific force from long range. These and other incidents served to fill up the first period, which for the most part was a stubborn contest between the Airdrie defence and the home attack. Against the wind Aberdeen put in a lot of splendid work, their play being far more dangerous than Airdrie had been in the same situation. They got the ball over the line several times, Soye in particular being in great form and circumvented Young and Mackie in his raids towards goal, which quite delighted the home crowd.
Lennie had done very little up to this, and we did not see the lively times he had with Hill on the last occasion they met at Pittodrie. However, it was a cute run along the line that Lennie sent across a fine ball, which reached Soye, who, without hesitation, let fly and beat Ewart all the way. The custodian had a lively time after, this and only his cleverness kept the score down. Only in the last five minutes of the game had we any qualms that Airdrie would score. They made a lively invasion on the home defence, who several times made mistakes, which were fortunately covered, and no score resulted. It was the only anxious time we had, and were thankful when the whistle blew, with Aberdeen still undefeated.

PLAY AND PLAYERS.

We had expected to see good goalkeeping on the part of Ewart, and his reputation was enhanced on Saturday. To have kept his end up against the pressure put on him during the first half was a good performance. Hill and Mackie were a couple of sturdy backs, the former being the better of the two, and seemed to have profited by experience for he seldom gave Lennie much field to work on. Duff and Affleck were most successful in the middle line. Though Young stuck gamely on to the home right wing he was not seen to the same advantage. Of the forwards Sam Young caught the eye most, the others being less methodical in their movements, and seemed to be easier held in hand. They all worked untiringly, however, and were near scoring on several occasions.
King made another fine appearance, and the work he did silenced many of his detractors who could see nothing good in the lad. All that he was asked to do on Saturday was done well. Too much praise cannot be showered on Colman and Hume, whose work on the heavy pitch and against heavy forwards was really grand. Over and over again they nipped promising efforts on the part of the visitors right away before they reached danger zone. Millar and Wyllie put in a power of work in spite of the heavy ground. Wilson had a big handful to keep in check, and did not tumble to the dodging till well on in the second half, when he was his old self again. Soye and Macintosh took honours in the front rank, and Murray and Travers worked hard all through. The damp raw weather always has a bad effect on Lennie's play, who only came into the picture at intervals and was not in his usual sparkling vein. The whole line did not find their true form as we have seen them, but the heavy ball and surface must be taken into account for the want of quick and accurate finishing.
We have heard it more than once expressed that the heavy ground would tell adversly against Aberdeen's play. We doubt if they will experience very much worse conditions than the first half on Saturday, and, if so their abilities were favourable to lasting as well on heavy as on hard pitches. They deserved to win on Saturday, and we wish them every success in their efforts to secure more points.

CHATTY BITS

Nothing succeeds like success. If Aberdeen had been low down in the table the attendance would have been just about half it was on Saturday.
The brewing of the elements on such an afternoon deserved some such recognition, which was a worthy tribute to the team who had done so well.
While the League team ware finding it extremely difficult to get goals, the Reserves were running up a cricket score at Montrose.
Fancy 8-0 for a football score. Montrose must have been badly hit, but the "Thunderbolt" was simply in his element, and could score from any position.
The "Gable Enders" put up a good, fight at Pittodrie, and only lost by 2-1, so that their collapse on Saturday is altogether inexplicable.
There was some doubt as to the correctness of the result at first, but on the arrival of the team these were set at rest.
In the first round of the Aberdeenshire Cup Peterhead got revenge for their Qualifying Cup defeat by defeating Fraserburgh Town by 3 goals to 1.
It was a stubbornly contested game with the Peterhead players having the advantage all through.
In the Qualifying Cup replay St Bernard were unable to beat Forfar Athletic on Saturday, neither side being able to score. They will now have to play on neutral ground to settle the tie.
Millwall opened their new grounds on Saturday, the ceremony being performed by Lord Kinnaird.
The Greenock butcher who promised a lamb to each player of the Morton who scored against the Rangers on Saturday will have cause to ponder over his bargain. Five lambs is a big order, and Charlie O'Hagan will claim two.
Colman and Lennie will leave for Belfast on Saturday night after the game with Partick Thistle, and will return home on Tuesday.
Huddersfield Town were on the losing side on Saturday, Mutch having two goals scored against him.

Source: Bon-Accord, 27th October 1910