Aberdeen 1 - 0 Rangers

At Aberdeen, in presence of 12,000 spectators. Playing against the breeze in the first half, Aberdeen early assumed the upper hand, Lock saving from Lennie and Soye in the first five minutes. Play was exceptionally fast, with the home team the most dangerous lot near goal. For a time the Rangers could make no headway, but eventually Reid and Smith got away in a splendid run. Colman, however, cleared from the outside left, and then McIntosh tested Lock with a hard drive. Keeping up the pressure, Aberdeen gave a fine exhibition of football, but failed near goal, mainly due to the strong defence of Law and Campbell. In the second half, Aberdeen played with the wind in their favour, and only at brief intervals did the Rangers ever cross midfield. Near the close, the game was very exciting, and three minutes from time McIntosh scored the winning goal. Result:- Aberdeen, one; Rangers, nothing.

Source: The Scotsman, 5th December 1910

The outstanding event in Scottish football on Saturday, not even accepting the Qualifying Cup final, was the meeting of Aberdeen and Rangers at Pittodrie Park. There was great enthusiasm in the city and in the north, while many of the trains from the outlying districts brought in contingents of enthusiasts. A special train arrived from Glasgow in the former and carrying a large complement of the Rangers' supporters. So far, Rangers have never been beaten at Pittodrie, and the result - a brilliant 1-0 lead for Aberdeen - broke a cherished record, and upheld the owner of the home stars, besides making them the undisputed League leaders. Fully three-quarters of an hour from the start the crowd had began to assemble, and never 10,000 present when play commenced, the following players doing duty:-

Aberdeen: King; Colman, Hume; Wilson, Wyllie, Millar; Soye, Murray, McIntosh, Travers, Lennie.
Rangers: Lock; Law, R G Campbell; Gordon, Chapman, Hendry; Hogg, Yuille, Reid, Bennett, Smith.
Referee - Mr. J Bell, Dundee.

THE GAME

Both teams got a great ovation on turning out. Rangers, winning the toss, had the advantage of a strong breeze from the sea, and it was thus early apparent that Aberdeen would have their work cut out. Lennie was the first to make headway, and although he got past Gordon, Law stepped in the way of progress. There was some good hook passing by Soye, and then McIntosh let Lennie off. The winger sent over a skier, and Lock had to fist. Then followed brilliant work by Aberdeen. Lennie beat Gordon, and then Law, the back, recovered possession, but Lennie, but dazzling work got over the cross. The bowels swished over the heads of McIntosh and Murray by inches, and, finally going to Soye, that player let drive, and Lock saved brilliantly by tipping over the bar. The excitement was at fever heat, but the corner was cleared. Rangers, wakening up, applied the screw, and Wyllie intercepted Reid in characteristic style. Back rushed Rangers, and King fielded well a long drive by Chapman. Aberdeen raced off again, and McIntosh sending nicely to Lennie, who was unmarked, the ball was once more in front of Lock, but Campbell cleared. Mary and Soye had some brilliant passing on the right, and as the result of harassing work by Mcintosh, Lock had to field several grounders in quick succession. So far it was aberdeen's game, for they were the nippier on the ball, and against the wind played a clever and methodical game, the ball being kept judiciously low. Reid essayed a dribble, but with Wyllie keeping close the brilliant Rangers' opportunist made little headway. Then followed two successive but fruitless corners for the "Light Blues." Lennie eased the pressure. Campbell returned, however, and another Rangers' corner followed.
A free-kick saw Lock again brought into the picture. He fielded from Lennie, and although harassed by Mcintosh and Travers, came triumphantly out of the ordeal coolly bouncing the ball. Wilson and Wyllie did great headwork for the home side, and intercepted many of the high passes which are usually so effective a feature of the Rangers' game. Half-way through the half, the crowd had reached 12,000, and with the scoring-sheet blank and the wind against them, Aberdeen's prospects seemed to be the brighter. The excitement began to take effect on both sets of players, with the result that many passes were misplaced. Rangers were inclined to lose their temper, and some free kicks fell to Aberdeen, although no advantage accrued. Travers had a shot which went past. The Rangers had a say, and Colman chipped in when Reid had but to shoot to score. Back came Rangers, however, and then King fell full length and scraped the ball round the post for a corner, which went for nothing. The wind continues to hamper Aberdeen, yet McIntosh with his great dash, never lost an opportunity to make ground. Hogg, the famous English winger, seldom got a chance to shine and if at any time he did circumvent Miller and Hume, the redoubtable Colman came to the rescue. The back saved Aberdeen on several occasions, and if his, rates wavered, he never hesitated, and his accurate foot and his cool head were mainly responsible for Rangers not taking the lead, which they would not have deserved. Once more McIntosh dashed between the backs, but he got sandwiched when well placed. Murray got the ball, but the wind miscarried, and a chance was lost. Then Soye sent in, and Travers rushed Lock, who, although he cleared, was injured by colliding with the upright. There was a stoppage for a time, but with the attention of the trainer, the custodian soon recovered. Bennett raised the hopes of the Rangers with an electrifying dribble, but he shot high.
Lennie was in his trickiest mood, and many a Ranger big in stature and reputation, had to look small. Once more McIntosh's dash had Law in difficulties, and while the back hesitated Lennie was off with the ball, but Campbell intercepted the pass that was meant for McIntosh. When he got the chance, Hogg seldom failed, and Reid headed past a centre by him. Gordon and Lennie had some great tussles, and the crowd were often amused by the attitudes which the players found themselves in. The last 20 minutes of this half had seen the play fairly evenly divided. Bennett missed a great chance from Smith's cross, and just before the interval Hogg had a ball which sailed across the goalmouth without the touch of a finishing head. The period was one of which Aberdeen, with the elements - a strong breeze - against them, played up to their reputation, and thoroughly deserved to be level with their opponents when the whistle sounded half-time.

The second half was but minutes old ere Aberdeen had all but scored twice. First Macintosh wormed his way through, but hampered by several opponents, had the mortification of seeing the ball rolling harmlessly past the upright. Then Murray, after brilliant work, had a shot which went past, and an effort by Miller at a similar fate. Rangers began to play up after this, and the home defence was kept on the move. At times there was great excitement, players and spectators are like being affected. Lennie had another of the brilliant runs which had been a feature of the day, and when he placed to Travers, that player shot well, but Lock saved miraculously, for an abortive corner. Aberdeen continued to have the better of the game, and a drive by Lennie went whizzing past the post. Campbell at times was glad to kick anywhere for relief, and he did not hesitate to sacrifice corners on occasions. So far during the half, the game had been and defensive duel on the part of the Rangers' defence against the home forwards. McIntosh was always in the eye, and he forced Law to give another of the many fruitless corners which had fallen to the home men. Rangers were getting into scoring position when the whistle proclaimed Hogg to be offside. Never for a minute did McIntosh allow any rope to Law or Campbell, and many balls which they would ordinarily have kicked up the field had to find touch or go behind. Quarter of an hour from time, Rangers made a great rally, and king had his first goal kick for 25 minutes. Speed, dash, and science were all tried by the local forwards, but still the Rangers held out. The culling of the ball, caused by the wind, upset the calculations of both teams, yet play was always exciting. The game was a grueller, and not for a long time has the Rangers' defence had such a hard day's work. Still win ever laid down, and backed up magnificently by Lock, they played and determined game under the most trying conditions. Murray had a shot luckily blocked by Chapman, and then Millar had an effort which Lock never so going past the outside of the upright. Darkness was creeping over the field, and still Rangers defence held out, and the crowd had made up their minds for the draw that was destined not to be. Every time Aberdeen shot there seemed to be a Ranger in the way. Five minutes from the close came another Ranger rally, but Reid shot high over.
Three minutes from the close Lennie forced a corner, and, placing it well, McIntosh headed through the winning and only goal. Then followed one of the most remarkable scenes ever witnessed at Pittodrie. Mighty shouts rent the air, and the cheering thousands danced with joy. Aberdeen had no sooner taken the lead and back they were on to the attack, and there was a perfect tornado of cheering. Rangers got a free-kick, which took the ball to the home half, but Colman returned, and the whistle sounded that proclaimed Aberdeen the leaders of the week and a deserving winners of a game in which every man on the home side worked with a will.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 5th December 1910

The fates wero kind to the Aberdeen F C. on Saturday. After rain almost every day, Saturday, on which their game with Rangers was down for a decision, was fine and mild for the season, only a strong breeze blowing to mar the conditions for being ideal. It was quite understood that the crowd would not be a record one, owing to the early start; but it was the largest seen at Pittodrie this season. There were 10,000 present at the start, while at half-time the ticket-holders must have brought the attendance close on 14,000, not including those who scaled the walls and who had free views otherwise.

Evidently the management separate politics from football for they had neither the one nor the other of the two sides patronising the game with a kick-off ceremony of any kind, but viewed the struggle for points in real earnest. Without any ceremony, bar the usual rousing cheers when the teams took the field and the toss for choice of ends, the play began. Prior to this, we had just finished a walk round the enclosure, and felt astonished at the orderly way in which such a large crowd behaved. There were the usual "wits" and sallies going on in various groups, but there was nothing to offend the most fastidious so far as we saw or heard; and the accommodating may in which one obliged the other for vantage ground to one of smaller stature was splendid.

Against the wind, Aberdeen sent a thrill through the spectators by the manner in which they burst away, cleverly slipping the defence, but ended with a bye. Before the Rangers had time to settle, the home side showed the way the ball had to be manipulated against such a breeze, and but for the vagaries of which Aberdeen must have scored. A little of this was thrilling and encouraging for the home crowd; but the Rangers felt that they had been left out of the picture rather more than they liked, and Reid got Smith to oblige with a run and then another from Hogg just to show how they have amassed 22 goals inside a month.
It was seen that they had not been meeting a Colman and a Hume every week during the past month or so, for these home defenders gave them the right-about, every time. There was no danger from the Rangers' great attack up to this, but Alick Smith gave King's fingers a 'teaser' which must have made them tingle. This over, Aberdeen again gave of their best, and Lock saved repeatedly what appeared would have been sure goals. Some hard knocks were going, but the home side were giving just as they got. And so the battle waged; Aberdeen had slightly the better of exchanges, when the wind handicap is taken into account. With a barren first half, the general comment was - when Aberdeen can keep the Rangers from scoring against that wind they ought to win now with it in their favour.
It was a strenuous first half, and the start of the second was eagerly watched to see if Aberdeen would stand the pace. This was soon demonsrated; for Lock was in trouble in little or no time. Law and Campbell got mixed up, and how the goal did not fall was due to good luck more than to bad management. On they came again and again, the Rangers were a disappointing crew to watch; and Aberdeen, it was felt, were bound to score. It wanted just five minutes from time when Lock was decisively beaten by the only goal of the game. Mackintosh got his napper on a perfect cross from Lennie, and the trick was one. If ever a goal was deserved, this one was; for Aberdeen had not only wrought hard for it, but it was their due on play. We have never seen the Rangers make such a poor show as they did on Saturday, and as a team they were far below the reputation they came north with.

THE PLAY AND PLAYERS.

Had the Rangers not such a player as Lock, they would have been in for a big defeat on Saturday at Pittodrie. He was great, and saved his side time and again; and when he was defeated it was through no fault of his, but through persistant play and force of numbers. Law and Campbell were good and bad by turns. In the first half Law got away some dangerous work, but both "fluked" their kicks terribly in the second period. The halves were the best line. GOrdon, by some clever work with head and feet, appeared to us to be the pick, with Chapman coming next. Alick Smith was the most consistent forward, but could make nothing of Colman; while Bennett found Wilson always in his way. Reid was a pure passenger; and bar once or twice Hogg did little; and his partner did less.

We have nothing but praise for the Aberdeen side. King got little to do, but did) that well. Without any exaggeration, Colman was the best back on the field, with Hume very little behind. As a pair, they were above the Rangers by long way in every department. Wyllie was the star artiste in the middle line, with Millar an easy second, and Wilson next in order of merit. Wyllie had the Rangers crack shooter bottled up almost from the start. Millar kept Hogg in hand, and Wilson looked after Bennett, while it could be observed that Colman invariably kept on Alick Smith. The forwards all did well, Mackintosh, by his persistency, caught the eye most; but as a line they were clever, and did not overdo one wing more than the other. Lennie was a perfect glutton for work, and telling work it was too. We saw him at his best, and hope to see him in the same form for many weeks to come. Travers was an ideal support, and had hard luck, like Tom Murray, in not scoring. Tom, in our opinion, at inside-right is just the man for the place, and gave Soye every possible chance to get away. The outside-right also earned praise for his work, which was earnest and always on the spot.

CHATTY BITS.

Though not a record attendance, Aberdeen had the largest crowd at Pittodrie this season on Saturday.
We understand the total drawings exceed £350, not bad for a home gate; and the Rangers do not usually get such a large slice from provincial teams.
A number of personal bets were made before the match, and we believe the halters had a few local ones to settle.
The Rangers were not too well pleased at having to bow the knee for a second time in one season to Aberdeen.
It has often been the case in minor matches to see time wasted, by deliberate kicking out, and we have not seen so much of that for a long time as we saw the Rangers do when they were being pressed. It was not one player, but several players who resorted to these tactics, and the crowd did not forget to show disapprobation.
Owing to illness, it is quite possible that Lennie may be unable to play against the Hibs on Saturday, and in that case Neilson of the Reserves will fill the vacancy.
The Aberdeen Reserves had an off-day on Saturday, and viewed the game at Pittodrie.
There are now suggested changes in the Dundee team, in view of their defeat last Saturday at Rugby Park.
Outside League games, Aberdeen do not intend to have any other attraction at the New Year. It was intended at one time to have Northern Nomads, but we have not heard any further word, and we presume it is off.
The Reserves will play a series of matches, including their cup ties with Peterhead Hibs during the holiday week.

Source: Bon-Accord, 8th December 1910