Aberdeen 0 - 1 Heart of Midlothian

After an expensive lapse the Heart of Midlothian struck winning form again at Pittodrie Park, Aberdeen, and the victory there recorded, all the more welcome by reason of its comparative unexpectedness, once more place the Edinburgh side well in the running for League honours. Another factor which added to the merit of the performance was the nominally weak team which the Hearts turned out - Walker, Sinclair, Nellies, and Abrams of the regular eleven being absentees, while a new centre half Bradley, of Coventry City, made his first appearance. There was an attendance of over 10,000 spectators. The best play was reserved for the second half, the opening exchanges being rather ragged, though there were several exciting moments. Aberdeen forwards, splendidly led by Travers and Lennie, played in fine form, and were an ever-present source of danger, the Hearts goal having one or two very narrow escapes. Towards half-time, however, the visitors' front rank pulled together, and it was now Aberdeen's turn to bless their luck, notably when Macpherson actually did get through from a scrimmage, but the point was disallowed. In the second half the Hearts were superior, and it was only their due when, within twenty minutes of the resumption, Dawson opened their account from a corner kick. Aberdeen were unfortunate iin the matter of casualties, which were remarkably numerous, but hard though they played till the end, they could not break down the Tynecastle defence, while the Hearts, on the other hand, on tow occasions in the closing stages might have added to their score, so open were the chances presented. Result:- Hearts, one goal; Aberdeen, nothing. Estimated "gate," £300.

Source: The Scotsman, 21st October 1912

Even allowing that they were a bit unfortunate, Aberdeen had decidedly the worst of the argument in the Scottish League game at Pittodrie on Saturday when hearts scored a victory by the only goal of a match which was witnessed by 9000 spectators the. Except that it was a sporting game, little can be said of the play. The first half was as goalless as it should have been, and from a corner in the second half Hearts secured their only and winning goal from a header by Dawson.

In the opening period it was a case of first one side attacking and then the other, and any advantage that one side gained was lost by the supremacy of the other at a subsequent stage. There were occasions when some very pretty outfield work was shown by both sets of forwards. Aberdeen showed weakness near goal, and while Hearts did not attack so persistently, they were more dangerous at close quarters than were Aberdeen. King on two occasions saved what must have been certain goals by Macpherson and Dawson, and Wilson had several lightning efforts which went a trifle wide. On one occasion Macpherson actually a landed the ball in the net, but the point was disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper. Aberdeen, on the other hand, were not nearly so dangerous. Once Lennie tested Allan with a lovely drive, which the keeper fisted away. Travers returned with great force, but Allan again saved.

Aberdeen were lackadaisical in their efforts in the second half, when they were without Lennie for a short time through injury. The visitors had several dangerous raids upon King until Currie forced a corner, and it was from this that Dawson got the valuable goal. Once or twice Aberdeen attacked strongly, Wilson and Walker changing places, but the Hearts' defence was sound, and held out till the last. Hearts in the finish came near to scoring again, when King effected a wonderful clearance from Wilson and Dawson. We'll a regrettable feature of the game was the number of times mishaps occurred to Aberdeen players - a factor which, in a great measure, accounted for the defeat of the side.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 21st October 1912