Aberdeen 7 - 0 Kilmarnock

STRONG DONS "A" SIDE

GOALS MIGHT HAVE BEEN 14

With the strongest team they have fielded this season, Aberdeen "A"' proved too much for Kilmarnock "A" in the Alliance match at Pittodrie, Aberdeen, on Saturday.
Three regular first team members were in the Alliance side which defeated the Kilmarnock side by seven goals to nil.

SKEA S FIRST GAME

Armstrong led the attack, McKenzie was at inside right and Dunlop at right half. Skea, the inside left from Forfar Celtic was playing his first game before a home crowd since his signing.
Kilmarnock kicked off, but the Young Dons were soon on the aggressive and the Aberdeen attack was the first to get in a shot. McKenzie bringing Gray into action from a cross by Armstrong. Seconds later Armstrong turned a difficult ball goalwards which the Kilmarnock 'keeper did well to save.
Most of the play was at the visitors' end and Skea. who had been showing fine promise, should have scored when Taylor crossed squarely from the wing.
The Aberdeen forwards were being well served by the half backs and Ritchie was once or twice up to try shot. The first goal came from a free kick outside the penalty box. Dunlop took it and scored with a tremendous shot to the corner of the net.
More was being seen of Kilmarnock's attack, and Howie on the left was tricky on the ball. The home lead, however, was soon increased. Ritchie Smith, in netting, was fouled and from the spot kick he once more found the net with a well-placed drive.

FIVE GOALS ADDED

In the second half the Young Dons added five goals to their two-goal lead at the interval. The forwards were persistently on the attack, and it was evident that Aberdeen's extra strong team was sorely troubling the visitors. McKenzie was the brightest home forward, and most of the goals in this half were engineered by the elusive inside-right. He was directly responsible for his side's next two goals. Ritchie Smith completed his hat-trick.
Armstrong headed home Aberdeen's fifth from Smith's cross, and McKenzie himself scored the sixth. A few minutes from time Smith added to his total by scoring the seventh and last goal.
There were times when Aberdeen's superiority was very marked, but although seven goals were scored, at least seven chances were missed. Armstrong and Skea were both at fault in this respect.
The home defence was never really stretched, although Temple had a difficult man to hold in Howie.
Erskine put in a very hard afternoon's work at centre-half, being an effective stopper of Kilmarnock's efforts to get a goal.
Dunlop and Ritchie were two fine attacking wing halves, the latter especially pushing on the ball for his forwards.
Of the attack. McKenzie was undoubtedly the star, his clever manipulation of the ball opening up a way through the Kilmarnock defence. His success at this is clearly demonstrated with Smith's four goals.

Source: Press & Journal, 6th December 1937