Aberdeen 2 - 1 Queens Park

Aberdeen thoroughly deserved their victory over the Queen's Park at Aberdeen. Their play showed improvement on some recent displays and but for the brilliant display of J. D. Harkness, the Queen's Park goalkeeper, would have scored frequently. Harkness saved many likely shots. W. Wiseman, W. D. King, and R. Gillespie were also prominent in defence, and E. Scott, the inside right forward, who was their only scorer, and J. Crawford were the best in the forwards. Aberdeen's scorers were Cheyne and McHale, the latter from a free kick some twenty yards from the goal. Others who were outstanding on the Aberdeen side were Jackson, Ross, McDermid, and Love. The last mentioned two especially were prominent in shooting, and were not slow to take advantage of their opportunities. There were some 8000 spectators.

Source: The Scotsman, 2nd January 1928

N.B. The Glasgow Herald reported the second Aberdeen goal as being an own goal by King.

Aberdeen took full points from their two home games over the New Year weekend. It is true they only beat Queen's Park by the odd goal in three, but everyone will agree that on the general run of the play the Dons ought to have won by a much greater margin. They were the superior team on the day's play, although they did not show the same virility as the Amateurs. It was one of the fastest games seen at Pittodrie this season. The pace was set from the start by Queen's Park, and the Aberdeen defence had its work cut out in the early stages to check the swift-moving visiting forwards. Through time, however, the Dons' rearguard got a grip of the opposition attack, thanks mainly to the strong and resolute tackling of McHale, who probably played his best game since joining the Pittodrie staff.
The Queen's were somewhat fortunate to be on level terms at the interval. Love opened the scoring with a left foot drive, but before the interval Eddie Scott equalised. Aberdeen were much the superior eleven after the interval, yet for a long time it looked as if the Dons were to be denied the winning goal. Ten minutes from time, however, Gillespie was penalised, and from the free kick outside the penalty line, McHale drove the ball home, although Harkness made a brilliant but unsuccessful endeavour to present it going into the net.

Brilliant Harkness

This game will long be remembered for the display given by young Harkness in the Queen's Park goal. But for him Queen's would have been well beaten. He saved easily six times as many shots as Blackwell, and one can readily understand why he was chosen to guard the uprights for Scotland against England last April. On Saturday's form, at any rate, Harkness should again be chosen to appear at Wembley this year.
Another outstanding figure on the field was McHale, the Aberdeen pivot. Readers of "The Bon-Accord" will remember that shortly after this player came to Pittodrie I recommended that he should be given a trial at centre-half. He did ultimately get his chance in the first team, but he did not come up to expectations. He has frequently appeared in the League team since, but at no time has he given greater satisfaction than during the last five weeks. What was wrong with McHale all along was that, even with his splendid physique, he was not able to tackle as he should have done. His tactics have changed, and changed for the better. He gives a centre forward very little scope now, and he is using his height and weight to advantage. In style and appearance, McHale resembles George Brewster, although just not so clumsy. The ex-Maryhill player has only to continue his present form to keep a permanent place in the team. If he does so, then he will have earned the thanks not only of the Club management but of the supporters as well. In case, during the somewhat "bewildering" festival season, you have forgotten the fact, I would remind you that McHale did not play at Ibrox.
McHale, however, was supported by two good men in Black and Ross. I was greatly impressed by the young ex-Mugiemoss player. Blackwell, Jackson, Livingstone, Love and Smith also did well against the Amateurs.

Source: Bon-Accord, 7th January 1928

The brilliant of J. D. Harkness was the feature of the game at Pittodrie, where Aberdeen defeated Queen's Park by 2 goals to 1. But for the custodian's magnificent display, Aberdeen would have won much more decisively. He showed amazing agility, stopping shots from all angles and at all speeds, and at the close the spectators showed their appreciation of his performance according him ovation.
Aberdeen were much the more aggressive side, and in all departments except goal, in which there could be no comparison so little did Blackwell get to do, the home team were immeasurably superior. Jackson and Livingstone at back, especially the first named, were exceptionally sound, and as a half-back combination. Black, McHale, and Ross proved as successful as any intermediate trio utilised by Aberdeen this season.
In a dangerous forward line, which must have scored many goals but for the brilliance of Harkness, Smith, Love, and McDermid were best, but Cheyne was a prolific shot.
In addition to Harkness, Wiseman and Hay took the eye in the amateurs' defence. The half-backs were not nearly so effective as those of Aberdeen, and, among the forwards who showed cleverness at times, Nicholson on the left wing was best.

A SPIRITED CONTEST.

Aberdeen made the running at the start, and following a corner turned aside a stray shot by Cheyne for another corner. Play continued to favour Aberdeen, and Harkness saved another great shot by Cheyne. Later he fielded from Ross, and went full length to yet another effort by Cheyne. Nicholson raised the siege for the amateurs with a smart run, but he centred behind, and in further Aberdeen attacks, Bruce and Cheyne both shot wide in quick succession. Aberdeen continued a relentless offensive and were rewarded when a shot by Cheyne was accidentally turned past his own goalkeeper by W. S. King. Queen's Park made a spirited response, and in a mass attack by their forwards Blackwell practically picked the ball from Cordiner's feet. For the most part the play greatly favoured Aberdeen, and many shots were either blocked or charged down in front of Harkness. The amateurs' goalkeeper saved from Love, and later Cheyne and Bruce were only inches off with capital shots. After 29 minute's Queen's Park drew level when it seemed they would fall further into arrears. Hay took a free kick, and the ball travelled to Scott, who gave Blackwell no chance. At the other end Harkness saved from Cheyne, and later threw himself at Bruce's feet for the ball to be scrambled clear. A great run and centre by Smith ended in Love just failing to head through, and towards the interval the game, was a duel between the home attack and the visitors' defence, in which Harkness continued to show brilliance.

GOALKEEPER'S PART

Following the interval the exchanges were fairly level for a time. Nicholson twice raided home territory, but later Aberdeen again took the game in hand. They forced several corners, and Harkness continued to defy their efforts. He stopped or deflected shots from all the Aberdeen forwards and from McHale, but should have been beaten on one occasion when Bruce lifted high over when almost below the bar. After 30 minutes' play, Aberdeen took a lead that was well deserved on play. McHale was entrusted with a free kick just outside the penalty area, and he scored with a terrific shot; Harkness touching the ball, but failing to stay its progress to the net. The amateurs never gave up hope, and several times their speedy forwards, and particularly Nicholson, had the home defence on the stretch, but in the closing stages Aberdeen were very much superior. Harkness brought off two wonderful saves from Cheyne and Love, but try as they might the home forwards could not beat him again.

Source: Press & Journal, 2nd January 1928