Motherwell 2 - 1 Aberdeen

Aberdeen concluded their Scottish League programme yesterday, when they travelled to Fir Park, Motherwell. There were about 4000 spectators present.
Tennant kicked off for Motherwell. Ferrier got possession and in his first run down passed to Tennant, who, in turn, gave to Stevenson, who beat Blackwell a minute later.
Blackwell was later at fault in dealing with a shot from Cameron, but the danger was cleared and Love got away on Aberdeen's right. Frame, however, cleared, and Tennant got a great chance, but shot over the bar. McFarlane made several attempts to get the Aberdeen front line in motion, but the stalwart Craig generally stopped his progress before he reached the danger zone. Neither side appeared to be exerting themselves; consequently many of the exchanges were of the as you please order. The Motherwell forwards found the Aberdeen half-backs rather easy to beat, and, after twenty minutes' play, Tennant scored a second goal from a pass by Ferrier.

Aberdeen Backs Overworked.

Yorston and Smith were the only Aberdeen forwards who had made anything like headway so far, and that without any support from Black, who was slow in following up. Cooper and Jackson for a time were overworked, yet they stuck manfully to their task till play opened out somewhat. Love got along a dangerous cross, and Smith connected and tested McClory, who cleared. This looked the forerunner of better things for Aberdeen, as Cheyne, a few minutes later, had a second try. The good work, however, tapered out quickly as the Motherwell forwards got a footing in front of Blackwell, who saved from Tennant.
Cheyne renewed hopes in a wriggling movement, in which he beat three opponents, and drove in a fast ball which McClory just saved on the post. The Stevenson-Ferrier combine replied with a telling run which Stevenson finished badly. Smith presented a rare opening, following a speedy run in which he beat Johnman, and drove the ball right across the face of the goal mouth. There were, however, no takers. Aberdeen had to pack their goal for several minutes prior to the interval.

Bombardment Survived.

Play assumed a livelier aspect after Aberdeen had survived five-minutes' bombardment. Their forwards got a firmer grip on matters than they had at any time previously, and Smith got in a swerving ball which McClory clutched under the bar. He repeated the feat a few minutes later, but the ball travelled too far, and the Motherwell backs had time to fall back before Love got in his shot. The Aberdeen half-backs were connecting better with their forwards, who served up some clever combined work. Their finishing, however, left a good deal to be desired. McFarlane kept boring in on the Motherwell backs, and with free play on the wings, Aberdeen were really making a serious effort to reduce the odds. Persistence had its reward in fifteen minutes. Frame gave away a corner which was so well placed by Love that Yorston headed into the net. A minute later McFarlane might have had the equaliser, but Cheyne joined in and spoiled the opportunity.
Gone now were the easy going movements apparent earlier. Aberdeen were making a serious bid to get on level terms, and Motherwell found their task anything but easy. When the home forwards did make an effort to relieve the tension they found themselves up against a much more confident set of defenders, and hereabout Blackwell brought off a couple of smart clearances. Hefty punting by Cooper and Jackson enabled McFarlane and his companions to create several difficult situations for Frame and Johnman, and there was so little between the sides that a draw seemed not an unlikely happening.

Dangerous Smith.

Smith was a real live wire, and with a little more weight McFarlane would probably have scored. Ferrier, with the easiest of openings, made a hash of things following good work by Cameron, and Aberdeen returned to the attack only to be beaten off by force of numbers. A game that on the first half showing looked like an all Motherwell affair had developed into a real live contest, in which Aberdeen made a bold bid for a division the points. Jackson. Cooper, McHale, and Smith were Aberdeen's best, and Frame, Craig, and Stevenson best for Motherwell.

Source: Press & Journal, 17th April 1928