Aberdeen 1 - 1 Kilmarnock

Aberdeen were fortunate in their home match with Kilmarnock to secure a draw. Maxwell, the centre-forward, scored for the visitors in the first half, and Yorston, in a similar position, equalised for the home side eleven minutes before the close. For the greater part of the game Kilmarnock were the more lively aggressors, and it was only a strong and determined defence which saved Aberdeen from defeat. The 8000 spectators were anxious enough at the close of the first half, when Kilmarnock led by the only goal of a hard-fought period, but they were beginning to make up their minds for defeat when an improvement in attacking work by their team was so long delayed. It certainly looked, until about midway through the second half, as if Aberdeen's record for the season of not having suffered a defeat at home were to go. The cheers which greeted Yorston's successful shot from six yards' range from a smart pass by the left-winger, McLean, clearly indicated their relief. Aberdeen's half-backs, Black, McLaren and Hill, played a good defensive game, but were not so satisfactory as they might have been in giving assistance to the forwards. Connel and Maxwell were outstanding among the Kilmarnock forwards.

Source: The Scotsman, 16th November 1931

DONS JUST SAVE HOME RECORD.

Yorston's Goal Comes to Rescue.

At Pittodrie, Kilmarnock came very near to breaking Aberdeen's unbeaten home record, and on the run of the play, especially in the second half, the visitors were unfortunate not to improve on a draw of one goal each.
Rain before and during the game made the pitch soft, and the conditions restricted the attendance to about 9000.
Aberdeen were without Cooper and Love of their regulars, and tried out a youthful right wing in Warnock and Adam, while Kilmarnock without Clemie (indisposed), had Bell, Dreghorn Juniors, in goal.
Aberdeen had the better of the exchanges in the first half, when they might have established a lead sufficient to win the game, but as it happened they were a goal in arrears at half-time. For this state of affairs the Kilmarnock defence was responsible, and especially Nibloe the international back, who was at the peak of his form.

Kilmarnock's Goal.

The game was twenty minutes old when Kilmarnock took the lead. Maxwell, slightly to the left, cut in to round Jackson, and send into an empty goal after Smith had gone out in a futile effort to intercept. Subsequently Aberdeen made many clever raids Nibloe a sure counter almost below the bar, and Adam sent against the crossbar.
Aberdeen fell away after the interval, and with the backs playing unsteadily they were largely indebted to Hill and McLaren for not falling further in arrears.

Yorston's Equaliser.

It was a most interesting struggle, with both ends being visited in turn, but Kilmarnock, playing a more open game, were more dangerous.
With ten minutes to go Aberdeen drew level. Warnock carried the ball along, and McLean cutely deceived the defence to allow Yorston to slip in and score. Until the end it was anybody's game, but Kilmarnock were more thrustful, and but for the watchfulness of Smith in the home goal might easily have won.

Weakness at Back.

Balance was lacking in the Aberdeen team. Smith in goal was in splendid form, but neither Jackson nor McGill was convincing at back. Their ineffectiveness told against the half-backs, who through stress of circumstances had to concentrate so much on defence that their constructive policy was curtailed. McLaren and Hill both excelled in defence, but Black, feeling the effects of an early knee injury, did not reproduce his best form.
The forward line was handicapped by an early injury to Adam; yet the debutante and Warnock made a clever wing, and were unfortunate to strike against Nibloe in his best form. Yorston was elusive and clever, and McLean was crafty, but McDermid did not strike his game, and generally there was a tendency on the part of the Aberdeen forwards to indulge in too much tip-tapping.

Kilmarnock Stalwarts.

Contrasted with this was the slap-dash, go-ahead tactics of the visitors.
Bell, their new goalkeeper, gave a splendid display, and while Nibloe was outstanding at back, Smith and Leslie were able henchmen. Morton and McEwan were energetic and constructive wing half-backs, and in a forward line that did not indulge in fancy work, Maxwell, Connell, and, Aitken were best.

Source: Press & Journal, 16th November 1931