Aberdeen 1 - 0 Heart of Midlothian

Dons Deserve Their One Goal Victory Over Hearts

ARMSTRONG GOAL IN FIRST MINUTE.

Aberdeen Hang Grimly on to Narrow Lead.

A cleverly-engineered goal in the first minute of the game gave Aberdeen victory. It was a hefty and keenly-contested ninety minutes, in which hard knocks were plentiful.

In the second half Beynon and Fraser received severe knocks, and as a result the Aberdeen team was badly disorganised. Hearts had the better of the exchanges during this period, but, handicapped as they were, the Dons fought back courageously, and for their fighting spirit alone they were deserving of victory.
That early goal, while it shook the Tynecastle men, gave the Dons confidence. Fraser sent the ball ahead to Warnock, and the Inside man slipped it forward a yard In front of Armstrong.
The centre was after it like a flash, and before the Hearts defenders could make up their minds the ball was in the back of the net.

Fine Combination.

For the remainder of the period Aberdeen were on top. Forwards and half-backs combined in fine style, and it was all the Hearts' defence could do to keep them at bay.
In fact, with a little more penetration at close quarters, the Dons might have retired with a bigger lead at the interval.
Five minutes after the start of the second half Beynon had to leave the field, and when he resumed ten minutes later he went to outside left, Smith taking the right wing berth. Shortly afterwards Fraser received a knock, and from this period Aberdeen had fight desperately.
Hearts, who were unbeaten since September 8, crowded on all sail in an effort to save the day, but a lack of finishing power against an Aberdeen team which threw every ounce Into the game, proved their undoing.

Dons' Record.

The Dons, who have not tasted defeat in eight matches, have a proud record. Here it is:-
v. Ayr United (a), 3-0. : v. Clyde (h.), 2-1.
v. St Mirren (h.), 1-0. : v. St Johnstone (h), 2-0.
v. Kilmarnock (a), 3-1. : v Rangers (a), 2-2.
v. Albion Rovers (a), 1-1. : v. Hearts (h.), 1-0.
But for that bad spell in September Aberdeen would now be close on Rangers' heels.
Smith in the Aberdeen goal, although he had few dangerous shots to deal with, had plenty to do, and did it smartly and confidently.
Cooper was the better back, tackling and kicking strongly. McGill was never comfortable against Munro, and never succeeded in holding the elusive Hearts winger in check.

Fine Half-Line.

Until the line was disorganised, the Aberdeen half-backs played well. Thomson was in tip-top form, tackling keenly and distributing the hall nicely.
Fraser, too, pleased in the first half, while Falloon was the rock on which many of the Hearts' attacks were broken. The wee centre-half was a tower of strength in defence.
In an attack which played first class football in the first half, Mills was outstanding. He controlled the ball cleverly, and, while he combined well with Smith, he did not forget to open up play.
Smith, the left-winger, is improving with every match. He has plenty of pluck, and surprised everybody with that shot in the first half. He got the ball well out on the left and fired in a terrific drive. Harkness in stopping it staggered against an upright.
Armstrong took his goal smartly, and, while always a trier, Reid saw to it that he did not get many more opportunities.
Beynon was a dangerous right-winger until he was injured, and Warnock was seen to best advantage in the opening twenty minutes.

Harkness Safe.

In Harkness Hearts possess a safe 'keeper, and while Anderson and McClure were not brilliant they were robust and keen tacklers.
The half-backs failed to touch their best form. Reid was sound in defence, but Massie and Herd only came into the limelight at rare intervals.
The attack was strong, but lacking in finishing power. The best of the line was undoubtedly Munro. He was fast and clever, and sent across numerous dangerous centres. Walker, his partner, was a fine forcing player, but inclined too much to individualism.
Considering he was making his League debut, McLeod, at centre, did quite well. Anderson (A. M.), who came in for McKenzie, shaped well, and, against a less safe back than Cooper, R. Johnstone would have been very dangerous.

Source: Press & Journal, 26th November 1934

Matt Armstrong described his goal in this match as his "most thrilling" in an article in the Evening Express of 27th September 1945.