Falkirk 3 - 2 Aberdeen

Two Goal Lead Lost by Over-Confidence.,/p> Falkirk were two goals in arrears with twenty minutes to go, and seemed well beaten. Then they got a goal from a free-kick, and from a listless, slow-moving company they developed into fighting force.

They tore into the badly-shaken Dons, and within two minutes were on level terms. Four minutes from the end they had turned what seemed certain defeat into glorious victory.
It was an amazing transformation.
There can be no excuse for Aberdeen. They threw away a two-goal lead through over-confidence. The same mistake will not have to repeated on January 26, when the teams meet in the first round of the Scottish Cup at Brockville.

The Better Team.

On Saturday there could be questioning which was the better football team. Falkirk were outclassed for seventy minutes.
The Pittodrie attack, well supported by the wing halves, played delightful football, and often had the Bairns' defence in a tangle. In comparison, Falkirk were slow, and their attacks were badly organised.
It must be admitted, however, that Baxter, when he shot narrowly over, and Bartram, when he struck the upright, both came within ace of scoring in the opening period.
Fifteen minutes had elapsed when Aberdeen took the lead. Armstrong nodded a hefty Cooper clearance to Mills, and raced forward to accept the return pass and smash the ball into the net through Hamilton's legs.

Too Cocksure.

Following this goal and after the second, Aberdeen should have increased their total, but they became too cocksure, and there was still a lack of punch at close quarters.
The second counter, scored three minutes after the start of the second half, was a dandy. With a mazy run Mills drew the Falkirk defence towards him, and then sent the ball forward for Armstrong to beat Hamilton.
Twenty minutes from the end McGill conceded a free-kick just outside the penalty area. The Aberdeen players lined up to present a solid wall, but Low's shot went into the net off a defender.
Two minutes later Gavin failed get the ball in a tackle with Bartram. The centre sent out to Batchelor, and the winger rushed in to bang the ball into the net. With four minutes go Baxter accepted a pass to slam the ball into the net and give Falkirk two precious points.

A Desperate Falkirk.

Smith, in the Aberdeen goal, had little do, and he had no chance with the shots that beat him. The backs played well until the closing twenty minutes, when they became shaky in face of a desperate Falkirk.
Cooper was the better of the two.
Thomson and Fraser performed creditably, both in defence and attack, but they, too, became upset by the homesters' unexpected revival.
Gavin found the burly Bartram difficult to hold, but stuck grimly to his task.
Mills was the outstanding player afield, his ball control and distribution being remarkably accurate considering the heavy state of the ground and the greasy ball.
Beynon, on the right, was in sprightly mood, and gave Hamill an uncomfortable ninety minutes. Armstrong was a dashing and dangerous leader, but neither Smith (R.) nor Adam, although they tried hard, met with any marked success.

Hamilton Good.

Falkirk have a serviceable 'keeper in Hamilton, while Nisbet was the better of a pair of unimpressive backs.
The new half-back formation of Low, Shankley and Molloy did not set the heather on fire, and never got a grip of the Aberdeen attack. Low played well in the closing stages.
The attack did not knit together. Bartram distributed the ball well, but suffered from lack of support. Batchelor was a dangerous right winger, and Cabrelli one of the hardest workers afield.

Source: Press & Journal, 31st December 1934