Airdrie 3 - 4 Aberdeen

Score Three Goals in Hectic Three Minutes

WESTLAND ONLY WEAK LINK IN TEAM

Aberdeen are on top of the world. Their odd goal in seven victory over Airdrie at Broomfield was a smart performance. They thoroughly merited their win, and but for mistakes by Westland, which led to two of the 'Onians' goals, would have emerged victors by a bigger margin.
Set to face the wind and sun in the opening period, Aberdeen had hardly settled down when Airdrie were one up. Law got his head to a Mooney cross, and before Westland knew what had happened he was bundled into the net with the ball by Connor.

On Their Mettle

This reverse, instead of upsetting the Dons, served only to put them on their mettle. For twenty minutes they produced football the like of which has seldom been seen at Broomfield.
With the wing halves backing up in great style, the forwards by means of swift, low passes moved downfield like a well-oiled machine - it was football de luxe. Little wonder that the Airdrie defence crumpled up.
Three goals came in as many minutes, and every one was beautifully executed. The first came in sixteen minutes, when Armstrong carried the ball through, drew the defence, and pushed It forward for Lang to find the corner of the net with a fine drive.
The homesters were not given time to regain their breath. Armstrong nodded down a Beynon corner-kick, and Mills slammed the ball into the net. From the re-centre the Dons raced down the field again, and Armstrong rose to cleverly head home a Lang cross.

Often Dangerous

Although Aberdeen were often dangerous again they never recaptured the brilliant form of these twenty minutes.
All credit to Airdrie for the plucky manner in which they fought back after these shattering blows. They reduced the leeway five minutes from the interval when Westland fisted a free-kick by Shaw from just over the centre line into the roof of the net.
With the wind behind them it was expected that the Dons would register more goals in the second half. This idea was strengthened when McKenzie netted three minutes after the start. Lang broke through on the left and sent the ball to Armstrong. The centre, seeing McAllister almost top of him, cutely allowed the ball to go between his legs to McKenzie, who ran forward to place it the net.
Aberdeen seemed content with a 4-2 lead, and not until Law netted from a Mooney corner ten minutes from the end did they take matters in hand again. In the remaining minutes Wilson saved splendidly from Armstrong and Benyon, but, let it be said, both players might have counted had they taken more care with their shots.
Westland was the weak link in the Aberdeen defence. He might well have prevented the first two goals, but the loss of them may give him valuable experience.
Cooper and McGill were a sound pair of backs. Mooney gave the right back a good deal of trouble, but Cooper kept a cool head.

Gavin Good in Defence

Gavin played a good defensive game and saw to it that the nippy Connor got few chances. Thomson and Fraser were seen at their best during Aberdeen's dazzling twenty minutes. Subsequently their play never attained the same standard. Thomson was the better the two, Fraser falling away badly after the interval.
The forwards played well, and there were fewer chances missed than has been the case in previous matches this season. Armstrong led the line with skill and intelligence, and his distribution was first-class.
McKenzie was a clever schemer all through, while Mills was a dangerous attacker in the first half. He faded out somewhat after the interval.
Both Lang and Benyon played well and were ever dangerous. The Welshman was the more prominent, but only because got more of the ball.

Plucky Home Defence

The Airdrie defence, in which Law was outstanding, fought pluckily. Wilson, Airdrie's Amateur 'keeper who hails from Inverurie, had one or two clever saves.
Murray was the best of a half line which was too seldom seen in attack. Law and Connor took the honours in attack, but the line did not knit together.

Source: Press & Journal, 16th September 1935