Aberdeen 4 - 1 Hamilton

Decisive Revenge for Last Season's Defeat

ARMSTRONG SHINES IN DONS' ATTACK

Aberdeen avenged last season's semi-final defeat at the hands of Hamilton Academicals when they ousted the Lanarkshire combination in the first round of the Scottish Cup competition at Pittodrie yesterday.

The Dons had no sooner left the field of play than their cup of joy was filled to overflowing when word came through that they were favoured with a home draw in the second round.
They thoroughly merited their victory over Hamilton. They were the better-balanced team fore and aft, and the margin of their victory in no way flatters them. Admittedly the visitors were handicapped by an injury to Wilson, their centre-forward, who had to leave the field just prior to the interval with a leg Injury, and only resumed for a short spell in the second half, but even before the mishap the Dons were playing like a winning team.

Hamilton Inferior

At full strength for the first time since December 7, Aberdeen played excellent football in the first half, but, strangely enough, three of their four goals were scored in the second period.
Hamilton were but shadow of the team that reached the final of the competition last year, and at no time during the game did they look like winning. Whole-hearted and strong, they never gave in, but they lacked the cohesion and understanding which was always in evidence in the Aberdeen ranks.
If Hamilton were handicapped by the loss of Wilson, Aberdeen were almost at as big a disadvantage in that Thomson, Mills and McGill were all injured during the second period.
Although Mills was the actual scorer of the first goal, netted in the seventh minute, Armstrong did the leading-up work. This point laid the foundations for the Dons' success.
Playing with fine spirit and understanding, Aberdeen gave the Douglas Park defence a great deal of trouble, and were a trifle unfortunate not to increase their lead on more than one occasion before the Interval.

Heavy Ground a Handicap

The heavy ground took some of the "fire" out of both sets of players, and during the first fifteen minutes of the second period the pace became much slower. Gradually, however, the homesters started to make the ball do the work, and their efforts were crowned with success.
The Aberdeen defence was steady and sound. Smith in goal had one or two good saves, but there were some who thought he might have prevented the goal. He was beaten by a shot from Harrison from the edge the penalty area, but he seemed to slip in making for the ball
McGill and Cooper were resolute tacklers and strong kickers, and generally had the measure of the Hamilton attack. McGill was injured in the closing stages and finished at outside left.
Falloon experienced difficulty, first with Wilson and later with Park, but the Irishman was game and held his own. Fraser and Thomson kept a good grip of the Accies' inside men, and Fraser worked hard to keep his own attack moving.
Beynon was Aberdeen's most sprightly forward in the first half. His amazing turn of speed often had the Hamilton defence at a loss, and both his goals were splendidly taken. McKenzie, his partner, was one of the hardest workers afield, and netted one the goals, but his distribution was of a poor standard.