Aberdeen 3 - 1 East Fife

First Win for Two Months - Against League Leaders

A GENERAL levelling-up process seems to be taking shape in the Scottish League.
With a third of the programme completed no club has been able to establish a definite lead, and Aberdeen's 3-1 win over East Fife on Saturday actually put them within six points of the Fifers, who retain the leadership despite this reverse.

While this state ot affairs must not be taken as an indication that the Pittodrie troubles are over, it should be a spur to the players in their efforts to climb clear of the relegation zone.
The victory over the league leaders was the Dons' first for two months.
There is still considerable scope for improvement in the play of the side. East Fife's form fell far below what was expected from a team at the top of the League. Aberdeen were not so much better, but they had Waddell and Kelly - the two big successes of the match.

Defensive Forwards

Massie's task was not made any easier by McVean, who was unable to stop Brown, the best inside forward afield. In the first half the Methil left wing triangle produced some of the best moves of the game, and twice in rapid succession Brown got over crosses only to see Fleming miss.
The inside right was trying to live up to his reputation as a hard-hitting forward and blazed the ball high over when it would have been easier to place the ball in the net.
Apart from this Fleming was seldom seen, so well was he policed by McLaughlin.
Aberdeen's strategy appeared to be to keep the inside men playing a semi-defensive role. As a result Kelly was often out on his own against the entire East Fife defence, but his very enthusiasm and willingness to chase any loose ball made him a menace, and his hattrick was a fitting reward.

Off His Mark

Kelly got most support from Hamilton, and it was the inside right who supplied the pass for the opening goal in the dying minutes of the first half. The centre was quickly off his mark, and although Clark got a hand to the ball he could not stay its progress to the net.
East Fife came out fighting in the second half, and within a minute Waddell had kicked off the line after Johnstone had been beaten by a header from Morris.
Aitken was giving Brown and Duncan close support, and there was always a threat of danger on the visitors' left. A cross from this source led to Black equalising in seven minutes.
The game might have gone either way until bad marking by the Methil defenders gave his second goal with twenty minutes to go. He was allowed to run on to free kick by McLaughlin and beat Clark with a header.
Five minutes from time Kelly got his third and best goal. McLaughlin made a hefty clearance and the Dons' centre outstripped Finlay in a dash up the middle. He veered to the left, and as Clark came from his goal Kelly cleverly slipped the ball past him into the far side of the goal.

Source: Press & Journal, 22nd November 1948