Hibernian 1 - 1 Aberdeen

By NORMAN MACDONALD

THE news from Pittodrie this morning was reassuring. In spite of the cracking pace and terrific strain of Saturday’s tie Easter Road Aberdeen F.C. were able to report a clean bill of health.
The one doubt concerns Hugh Hay, the Dons’ inside left. At the moment it is not certain whether or not he will be able to obtain permission from his Army unit to travel for Wednesday’s replay at Pittodrie.
The club will make every effort to secure his release and no doubt, if necessary, will be prepared to fly him north from London on Wednesdav morning.
The Dons’ prospects of reaching the semi-final stages of the Scottish Cup cannot lightly dismissed. They put up grand show at Easter Road and only failed to K.O the fancied Hibs by eight minutes.
All honour to the Pittodrie defenders for their courageous and resolute display at Easter Road They held the lead for seventy-two minutes and defied the best efforts of Scotland’s ace attacking quintet until eight minutes from the end.

Worried Team.

Can they improve on this performance at Pittodrie? The answerer is "yes," if the defence carries on the good work and the lads in front rank can find that extra bit of devil.
It was Hibs who were in trouble on Saturday. From the time Rodger gave Aberdeen the lead ten minutes after the start they were a worried team.
But the fighting spirit of the Edinburgh side is not in doubt. They never relaxed their efforts and in the closing fifteen minutes every Hibs player, except goalkeeper Younger, moved into the attack.

Fatal Lapse

Buchanan pulled the equaliser out of the bag eight minutes from the final whistle, and this was the one fatal lapse by the Aberdeen defenders, who must have won the admiration of the 47,500 crowd. 
The Hibs' right half was left unmarked for a moment when Smith whipped over a free kick from the right and he headed the ball into the net.
A big factor in the Dons’ success was the fact that the wing half-backs, Harris and Allster, never gave the Hibs’ inside forwards, Turnbull and Johnstone a chance to settle.
I doubt if Harris ever played better. He was the outstanding man on the field - indefatigable and relentless in defence and, in the first half, strong and courageous in attack.

Grimly Determined.

Young at cente-half, completed a trio of grimly determined Aberdeen half-backs. He barred the way to goal for Reilly, Scotland's No. 1 centre-forward.
The backs also played well and veteran Davie Shaw played a real captai's part. The left back was the coolest manon the field and by his example he frequently restored repose to the Dons' rearguard when it threatened to falter in the heat of Hibs' second-half onslaughts.
Martin and Mitchell, too, made a valuable contribution. The ’keeper on several occasions stood between the Edinburgh attack and success.

Buckley Dangerous

The Aberdeen forwards can be more dangerous than they were at Easter Road. They were lively in the first half, but hardly assertive enough at close quarters.
Buckley was the most dangerous attacker and his tendency to leave the middle had an upsetting effect on the Hibs' defence.
The Easter Road rear division was rattled on Saturday and the Dons’ forards may well develop t he winning punch on their own ground on Wednesday.

Source: Evening Express, 16th March 1953