Aberdeen 2 - 0 Falkirk

Played at Aberdeen, before 6000 spectators. The home team got first away, but Lieshman transferred play to the other end, where Simpson tried a shot, which went wide. Following a spell of equal play, Aberdeen pressed hard, and Boyle sent in a fast hard shot, which found its way past McArthur. That was the only point in the first period. The first twenty minutes of the second period were devoted to smart exchanges, in which Falkirk, though getting clear several times, finished poorly. Well on to time, Aberdeen played well for another goal, and Lennie succeeded in netting the ball. A hard game ended:- Aberdeen, two goals; Falkirk, nothing. Gate, £120; Stands, £17 - total, £137.

Source: The Scotsman 25/12/1905

Beautiful weather favoured the return Scottish League fixture between Aberdeen and Falkirk at Pittodrie Park. The first engagement at Falkirk earlier in the season resulted in a draw of two goals each. Both teams were without the services of several of their regular players, but the vacancies were filled by capable substitutes. Curiously enough, the half-back line on each side showed alterations. Halkett and H. Low were absent from Aberdeen's eleven, W. Low and Robertson coming in, while Harvey displaced G. McNicol in the centre. Anderson and Raisbeck (half-backs) were unable to turn out for Falkirk. The teams lined up as follows:-
Aberdeen: Macfarlane; Boyle, Gault; W. Low, Strang, "Gowie" Robertson; Robertson, Edgar, Harvey, McAulay, Lennie.
Falkirk: MacArthur; Leishman, Gordon; Reid, McPherson, Murdoch; Simpson, Collins, Porteous, Mitchell, Campbell.
Referee - Mr. Riddle, Edinburgh.

Aberdeen started operations, playing two wards the pavilion goal. There was practically no wind, and the choice of ends did not favour either side. The opening stages so Aberdeen break away on the left, Lennie working his way nicely up the field, but ultimately the ball went behind. Play was very quiet for a time, and altogether of an uninteresting character. Falkirk gradually transferred and the game to wards Macfarlane, who had little difficulty in clearing a long shot from the centre forward. The players on both sides were inclined to take matters easily, but on one location Leishman, right back, almost let his side down through hesitating to clear. McAulay pounced on the ball and made off before the Falkirk back could recover himself. Quickly the inside left passed out to Lennie, who at once made straight for goal only to send the ball behind ere he could steadied himself to shoot. The Aberdeen left wing did most of the forward work, Lennie being splendidly fed by McAulay whose passing was well nigh perfect. Apart from this, however, the match so far was a comparatively were one. There was plenty of strong kicking, but much of it was of little account. Falkirk depended a great deal in driving the ball straight ahead, and there was little attempt at combination. The first really good shot came from Harvey, who tried to beat McArthur, from about 20 yards out, with a fast, low shot, but the goalkeeper picked up very smartly. Falkirk next had a turn at the other end, but offside spoiled a likely chance. Aberdeen, however, were kept on the defensive for some time, Simpson, the right winger, dropping the ball cleverly into the centre. Three times Macfarlane cleared in as many minutes, but the efforts at scoring were not deadly, and the goalkeeper generally had plenty of time to clear. Smart tackling by "Gowie" Robertson and Wilfred Low prevented the Falkirk wing forwards from getting dangerous. Simpson, however, with a few opportunities that came his way, made the most of them, and required careful watching. Once more the Aberdeen left wing pair were set agoing, and would probably have ended a fine run with a goal had the right-back not stopped their progress by wilfully handling the ball. The spectators by this time began to exhibit signs of impatience at the poor fair served up by the players, and round the enclosure there were frequent shouts off "Play up!" The Falkirk right winger got off, and when in a favourable position he crossed over to the centre. First Boyle and then Macfarlane failed to clear, and more by good luck than anything else the Aberdeen goal was saved from being captured. The local half-backs were prominent for good work, but the forwards were undecided in their movements. A fine centre by Robertson enlivened matters a little, and then McAulay twice tried to beat McArthur, but there was no pace behind the shots. The backs on both sides got plenty of work, but, as a rule, the experienced little difficulty in coping with the opposing forwards. A particularly good bit of play by Simpson brought Falkirk to the Aberdeen goal, where Boyle cleared a dangerous centre by the right winger. Falkirk defended stubbornly when Aberdeen were monopolising the play. Lennie sent across several beautifully-placed corners, from one of which McAulay almost opened the scoring. After 35 minutes' play Aberdeen took the lead, Boyle scoring a brilliant goal from fully 50 yards range. The right-back got the ball after it had been sent out by one of the Falkirk players, following upon a corner by Lennie. The goalkeeper had no chance with the shot, which came right through a crowd of players, and altogether the goal was finely taken, and was the redeeming feature of the much up to this stage. Falkirk made a strong attempt to equalise, but Aberdeen had the best of matters, and easily held their one-goal lead up to half-time.

The second half opened with Falkirk playing strongly to reduce the leeway. Their forwards, however, were weak both in combination and shooting abilities. What little football was shown was principally confined to the Aberdeen left wing, where Lennie repeatedly brought off clever runs. Backed up by "Gowie" Robertson and McAulay, but the outside left could hardly be kept in check by the Falkirk defence. The visiting backs, however, were very reliable, garden in particular displaying rare skill in clearing many of Lennie's crosses. Harvey got away in the centre, but shot too soon, and might have worked his way further afield before finally driving for goal. The game was mostly in favour of a Aberdeen, but Falkirk made an occasional spurt, but failed to gain any advantage at close quarters. The persistent pressure of the Aberdeen left wing kept the spectators on the tiptoe of excitement, but, taken all over, the quality of the play otherwise was so poor that the crowd was pleased to cheer the slightest bit of good work on the part of either team. A magnificent save by McArthur from a shot by Lennie helped to keep up the interest in the game, and immediately afterwards one of the Falkirk players, by accident, saved an almost certain goal, the ball rebounding off his foot. Boyle next had a try, but shot high over the bar. The Falkirk inside right went off the field for a time, but even when he resumed the visiting forwards made little impression. Lennie scored a second goal for Aberdeen after several unsuccessful attempts, and thereafter Falkirk confined play to the Aberdeen end, mainly owing to their backs taking up such a position that the Pittodrie forwards were continually placed offside in their own half. To the close the game was uninteresting, and there was an absence of really good play on the part of either team.

The gate amounted to £120 0s 10 1/2d; stands, £17 6 5d; total, £137 7s 3 1/2d.

Source: Aberdeen Journal, 25th December 1905