The Maroons opened well and Camy Keith saw an eight yard shot blocked by Steve Dolan before another quick break by Keith saw Stuart Walker with an opportunity which he squandered by shooting wide.

The Vale made Keith pay for these early misses by going ahead in the 10^th minute.  Steve Dolan popped up on the right wing and from his cross to the back post Mark Smith found the target with a deflected shot.

Chirs Mountford should have made it 2-0 short afterwards but from six yards he headed over the bar, before Keith crept back into the game with Jamie Lennox' audacious 30 yard lobbed effort which flew just over the bar.

Five minutes before the break new boy Connor Rennie cleared a net bound Kris Niddrie header off the line to ensure the Banffers went in a goal to the good at the interval.

The Vale went two up five minutes after the break, referee Scott Macdonald played a great advantage which allowed Mike McKenzie to slip the ball through to Graeme Rodger and he clipped the ball under the advancing Andy Shearer from 14 yards.

McKenzie then hit the crossbar with a brilliant 20 yard lob and in the resulting melee in the box Chris Mountford saw a header cleared off the line by Jonny Watt.

Keeper Andy Shearer was having a busy