With Ian Murray serving a one game suspension Gregg Carrol was forced to change his line-up for the first time in four games as Keith visited Princess Royal Park on League Cup duty. This second round tie was the first of a double header against the Aberdeenshire side, which will see the pair meet again next Saturday in the league, also at Banff.
Following closely behind Vale's hard fought draw at Huntly on Wednesday evening the players certainly didn't have much time to recover or prepare mentally for today's cup match but it was a welcomed change for the players as their title challenge looks as though it will go down to the wire.
Robbie Brown was also missing from the Vale line-up after bruising ribs during Wednesday's tussle and was replaced in the midfield by Derek Craigie. On the positive front for Vale, Ryan Pressley has returned to training and should be back playing within the next two weeks.
Captain Nigel Montgomery, making his 500th appearance for his hometown team, led his side out before a minute's silence was observed for the late Queen Mother.
Vale won the toss and elected to play against the stiff breeze, which blew down 'Princess Royal', in the first period.
Jamie Watt had the first chance of the encounter blasting wide after a neat lay-off by his strike partner Gary Nicol and at the other end Derek Craigie, playing in his unfamiliar role, cleared the danger at the back post as the game started at a frantic pace. Derek Nicol then fired well over the top which was followed by a low drive by Brown which flashed across the face of the home goal and out for a goal kick. Thain showed a strong pair of hands as he gathered the ball off Chisholm's head before Morrison's timely tackle thwarted Watt as the striker looked to pull the trigger. Smith was looking dangerous as he dropped deep to link up the play and tested Thompson with a low drive, which the keeper held comfortably. Henderson was in the right place to clear the ball off his own goal line following a Keith corner and then Still blazed high over as the visitor's looked for the opener. However it was the home side that took the lead after 39 minutes. More and Urquhart combined on the right before sending in a tempting low cross which was met by CHISHOLM at the near post to glance the ball past Thain from 6 yards. Urquhart then played a one-two with Watt before firing high and wide from the edge of the area.

More was released through on goal by Nicol but the far-side linesman had his flag up quickly for offside before Chisholm came close to increasing the Vale's lead from Watt's tempting cross. A rare mistake by Kinghorn saw the defender loose possession inside the Keith half and as the visitors broke dangerously, Thompson rushed from his line to bravely dive at the feet of Smith to clear the danger.
Henderson did just enough to put Smith off as the latter looked favourite to meet Donaldson's deep cross from the left. Craigie then fired high over from distance as the game flowed from end to end in real cup-tie fashion.
Vale doubled their lead when CHISHOLM rose to meet a deep Montgomery free kick at the back post to bullet a header past the helpless Thain from close range. Urquhart delayed his shot when well placed and then More caused havoc in the visitor's 6-yard box before Cheyne eventually cleared the ball out for a corner as Vale looked to kill off the tie. Jamie WATT got his name on the score sheet to seal the win for the home side when he collected a Montgomery pass before slotting the ball past Thain from 18 yards with the aid of a slight deflection. Barry Thompson saved well from ex-Vale defender Dod Simmers, as he broke free through the Vale rearguard only to fire straight down the throat of the big goalie. The sponsors Man-of-the-Match award went to Mark Chisholm.