With Scott Anderson suspended, following his sending off in last season's Qualifying Cup final, and David Henderson sold to neighbours Huntly, Vale stalwart Nigel Montgomery was drafted into the heart of the Vale defence as they travelled to Nairn for the second time in August to begin the defence of their crown.
The result earlier in the month was a convincing 3-1 win for the Banffers but boss Gregg Carrol was on his guard, as he knew only too well that the re-match would be a completely different game and that the 'wee county' would be out for some sweet revenge over their guests.
The good news for the Banff side was the inclusion of Robbie Brown in their starting line-up, the midfielder had managed to shake off the injury he picked up at Wick last Saturday and was in his usual position in the Vale's engine room alongside Levi Stephen.

A blustery wind welcomed both sets of players as Vale kicked off into the stiff breeze. Nairn keeper Mike Rae was first to be called into action, pulling off a fabulous save from Mike McKenzie's close range header, as he looked certain to score. The keeper had firstly blocked Dolan's vicious drive before getting a strong hand to McKenzie's effort, as the ball broke loose off the Nairn number one.
Chisholm just failed to capitalise on Murray's headed flick-on before the visitors went into a deserved lead.
Mark CHISHOLM smashing a crisp volley past Rae from 16 yards after MacRonald had picked him out with a deft cross from the left.
Goal maker MacRonald almost doubled Vale's advantage minutes later but he pulled his shot just wide of the post from the edge of the area. Ewing's delicate chip was inches from giving Nairn the equaliser and then Holmes blasted high over the top from a good position after getting in behind Dolan with Vale's defence looking a little bit square. Murray was then picked out by an exquisite Stephen diagonal pass but the striker's low shot rolled past the far post much to the relief of the County defence. Dlugonski needlessly chopped Seaton down in the box and Farquhar made no mistake from the spot to pull County level.
Vale went right up the other end and were very unlucky not to go back in front. Firstly Murray headed against the face of the cross bar with Rae well beaten before the same player knocked a far post cross from MacRonald just past the upright. MacRonald was then downed in the box as he attempted to round the advancing Rae but referee MacDonald booked the Vale player for diving. Rae pulled off another amazing double save to keep the teams level at the break. Murray had broke clear only to see Rae save at his feet and then the keeper got up quickly to thwart Chisholm as he attempted to score from the rebound.

The second half was only three minutes old when Vale went back into the lead. Kinghorn's pinpoint cross onto the penalty spot was expertly guided past the helpless Rae by the head of Mark CHISHOLM, taking the midfielder's tally to six for the season so far. Dolan was next to go down in the box when tackled by Holmes but again the referee saw nothing untoward and play raged on. The home side had to change keepers after Rae picked up a thigh injury and he was replaced between the sticks by Wood.
Speirs did well to change direction and touch Farquhar's deflected shot for a corner as Nairn tried to hit back. Substitute keeper Wood also did well to get his finger tips to a McKenzie rasping drive which looked goal bound as soon as it left the striker's boot but minutes later the keeper could do nothing to prevent the visitor's going further ahead. Murray's twisting run eventually set up MCKENZIE who rifled a right foot shot past the keeper from 20 yards and into the net.
Wood saved his side again as he somehow got a hand to Murray's close range header with MacDonald completing the clearance as the loose ball dropped on the goal line.
The County goal had an amazing escape when Dlugonski's clearance from his own half sailed over the stranded Wood only to come back off the upright and into the keeper's arms. Farquhar pulled a goal back for Nairn when he was allowed too much space in the Vale box before beating Speirs from 16 yards thus setting up a grand-stand finish.
Montgomery had to head clear from under his own cross bar and at the other end, as gaps started to appear, Kinghorn's long range effort drifted agonising past the far post. Referee MacDonald was not lending himself to the Vale support when he again refused to award the visitors a penalty kick. This time it was Murray who looked to have his jersey tugged from behind as tried to latch onto a loose ball in the county box but again play continued.
Barry Stephen replaced the tiring Robbie Brown and was presented with an early opportunity after a mix up in the County defence but his grounder was inches from sneaking in at the post. The last chance of the match fell again to substitute Stephen but this time his attempted lob cleared both Wood and the cross bar with the goal at his mercy.

An well-earned victory for the Banffers in a game, which was overshadowed by some poor refereeing decisions, saw the holders progress into Monday's draw. Boss Gregg Carrol was equally pleased with the win but refused to comment on referee MacDonald's performance, instead praised his players for their hard work against a sticky Nairn County side.