Deveronvale played their first home friendly of the forth-coming season when they entertained First Division side Ross County, last Wednesday evening.
After two relatively easy wins against Golspie and Lossiemouth United the Banff players were in for a much sterner test as the visitors fielded a strong side which included ex-St. Mirren striker Steve McGarry, who was on trial looking to secure a permanent contract with County.
Vale fans got the chance to see new close-season signings; Colin McRonald, Scott Anderson, Levi Stephen and Ritchie Taylor in action for the first time although Scott Anderson is well known to the Banff fans due to his two previous stints at Princess Royal Park.
As the game got under way both keepers were called into action early on without seriously being troubled. The visitors were quick to find their passing game and took the lead on the quarter hour mark. Chisholm lost possession in his own half and was duly punished when McCulloch bulleted a fierce drive past Speirs from close range.
Speirs pulled off a fine save to keep the home side in the game before County scored again in the 23rd minute. Canning rising to head a free kick past Speirs from 10 yards with the Vale defence static. Ritchie found himself in space inside the County box but the new signing pulled his snap shot wide of the target. Kinghorn then had a header off a deep Dolan cross, saved by the visiting keeper as Vale tried to get back into the game.

Vale manager made eight changes for the second half which seemed to take some of the urgency out of the match although Robbie Brown's crunching tackle on Perry didn't go down well with some of the County players or Referee Ritchie, who was quick on the scene to give Brown a severe talking to before play continued.
Barry Stephen, who spent the latter part of last season on loan to Sunnybank Juniors, was in fine form giving the visiting Full-Back plenty to think about as he jinked up and down the right wing. The latter did have the ball in the County net but the Referee Ritchie had already blown for an earlier infringement.
The visitors scored a third when they carved open the Vale defence to complete the scoring.
Live-wire Barry Stephen fired just over from 18 yards before forcing the County keeper into a relatively easy save with a long range shot which carried little power.
Speirs saved bravely at the feet of McCulloch as the striker looked to score his second after breaking free from the Vale rearguard.