Visitors Ross County defeated an under-strength Vale side on Sunday in a re-arranged friendly, following Tuesday night's postponement, in an entertaining game played in ideal conditions and in good spirits at Princess Royal Park.
The Banffer's took an early lead in the match thanks to a rare Levi Stephen counter with County equalising soon before the break.
The second half started brightly with both sides scoring within three minutes of the re-start but it was the First Division outfit who finished the stronger and perhaps deservedly won the contest with two further goals although Vale had plenty chances of their own to force at the very least a creditable draw.

Vale were unable to field their usual back four as Scott Anderson was unavailable leaving Nigel Montgomery to slot-in alongside Bryan Dlugonski at the heart of the home defence. With Ian Murray rested Ritchie Taylor started alongside Mike McKenzie upfront. The Banffer's were also missing midfielders; Darren McAllister, Paul Urquhart and Mark Chisholm but welcomed back Ryan Pressley after his lengthy layoff through injury.
Vale took the lead after only seven minutes when Levi Stephen ran at the County defence before playing a one-two with Ritchie Taylor on the edge of the area. Taylor's return pass split the visitor's defence allowing Stephen the time and space to drill the ball home from 12 yards. Vale almost increased their advantage when Barry Stephen's low cross was deflected narrowly over his own cross bar by the County centre-half.
Pressley hit the side netting when picked out by Stephen's deep cross to the far post and Dolan passed up a good opportunity when clean through on goal before the visitors equalised with a well-taken goal eight minutes from the interval.

The second half was barely seconds old when the visitors went into the lead when a tamely struck effort from 18-yards eluded Thompson and sneaked in off the keeper's left-hand post. Vale's reply was immediate when McKenzie latched onto a loose ball inside the 18-yard box before dispatching it under the County keeper to square the match at two-a-piece. Taylor and Dolan combined well inside the penalty area but the latter's shot was blocked by the legs of the visiting keeper. Dlugonski did well to block in front of his own goal as County carved open the home defence before Taylor missed a good chance at the other end when he headed wide from close range after a pin-point cross from Barry Stephen. Taylor had another opportunity soon after but the County keeper saved with his legs as the striker wriggled clear of the visitor's defence. County took the lead when a looping header dropped into Thompson's net following a free kick out on the left, which the home defence failed to clear. Vale Substitute Kyle Rae, who had replaced Ritchie Taylor, had a decent chance when the visiting keeper's clearance fell straight to his feet but the youngster could only find the waiting County number one when he returned the ball goal wards. The visitors sealed their victory with two minutes remaining with a cracking strike from 25-yards, which left Thompson with no chance

Vale:

Thompson, Dolan, Kinghorn, Brown, Dlugonski, Montgomery, B. Stephen (Kidd 40), L. Stephen, McKenzie, Taylor (Rae 80), Pressley
Subs not used: Speirs

Referee: M. Ritchie