Deveronvale made hard weather of defeating last season's 'wooden spoonists', Rothes, at Princess Royal Park on Saturday.
A single strike from Mark Chisholm early in the match earned the Banffers the three points but they will have to play a lot better on Tuesday evening if they have any aspirations of picking up the Aberdeenshire Cup.
The game started off rather low key with the visitors giving as good as they got. C. Smith's free kick in a dangerous position was well charged down by Vale's defensive wall before McAllister had the ball in the Rothes net but the winger had wandered offside and the goal was quite rightly disallowed.
Brown went on a mazy run before firing at goal with his left foot, however debutant keeper, Belcher, saved well at full stretch. The Rothes number one saved his side again moments later when he held onto McAllister's snap-shot from 20 yards, at the second attempt.
CHISHOLM opened the scoring with a shot from the edge of the area, which bobbled over the diving Belcher after good work by Murray set up the chance. Murray had a drive well tipped over by Belcher before Esson cleared Chisholm's effort off his own goal line as Vale looked to kill off their opponents. Ord headed wide at the back post as the home defence lost their concentration for a moment on a rare Rothes attack. Murray then knocked the ball over the bar after Belcher failed to connect with a McAllister centre. Brown was next to pass up an opportunity when he also skied his effort off a Stephen corner kick. Belcher did well to parry a Murray free kick around the post before McKenzie blasted high over the top from 20 yards. Smith's free kick at the other end was deflected for a corner and then Ord's sliced effort went agonising past Speir's upright with the keeper well beaten.

As the second period started Mathieson saw his close range effort go just wide and as the Vale broke Chisholm scooped over the top from close range after Brown had flicked a header on, at the near post. Murray somehow completely missed the ball in front of goal after substitute Colin MacRonald had swung in a low cross from the left.
Dolan volleyed wide of the post before Stephen hit the side netting as Vale looked for the elusive second. Speirs had to look alert to pluck out an Ord cross with Mathieson lurking at the back stick. Murray came close to scoring with a 25-yard free kick, which fizzed past Belcher and the upright before substitute Derek Craigie completely missed his shot in front of goal.
Stephen then blazed over from distance as Vale failed to find their range in front of goal. Although never really tested at the back the home side held on for the victory, which sets them up nicely for the cup final on Tuesday evening.