A hotly disputed goal five minutes from time saw Vale lose to Forres for the second game running in an end-to-end affair played at a frantic pace considering the soaring May-Day weather and the fact that nothing was at stake other than pride in both sides' last league game of the season. With the game heading for a fair enough goal-less draw substitute Sean Scott, looking a good 2 or 3 yards offside, ran through on Ross Bremner's goal before crossing low into the six-yard box leaving Mathieson the easiest of finishes to grab all three points for homeside, much to the annoyance of the Vale players and management.
With Paul Urquhart and Stuart Gray unavailable following their dismissals in the League Cup semi-final, Gregg Carrol was forced to make one or two changes to his line-up but instead decided to try one or two things out given the unimportance of the match.
With his side having to settle for fourth place in the league table Carrol gave local youngsters Paul Munro and Grant Noble second half run outs and both gave a decent account of themselves in midfield and upfront respectively.
Carrol also rested Fans' and Players' "Player of the Season" Barrie Stephen, deciding to give Gordon Farmer a slot instead and Nigel Montgomery kept his place in defence after a decent showing when he replaced Robbie Brown in Vale's last match against the Can-cans.

As a taster of what was to follow and within a minute of kick off Terry Kidd fired over from 20-yards and at the other end Black did likewise as both sides set out their stall with no intension of taking the game lightly considering what little there was at stake. A long Neil Whyte throw caused problems for the visiting defence especially once Ryan Green had flicked on at the near post but stand-in right-back Darren McAllister got in ahead of danger-man Charlie Brown to hack clear.
Ross Bremner then brilliantly denied Brown with a fine stop after the inform striker had played a one-two with Green and ran on to the reverse pass with only the big keeper to beat.
At the other end a Mark Chisholm through ball found Jamie Watt in good position inside the 18-yard box but the wee striker's finish was disappointingly straight at stand-in veteran keeper Jim Calder.

A great timely McLean challenge on Terry Kidd thwarted the Vale number seven as he weaved his way into a good shooting position at the edge of the Mechanic's box and as the hosts broke Steve Dolan needed all his pace and experience to clear Whyte's attempted cut-back for a fruitless corner.
Mike McKenzie had a net-bound effort blocked as Vale applied a five-minute piece of pressure on the Can-cans goal without forcing Calder into any kind of save.
Calder was however called into action five minutes later when defender McLean diverted a Farmer low cross goalwards but the keeper was equal to it, holding the ball right on the goal line.
At the other end opposite number Ross Bremner pulled off a terrific double save when he firstly denied Brown after he had dribbled his way past the Vale defence as if they weren't there and as the ball sailed into the air former Vale skipper Steven Rattray looked sure to bury it into the unguarded net but Bremner used all six foot plus of his frame to tip the ball over the cross bar.
With thirty-five minutes of the contest gone the only surprise was that neither side had scored as players piled forward at both ends looking for the all-important opener.
Indeed Vale did come mighty close to breaking the deadlock when Jamie Watt's well-struck freekick clipped the head of one of the defensive wall on it's way into the top corner from 20-odd yards out. Watt also managed to get his head to the resultant corner kick but Calder made a rather theatrical save on his goal line to thwart the Vale number ten.
Right on the stroke of half-time Robbie Brown burst into the Mechanics box running onto a McKenzie threaded pass but again Calder came up with the goods getting a strong hand to divert "Brooner's" accurate drive over the top and to safety

A through ball from Ryan Pressley, who had just replaced Gordon Farmer, found Darren McAllister scampering into the Mechanic's penalty box but his cut-back found no takers inside the six-yard area. Vale won their tenth corner of the afternoon and it could so easily have paid handsomely for them if only Pressley could have directed his header on target from close range after Calder had completely missed McAllister's flighted cross to the waiting "Pres" at the back post.

It proved a costly miss for the visitors, as within two minutes the home side had grabbed the winner although it has to be said in very controversial circumstances.
A long ball over the top saw Sean Scott dart through clearly offside but the linesman's flag remained down and as the ball was crossed low into the six-yard box Mathieson was first to meet it and although Bremner did well to save the initial strike the ball fell kindly for the scorer to force it home from close range

An incensed Gregg Carrol almost got himself in serious trouble with the referee after raging his anger at the stand-side official but the man in black, Mr Baxter, was in lenient mood and let the manager off with just a firm word in his ear.

Following another defeat and a trophy-less campaign Vale boss Gregg Carrol chose to look on the positive when he said, "yes it's very disappointing to have lost by a one goal margin for the third game in a row but with Paul (Urquhart) & Stuart (Gray) out we've chosen to bleed a couple of young lads today and both did well. It's the perfect time to give these guys a game and hopefully it will stand us and them in good stead for the future".
"On reflection over the season we've had our ups and downs as well as our behind the scenes problems so it's not entirely a surprise that we've finished the season without lifting a cup and hopefully this will make us stronger when August comes round and it starts all over again. I recognise that we do need a few players to bring our squad up to the standard we have set ourselves over the past couple of years and will be active during the close season to bring these new faces to Princess Royal Park and put in a fresh challenge for honours next season, something which is now expected at the club" added Carrol whilst reflecting over the past season.

Forres
Calder, #Black, Simmers, MacLean, Sharp, Rattray, Whyte, C. Brown (#Scott 69), Green (Hardie 89), McIntosh (Stables 69), Mathieson
Subs not used: - Grigor, Craig

Vale:
Bremner, Dolan (Cpt.), McAllister, Chisholm, Dlugonski, Montgomery, Kidd, R. Brown (Munro 46), McKenzie, Watt (Noble 62), Farmer (Pressley 69)

Subs not used: - Stephen, Phimister (GK)


Referee:B. Baxter