Jim Phimister made his swansong appearance for Vale as they confirmed fourth spot in the league table with a comfortable if not inspired performance against foot-of-the-table Rothes in the Banffers final remaining away fixture of the season.
Karl Farrimond and Grant Noble scored first half doubles to see Vale in at the interval four-two up which made the second half a bit of a non event although Mark Smith did manage to get his name on the score sheet with a looping header, his thirteenth of the campaign, right on full time.
With Kenny Gilbert, Paul Urquhart & Robbie Brown suspended Gregg Carrol was forced into a few changes to his line-up following Wednesday's narrow but impressive victory at Fraserburgh but few would have expected Ross Bremner to be dropped in favour of forty-plus goalie Jim Phimister, who still has an important role with the Banffers as goalkeeper coach it has to be said, but has decided to hang up his gloves at the end of the current season.
Grant Noble featured from the start, as did Mark Smith, who was rested at Bellslea on Wednesday, as Vale kicked off in their blue away kit.

Mark Smith thrashed a 25-yard free kick over the top from a central position before McRae's half volley drifted agonisingly beyond Phimister's right-hand post.
The hosts were forced in a fifteenth minute change when top-scorer Duncan Ord hobbled off to be replaced by Duncan Goodhall.

And things went from bad to worse for Gordon Winton's men when they found themselves another goal down four minutes later.
A Steve Dolan centre was fresh-aired by Winton at the near post and fell kindly to the unmarked Grant NOBLE who spun on a sixpence before lashing the ball beyond Strong from 3-yards out. Jamie Miller was very unlucky to see his volley cannon back off the upright after an error of misjudgement from Phimister, who had came to punch clear but got nowhere near Hamilton's cross. Phimister then hauled down substitute Duncan Goodhall inside the area as he attempted to round him leaving female referee Morag Pirie with an easy decision as she pointed to the spot.
Hamilton made an immaculate job of tucking the resultant penalty beyond Phimister, who did guess correctly but was never getting near it.

Mike McKenzie's weak effort was easily saved by Darren Strong after "Mikey" had sprung the Rothes offside trap and ran from virtually the halfway line only to disappoint with the finish. Minutes later McKenzie again broke clear of the square home defence and this time he made it pay when he laid off the ball to Karl FARRIMOND who side footed his second of the afternoon. Henderson's attempted lob into the unguarded goal very nearly came off for the midfielder after a poor clearance from Phimister gifted the opportunity to the Rothes number eight but the ball landed a foot or so the wrong side of the crossbar.

Phimister, who was having a memorable afternoon in his final game for the Banffers, did well to save at the feet of Miller as Rothes continued to show fighting spirit even though they were trailing in the match.

Grant NOBLE scored the goal of the game four minutes from the break when he picked up the ball following seven or eight passes from Gregg Carrol's side before turning and unleashing a super strike which simply flew over the head of Strong from the edge of the penalty area.
The hundred and fifty or so fans inside Mackessack Park were treated to another first-half goal a minute from the interval when Duncan Goodhall headed past Phimister off Hamilton's cross with Vale's defence looking at each other wondering why the scorer wasn't picked up.

Boss Gregg Carrol was pleased enough with his side's performance when he said, "It wasn't one of our best displays today but we did enough on a difficult surface and without a couple of influential players. Farrimond & Noble took their goals well so that was pleasing to see as they're both still very young and we have high hopes for them".

Carrol was disappointed to hear that only one Vale player, Robbie Brown, had made it through to the Semi-Professional squad, which meant heartache for Bryan Dlugonski who misses out after playing so well in the internationals last season.