With the mercury rising in Banff to a high of 24 degrees Celsius on Saturday afternoon it would have been more appropriate to dig out the bucket and spade and take the kids to the beach rather than troop down to Princess Royal to see Vale play their opening fixture of the new season.
By half-time the few hundred who did turn up to cheer on the Banff side had wished they had opted for the seaside as Gregg Carrol's boys huffed and puffed in the heat and rightly found themselves trailing to Michael Ord's well-taken opener for lively visitors Rothes.
However the second period was a different story and buoyed by Mike McKenzie's stunning volley from fully thirty-yards Vale clawed their way back into the match to run-out winners thanks to substitute Karl Farrimond's strike with only 11 minutes remaining and Ross Bremner's penalty save deep inside injury time.
Vale have been installed as title favourites by certain bookmakers but on this performance it doesn't look a clever man's bet although to be fair take nothing away from plucky Rothes who were well organised and looked dangerous on the break, especially in the first period.
Recent signing Mark Smith sat out the encounter due to a two match suspension carried over from last season and there was no place in the starting eleven for other close season signings Graeme Cadger and Karl Farrimond in a familiar looking Vale four-four-two formation.

Rothes kicked off the match on the 'bowling-green' playing surface and in front of a sun-drenched crowd who had turned out hoping for three points and a positive start to wash away the memory of the disappointing trophy-less season last year.
Newly installed skipper Robbie Brown led the way for the home side with a half volley from 16-yards but his effort lacked any real venom to worry visiting keeper Darren Strong.
With the game only six minutes old the Speysiders shocked the home crowd with the opener. Mark Slater lost possession deep inside the Rothes half and as they broke Bryan Dlugonski failed to get the better of Cameron at the edge of the Vale penalty area the striker then laid the ball back to the unmarked Michael Ord and he slotted the ball calmly past the outstretched hand of Ross Bremner and into the bottom corner.

Vale tried to hit back immediately but the visiting defence were having none of it and kept Vale's opportunities to a minimum.
An off the ball incident involving McKenzie and Grant saw both players lectured by referee Cobb but neither player was cautioned.
An ambitious set piece from veteran Colin Smith flew well over the top as Rothes started to grow in confidence believing that they could actually win the match. Barrie Stephen became the first Vale player to be yellow carded for another off the ball incident with Kevin Shortreed, who was also cautioned for his part in the fracas. Bremner and Dolan had an anxious moment when Smith played a ball in between the two of them to Cruickshank but 'Brems' did just enough to prevent his net bulging for the second time of the afternoon.

Mike Ord had a decent effort saved by Ross Bremner after the pint-size striker had peeled off his marker only to be denied by the huge frame of 'Brems' who took two attempts to stop the ball trickling over the line.
At the other end McKenzie played in Paul Urquhart through on goal but the hard-working midfielder fired straight down the throat of Strong with the goal at his mercy.
Neil Esson had his defence well marshalled and they continuously caught the Vale strike-force offside, much to the frustration of the agitated home support.
On the stroke of half time Jamie Watt and Darren Strong clashed chasing a Dolan loose ball in behind the visitors back-line and as the ball broke free Mark Chisholm was left with a half-chance to pull his side level but unfortunately 'Chiz' failed to find the back of net with his header from 25-yards out.

A vital tackle from Dlugonski at the start of the second period denied Ord a clear shot on goal and as play raged to the other end Esson was forced to clear a dangerous Urquhart cross before it could reach it's intended target at the far post, the unmarked Jamie Watt.
Vale squared the match in sensational circumstances five minutes after the restart when Mike MCKENZIE hit an unstoppable volley from a good 30-yards after he had shrugged off marker Grant before firing the dipping volley over the stranded Strong for a very early contender for goal of the season.

McKenzie's goal gave the home players a huge confidence boost and they went all out looking for another and almost got one within sixty seconds.
McKenzie weaved his way into the Rothes box but this time Strong was equal to his attempt on goal and saved low to his right.
Watt then thought he had opened his account for the season when he prodded home from close range following good work from Paul 'Yogi' Urquhart but the far-side linesman's flag was raised immediately against the striker for offside.
Cameron responded for the visitors when he fired a freekick a couple of yards wide of Bremner's upright without really troubling the Vale number one.
A great block from Strong prevented Vale from taking the lead after Barrie Stephen had danced his way clear of the Rothes defence only to be denied by the keeper who got down early to push the ball to safety. The unfortunate Stephen lasted another five minutes before being replaced by summer signing from Ross County, Karl Farrimond, as Gregg Carrol went looking for some inspiration to win the match.
Bremner rushed from his line to clear a high through ball but as he was outside his area could only head the ball clear. The loose ball landed straight at the feet of Sim but as he fired at the unguarded net the ball cannoned off the foot of the post and out for a very fortunate goal kick.
With just eleven minutes of the game remaining substitute Karl FARRIMOND grabbed the winner for his new club when he latched onto a Dolan diagonal pass before lifting it coolly over the stranded Strong and into the net.

Although scarcely deserved the Banff side looked home and dry now especially as the visitors had withdrawn their main goal threat in Michael Ord and looked to be running out of steam in the hot, hot conditions.
Right on ninety minutes Vale thought they had won themselves a penalty when Paul Urquhart looked to be upended by Neil Esson inside the area but referee Cobb disagreed with the majority inside Princess Royal Park and even booked the Vale number eleven for protesting too strongly about the decision.
Two minutes into stoppage time and the visitors were handed a real gift when Bremner shouted to fellow defender Ryan Pressley to leave a through ball and as he came to collect but clearly took out the in-rushing Grant instead of punching it clear. This time Cobb did point to the spot although the official was strangely hesitant with his decision.
Colin Smith stepped up looking to grab his side a point but Bremner made up for his initial error by diving to his right to save Smith's weakly struck penalty in what turned out to be a grand-stand finish with plenty for the supporters to talk about on their way home.
Mike McKenzie was voted the sponsors' man-of-the-match.

A victory and three points were all Gregg Carrol was looking for before the game but the Vale boss was far from pleased with his side's performance.
"I didn't think we played well at all and in the end very fortunate to dig out a win" said a displeased Carrol.
"The heat may have had something to do with it but we'll have to play a lot better if we are to progress to the semi-final of the 'Shire Cup on Tuesday night. The defence looked nervy and the midfield were not at their best but it is only our first game and I'm confident we'll improve". "Tuesday will be a different game altogether and I may shuffle things around for that one, that's the luxury of having a big squad although (Rusty) Mark Smith will miss that one too", added the Vale boss.

Vale:
Bremner, Dolan, Pressley, #Chisholm, Dlugonski, Slater, #Stephen (Farrimond 65), Brown (Cpt.), McKenzie (Kidd 83), Watt (Cadger 72), #Urquhart
Subs not used: - Gray, Phimister (GK)

Rothes:
Strong, #Shortreed, Macrae, #Esson, M. Grant, Smith, Cruickshank, #M. Bain, Ord (Miller 65), Cameron (Cree 82), Sim (E. Grant 88)
Subs not used: - G. Bain

Manager: - Graeme McBeath


Referee:R. Cobb