Paul Urquhart emerged as the toast of the Valley Faithful when his extra-time low 15-yard strike was the difference between the sides as Vale eventually saw off neighbours Keith to reach the final of the John Bell Pipeline Aberdeenshire Cup.
The final, which will be Gregg Carrol's eleventh during his six seasons in charge, will be held at a neutral venue still to be decided on August the 31st and will be against local rivals Buckie Thistle who overcame Fraserburgh in the other semi, where extra time was also required to separate the sides.
Keith had taken the lead through former Huntly and Vale striker Gary Nicol only for Grant Noble to haul the Banffers level two minutes later but with no further scoring during the remaining sixty-eight minutes the drama unfolded with an additional thirty minutes played and thankfully for the large home support "Yogi" finally converted one of the many chances created by the home side.

A relived Gregg Carrol said, "Phew that was hard work but we deservedly made it through in the end and we're obviously delighted to be yet another final. It was a huge improvement on Saturday's display especially in defence so hats off to the boys for their huge effort".
"There's a few sore legs in there after playing for one hundred and ninety minutes in a very warm evening so we may need to make changes for Saturday but just wait and see".

The Kynoch Park side kicked off proceedings but within 30 seconds very nearly were trailing when Mike McKenzie made space at the edge of the penalty box for himself before unleashing a scorching drive which was heading for the top corner only for Any Shearer to brilliantly tip the ball over at full stretch.
A dash down the Vale left saw Bryan Dlugonski make the bye-line but Tawse got back in the nick of time to block before Steve Dolan, who had another superb match for the Banffers, headed across the face of goal but there were no Red Shirts to turn the ball home.
Dean Donaldson had a half chance when Dolan allowed the ball to drift over his head but the winger flashed his strike way over the top.
Paul Urquhart should have done better when Robbie Brown's chip over the top picked him out in behind the Keith rearguard but he elected to take a touch rather than strike the ball first time allowing Any Shearer enough time to smother at his feet.
Barrie Stephen volleyed just wide after a typical mazy run and at the other end a swift passing move saw Steve Dolan sprint clear of the visiting defence but again Shearer was the hero as he got down well to block.
A wicked Barrie Stephen free kick was well defended by the Banff defence at the expense of a corner from which Keith took the lead. Stephen's floated set piece found Dean Donaldson at the back-post and he cushioned a header back into the six-yard box to find the unmarked Gary Nicol who expertly volleyed past the helpless James Blanchard.
Keith's lead however lasted only two minutes when a sweeping move involving Kenny Gilbert and then Mike McKenzie picked out Steve Dolan's run down the left and "Dippy's" cut-back was perfect for the waiting Grant NOBLE who swept the ball home from 8-yards.
Noble, who worked tirelessly for the full one hundred and twenty minutes, had an effort blocked before Ross McWilliam blazed wide with an angled effort.
Kenny Gilbert was unfortunate not to find the far corner when he dived full length to meet Mark Chisholm's whipped cross before Mike McKenzie warmed Andy Shearer's hands with a well-struck long-ranger.

Grant Noble fed strike partner through on goal at the start of the second period but the hit man elected to cut the ball back rather than go it alone and failed to pick out a Vale shirt with his centre.
Keith had a loud shout for a penalty kick turned down by referee Milne when Dean Donaldson went down under Robbie Brown's challenge with Brown furious with the player for, in his opinion, going down too easily and it needed the intervention of the man in the middle to sort things out before they got out of control.
Kenny Gilbert passed up a great opportunity for the Banffers when he headed straight at Shearer off Ross McWilliam's centre from point-blank range. Grant Noble then came within inches of latching onto Paul Urquhart's cushioned header to the back post following another Vale raid forward.
As the visitors started to come into the match danger-man Barrie Stephen fired an effort from distance well over much to the delight of the home support before the same player forced James Blanchard into a fairly easy save.
With an additional thirty minutes looming Barrie Stephen flashed a 20-yarder just wide and at the other end Ross McWilliam saw his well-placed strike from the edge of the area cannon back off the upright with Andy Shearer completely rooted to the spot.
Mike McKenzie forced Andy Shearer into a scrambled save in the final minute with a dipping free kick after Robbie Brown had burst through from defence whilst trying to show his strikers the way to goal before being tripped by the yellow carded Kris Niddrie.

As extra time began Grant Noble volleyed a Bryan Dlugonski cutback wide before substitute Mark Smith fizzed a low cross into the mixer but failed to pick out a Banff striker.
Jamie Watt, looking low on confidence, passed up a decent opportunity when he dilly-dallied when picked out 16-yards out as Vale continued to dominate proceedings forcing Keith further and further back into their own half.
Gregg Carrol's side finally got their just reward twelve minutes into the extra period when Jamie Watt fed Grant Noble and the youngster in turn calmly picked out the run of Paul URQUHART and he placed the ball into the bottom corner well out of the reach of the impressive Andy Shearer.
Two excellent timely tackles by Mark Chisholm prevented the visitors pulling themselves level in the second half of extra time but to be fair it was the Banffers who were in total control of the tie and may have added to their goal tally if it hadn't been for the fact that they were pretty tired come the end and decided to keep ball rather than go gung-ho!

Vale:
Blanchard, Dolan, McWilliam (Smith 86), Chisholm, Dlugonski (Cpt), Brown, Noble, #Gilbert, #McKenzie, Watt (Kidd 113), Urquhart
Subs not used: Slater, Craib, Bremner (GK)

Keith:
Shearer, Tawse, Lonie, Robertson, #Niddrie, D Nicol, Donaldson (Walker 77), MacKay, G Nicol, B Stephen (Keith 97), Fraser (D Stephen 84)
Subs not used: Watt, Garden
Manager: M. Allan


Referee:  R. Milne

Assistant: G Middleton
Assistant: C McKay