Deveronvale had Kenny Gilbert sent off as they crashed to a second defeat in as many league games leaving boss Gregg Carrol with a major headache ahead of next Saturday's huge game in the Qualifying Cup at Cove Rangers.
It was sweet revenge for the visitors who had lost at Banff in midweek after an hour and a half of cup football and came back with their fit again captain marvel Darren Still, who was given a tactical role of man-marking Mike McKenzie, to have a second go at beating their close rivals.
Keith, just as they had done on Tuesday night, took the lead against the run of play after a mistake by Mike McKenzie was pounced on by Dean Donaldson before he crossed to find left-back Graham Lonie who volleyed home.
Vale pulled themselves level a minute after Gilbert saw red for abusive language towards officious referee Stuart Duff when Mark CHISHOLM took full advantage of an Andy Shearer slip before thrashing the ball home from close range.
However things went from bad to worse for Gregg Carrol's boys on the stroke of half time when they fell behind to Stuart Walker's strike after the striker had broken clear of the Vale back-line before side-footing home after his initial effort fell kindly to him off the foot of the post leaving the Banffers with just six points from four league matches.

A strong run which saw Mark Smith eventually make his way into the Keith box was ended when Tawse using both hands took a chance by pushing the Vale red-haired number three before the ball ran out of play but referee Stuart Duff decided that it wasn't enough to warrant a penalty although others may have thought differently.
Keith shocked the Banffers when took the lead after just twelve minutes but it could so easily have been avoided if Mike McKenzie had been a little more careful at the edge of his own eighteen yard box. Mike, while trying a little trick, lost possession to Dean Donaldson and the left winger made his way to the bye-line before finding the in-rushing Graham Lonie at the far post and the left-back gleefully smashed the ball home.

A move instigated by skipper Darren Still saw the visitors move the ball to the dangerous looking Dean Donaldson but Robbie Brown got the slightest of touches to force the Keith winger's strike just off target.
Grant Noble should probably have put his side into the lead when James Blanchard's goal kick found it's way through the visitors defence to the striker but Andy Shearer got down well to block his first effort before the youngster hit the side-netting with the rebound.

Steve Dolan did well to block another Donaldson effort wide although could do very little to prevent his side going in at the break two goals to one down.
Lonie was allowed far too much room in the heart of the Vale midfield before he slid a ball in behind to pick out the run of Stuart Walker and with Bryan Dlugonski in hot pursuit the home side might have thought they would get off lightly when the striker's effort came back off the foot of the upright however Walker was quickest to react ahead of Blanchard and "Dougal" to slot the ball home from 4-yards.

The Banffers afternoon was summed up near the end when Mike McKenzie's strike cannoned back off team mate Jamie Watt's legs on its way goal wards before Stuart Duff put the dejected "Valley Crew" out of their misery with the final whistle.

A disappointed Gregg Carrol tried to take some positives out of the defeat when he said, "I thought the players were superb today and gave everything that was asked of them but it just wasn't our day. They worked their socks off and did me proud but it was a big ask once we went down to ten men although I didn't think Keith really threatened us that much".
On the Red Card Carrol continued "Kenny knows he let me, the players and the fans down today but he's experienced enough to bounce back and hopefully learn that you won't get away with that sort of behaviour to referees in the Highland league".