Deveronvale made up for three defeats suffered at Harlaw Park last term with a narrow but hard-fought victory over Inverurie Locos, as the long-awaited new season finally got underway on Saturday afternoon.
Gregg Carrol's side overcame their hosts thanks to Steve "Dippy" Dolan's opener, which was enough to see Vale in at the break, albeit Neil McLean should have levelled for the home side but saw his penalty well saved by rookie keeper James Blanchard.
Jamie Watt put the Banffers two up just after the hour mark and although McLean did eventually find the net late on it was a case of too little too late for "The Locos".
Inverurie, who finished runners up last season, were missing a couple of key defenders for the opener against fellow title hopefuls Vale with recent signing Kenny McKenzie, Steven Park and John Young all unavailable and with regular keeper Marc Coull working offshore boss John Gardiner didn't have many options open to him when selecting his starting eleven.
On the contrary, opposite number Carrol had a full squad available for selection although Terry Kidd did fail to shake off the leg injury sustained against Preston last Saturday and missed out.
Carrol surprised many of the travelling "Valley Crew" by going with an attack-minded formation playing all three main strikers; Jamie Watt, Mike McKenzie and the re-signed Ian Murray with McKenzie playing just behind his two pint-size partners.

In Vale's first real attack Ian Murray set-up strike partner Jamie Watt but the latter skied over from the edge of the area as the goal opened up for him.
Steve Dolan's swirling free kick very nearly caught out debutant home keeper Michael Smith when it drifted over his outstretched hand before bounced of the far post to safety and as play broke to the other box Stuart McKay had a goal-bound effort blocked from close range by skip Bryan Dlugonski.
Mark Simpson brilliantly headed another Steve Dolan set-piece out of the reach of Mark Smith at the far post before namesake Michael Smith smothered the ball at the feet of Ross McWilliam as the former Locos wide player looked to slip his new side into the lead.
McWilliam had an even better chance minutes later but his first touch was too heavy allowing Michael Smith to save after Ian Murray had set-up the decent scoring opportunity when sending "Ringo" in on goal.

James Blanchard was called on for the first time when Stuart McKay flashed an angled drive across the former Dons keeper but the Vale number one got down well to finger-tip the ball around the far post for a fruitless corner.
Ross McWilliam disappointingly headed weakly into the ground when picked out by Jamie Watt's centre leaving Michael Smith with a comfortable save in yet another swift Vale attack. As the half hour arrived Vale had loud claims for a penalty when Kenny Gilbert broke into the Locos box before attempting to square the ball back across the box but when the ball appeared to strike the arm of Mark Simpson referee Northcroft didn't deem it deliberate and rightly play continued.
However the large away support did have something to shout about a minute later when they raced into the lead.
Mike McKenzie picked out the run of Steve DOLAN down the left and the evergreen "Dippy" firstly cushioned the ball into his path with his head before finding the net with a delightful chip over the stranded Smith from an acute angle.

Neil McLean responded for the Garioch side with a fierce drive from a short-taken free kick which fizzed a couple of feet past James Blanchard's right-hand upright.
Inverurie had a great chance of pulling themselves level when they were awarded a penalty after keeper Blanchard was adjudged to have fouled Kenny Coull as they chased a bouncing ball at the right-edge of the goalie's box and although it looked more of an accident than anything else referee Northcroft, after a moment of thought, pointed to the spot.
Play was held up for a few minutes as both players received lengthy treatment for their injuries before Neil McLean eventually stepped up to the spot with the ball. However Blanchard redeemed himself when he guessed right and was just able to get enough on the ball to see it trickle agonisingly and slowly past the post and out to safety.
Kenny Coull lasted just another two minutes before he was forced to leave the field of play having failed to shake of the injury sustained in the clash with Blanchard. Andy Low replaced the unlucky Coull.

Locos Substitute and former Vale winger Ritchie Singer was rightly lectured by the referee for overzealously pushing Ian Murray to the ground as frustration started to creep into the home side's play and things looked like they might just get out of hand.
Neil McLean scored a super solo goal for Locos six minutes from time to hand his side a lifeline when he side-stepped four challenges before slotting the ball low into bottom corner from the edge of the penalty box. McLean very nearly snatched an unlikely equaliser when he dived full length to meet a Ritchie Singer cross but the swirling wind just took the ball off the head of the winger at the last minute and the points were on their way to Banff.

A delighted Vale boss Gregg Carrol said, "It's the perfect start, just what we were looking for and deserved over the piece I thought. Harlaw Park is a tough place to come to and pick up three points but we were strong throughout the team today and got our goals at important times although the penalty may just have been a big turning point in the match".
"I thought the first half was a great advert for Highland League football where both sides played some great attacking stuff and it could easily have been about four-four by the break but once we got our second I couldn't see us losing the game."
"Our application and confidence was there for all to see so roll on our next match, which is Cove at Banff on Wednesday evening in the first round of the Aberdeenshire Cup".