Inverurie progressed to the next round of the Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield courtesy of an early blitz at Harlaw Park, which saw them two goals up after just thirteen minutes.
Stuart McKay and Richie Singer did the damage for the inform home side who came off the back of seven straight wins to secure their place in the semi-finals and earn a home tie with Buckie Thistle. Vale, who were completely out of sorts for the first half an hour of the game, pulled a goal back in the second half when Mike McKenzie made good use of his power & skill to beat Stewart Gray from 16-yards but it wasn't enough leaving the Banffers with just the League and League Cup to vie for the remainder of the season.
An unchanged line-up from Gregg Carrol was no surprise to the Valley Faithful although questions are constantly being asked about systems and after twenty minutes who could blame them.
Locos, who are in a great run of form, were without defenders John Young and Steve Park but looked solid throughout in their four-four-two formation and although had to defend for long spells especially in the second period never really looked like losing the hard-fought clash.
John Gardiner has his critics but recent signing Andy Roddie looks to be a decent purchase and gave Ross McWilliam a torrid time on the flank especially in the first forty-five. Richie Singer was also impressive in the opening half and was a handful for Stevie Dolan on the opposite flank until "Dippy" was forced off with an injury.
Gregg Carrol on the other hand stuck with his three at the back and they were continuously asking each other questions during that opening period when their hosts drove at them with pace and variety which they struggled to handle whilst looking very ragged at times.

Following an impeccable minutes' silence for Richie McNab (a former Locos player and P & J Reporter, who sadly passed away recently) Vale, in their blue away kit, got things underway but were soon behind in the tie.
With six minutes gone Kenny Coull's excellent flick in behind the square Vale defence sent Stuart McKay on his way and the striker made an immaculate of side-footing past Blanchard from 15-yards leaving the chasing Banff defenders in his wake.
Vale responded and Ian Murray pulled a first-time volley well wide as he latched onto a weak Richie Singer clearance.
Singer was however in the right place at the right time five minutes later when he ghosted in to side foot home after Scott Buchan's low cross from the left eluded defenders and strikers alike in the six-yard box to find the in-rushing winger at the back-post.
Kenny Coull very nearly made it three with a trademark near-post flick off Andy Roddie's low corner but the ball fizzed past the upright.
As the Locos kept up the momentum Stuart McKay's strike from an acute angle forced James Blanchard into a decent save, diving to his right to fist the ball to safety.
Mike McKenzie failed to work the home keeper when his free kick went wide and as play switched quickly to the opposite end Andy Roddie warmed Blanchard's hands when he chested the ball past Ross McWilliam before half-volleying goalwards but the Vale number one turned the ball over the top.
The disjointed Banffers were in trouble again when their poor passing saw them caught out by the busy Locos midfield but Singer fired over when well placed.
A clumsy challenge on Blanchard by Singer saw the midfielder yellow carded and this was followed by a melee inside the Vale six-yard box involving a handful of players from both sides, Robbie Brown also being cautioned for his part in the ruckus.

Kenny Gilbert finally tested Stewart Gray in the home goal but his header lacked any real pace to worry the young goalie.
Minutes later Gilbert's wayward pass deep inside his own half saw Mark Chisholm booked as he had no option but foul Stuart McKay as the striker looked to break free of Vale's back-line.
Vale's best move of the first half saw Jamie Watt marginally flagged offside after Mike McKenzie had fed the striker through on goal following an eight or nine man passing move.
A series of Vale corners threatened to get the visitors back into the tie but McKenzie's well-struck drive was deflected wide before Stewart Gray came off his line to pluck the third flag-kick to safety to take the pressure off his defence.
Bryan Dlugonski's last-ditch challenge on Kenny Coull denied the Garioch side a certain third minutes before the ref blew for the interval.

Steve Dolan was forced off at the break and Paul Urquhart replaced in a straight swap.
The second period began as the first had finished with Vale on top but Locos sitting-in, content with what they had.
Ross McWilliam skied an effort way over from 25-yards and after a ten minute period when very little happened Jamie Watt was played in by Bryan Dlugonski's slide-rule pass but the rock at the heart of the home defence, Mark Simpson, blocked for a fruitless corner.
An excellent stand-up to the back post from Mike McKenzie had Stewart Gray scrambling across his goal-line but Roddie Mess was on hand to help out his keeper before Mark Smith could pounce.
Simpson headed another dangerous looking McKenzie cross to safety however the home side were picking the ball out of the net moments later.
A forty-yard pass from Mark Smith picked out Mike MCKENZIE on the left-flank and the blonde-hair striker stepped inside marker Graham and then inside Roddie Mess before unleashing an unstoppable drive past Stewart Gray from 16-yards.
Bryan Dlugonski saw off Stuart McKay as he looked to latch onto a threaded pass into the Vale penalty box as Locos at last looked to create something in the opposing half.
Mike McKenzie had the ball in the net again soon after but the far-side linesman had his flag correctly raised for offside against the scorer.
As the game entered the final ten minutes both sides had weak claims for a penalty. Firstly, Richie Singer dramatically claimed for a pen when Paul Urquhart eased him out of the way as a cross entered the Vale six-yard box and this was followed five minutes later when Urquhart felt he was also nudged as he looked to latch onto McKenzie's deep cross from the left.
With time running out on Gregg Carrol's side Ian Murray hooked a half-chance wide and deep inside stoppage time Kenny Gilbert might have done better when he headed straight at Stewart Gray following Mark Chisholm's cushioned knock back across goal.
So it's off to Nairn (3pm) on Saturday as Vale try to get back to winning ways in the Scot Ads Highland League.

Locos:
Gray, #Graham, Buchan, #Wilson (Cpt), Simpson, Mess, #Singer, Ross, Coull, McKay (Milne 82), Roddie (McLean 69)
Subs not used: Forsyth, Padua, Smith (GK)>

Vale:
Blanchard, Dolan (Urquhart 46), McWilliam (Munro 75), #Chisholm (Cpt), Dlugonski, #Brown, Smith, #Gilbert, McKenzie, Murray, Watt
Subs not used: Kidd, Noble, Mitchell McKenzie (GK)

Referee:  S.George