Two goals in each half saw Deveronvale climb to joint top spot in the Scot-ads Highland League in only the second Saturday of the new season although if they had converted at the very least half of their many chances created then they would have had a very healthy goal difference come April or May next year, if required!
Jamie Watt made up for a missed penalty by shooting his side into the lead three minutes from the break and Vale's lead was doubled three minutes later when Mark Smith fired home at the back post thanks to Watt's intervention.
The second period saw the Banffers create chance after chance as they bombarded Steven Dunn's goal but in the end only had two further strikes to add to their goal tally, Steve Dolan and Kenny Gilbert showing their shot-shy strikers the way to goal with two tap-ins from inside the six-yard box.
Vale were without midweek scoring hero Ian Murray for their first home league encounter of the season but had Paul Urquhart making his 200th appearance for the Reds, and "Yogi" was given the honour of captaining his side for the first time to commemorate his milestone achievement.
Visitors Lossie, who lost strikers Darren Shalliker and Shaun Scott during the close season, had a side made up of youngsters and local talent as they travelled to Banff in an attempt to do slightly better than last season's five-nil thrashing.
Gregg Carrol elected to go with a more conventional three-five-two formation for this one with Mike McKenzie, up against his former club, moving up-top to join Jamie Watt and Paul Urquhart taking McKenzie's position in midfield.

Mike McKenzie finally tested Dunn with a stinging drive which the keeper palmed away to safety and this was followed by Robbie Brown's long-ranger which was also saved by the Lossie number one.

Referee Sim awarded the home side a soft penalty when Neil Garrett awkwardly caught Bryan Dlugonski's standing leg as he shielded the ball from the defender inside the area but Steven Dunn diving to his left easily saved Jamie Watt's poorly struck spot kick.

The packed defence of the visitors were making life very difficult for the Banff side forcing them into too many high balls into the box which they were happy to defend whilst breaking forward in numbers when at all possible.

However Mark Chisholm did very nearly score the opener when he burst forward out of defence before playing the ball out to Ross McWilliam and as the cross came into the mixer "Chiz" rose above the Lossie defence only to see his header drift just wide of the left-hand post.
Vale finally took the lead shortly before the half-time whistle when Steve Dolan swivelled inside the penalty box to force namesake Dunn into a low save and as the ball fell loose Jamie WATT was in the right place at the right time, as he so often is, to poke home from six-yards.

Stephen McIntosh fired a wind-assisted drive just over the top in a rare Lossie raid into their host's half before normal service was resumed when Steve Dolan side-footed into the side netting following a great stand-up to the back stick by the impressive Ross McWilliam.
Shortly before the end of a one-sided match McWilliam had an effort ruled out for offside before Steve Dunn blocked Mark Smith's pile-driver from 15-yards following another flowing Deveronvale move. Steve Dolan picked up the sponsor's man-of-the-march award after yet another sterling performance in a red jersey from the Dundonian.

Gregg Carrol was fairly pleased with his side's afternoon performance when he said, "We played some attractive football in the second half and should have probably scored a few more but I'm not complaining with four goals and a clean sheet at this stage of the new season. We have some tricky matches to come over the next few weeks but with a fully fit squad to pick from things couldn't be much better right now."
I was pleased for Paul Urquhart today as he's been a great servant to the club it was just a pity he couldn't get on the score sheet although it wasn't for a lack of trying.
We are hopeful of having Ian Murray available again for next Saturdays match at Huntly in what should be a cracking encounter for both the players and the fans alike".