With just seven days to go until the big kick-off Deveronvale picked up a welcome victory and at same time the "Carlac Friendship Shield" when they overcame East of Scotland outfit Preston Athletic at Princess Royal Park by four goals to two.
Trailing to Craig Scott's eighth minute opener Vale came back to revenge the defeat suffered at the hands of their Southern counterparts last year thanks to Terry Kidd's leveller and second-half strikes from Mark Chisholm, Jamie Watt and sub Robbie Brown.
With skipper Bryan Dlugonski rested Danny Craib started alongside the two Marks, Slater and Chisholm, at the heart of the home defence. Mark Smith and Kenny Gilbert joined "Dougal" on the subs bench allowing Terry Kidd to partner Paul Urquhart and Mike McKenzie in midfield as Gregg Carrol tried out something slightly different with his adaptable squad.

Mike McKenzie, playing just off the front two, tried a cheeky lob after just two minutes but to be fair to Ross Gilpin in the Preston goal he had it covered as he watched the ball just drift wide of his left-hand post.
However it took just eight minutes for the opening goal and it came from the visitors.
A move down the left saw Bryan Wilson get clear of marker Ross McWilliam before crossing the ball perfectly between keeper and defence to find the ideally placed Craig Scott who easily side-footed home past the helpless Blanchard.
It was very nearly two five minutes later when Craig Scott again looked too sharp for the home rear-guard but this time from the edge of the 18-yard box the Preston captain fired a foot over the top.
Paul Urquhart saw his poorly struck drive deflect off team-mate Jamie Watt after good lead-up play by the busy looking Mike McKenzie as Vale tried to find a leveller.
The huge difference in height between the two sides was causing Gregg Carrol's side a few problems early on but once the Banffers starting playing the ball to feet they found their counterparts slightly easier to get the better of and eventually started playing their way into the contest.
Terry Kidd was twice in the space of a minute forced into heading clear inside his own box before the midfielder popped up at the other end to haul his side level. KIDD linked up with fellow midfield maestro Paul Urquhart who cleverly back-heeled to set-up his team-mate and "Tel" drove a low shot which squirmed past Ross Gilpin from 22-yards.
James Blanchard showed great awareness to intercept a dangerous move inside the Vale half when the rushed from his goal to clear with his defence looked a little ragged. Mike McKenzie then fired over from the edge of the penalty box at the other end as the Banffers broke quickly and looked to get their noses in front.
A super move from Gregg Carrol's side saw some crisp passing from Urquhart, McKenzie and Kidd to eventually set-up Grant Noble inside the 18-yard box but the teenage local hero could only warm the hands of Ross Gilpin when well placed to put his side into the lead.
Gilpin did even better minutes before the interval when he brilliantly denied Jamie Watt with his legs following a Steve Dolan corner which was only partially cleared by the Athletic defence.

Ross Gilpin was at it again shortly after the break when he got the better of Jamie Watt for the second time, this time standing up well to fist clear as Watt bore down on goal following another swift Vale attack.
On the hour mark the unlucky Terry Kidd took a heavy knock to his upper leg and was replaced by Kenny Gilbert.
Vale came oh so close to going into the lead when Jamie Watt diverted Steve Dolan's low cross across the face of goal only to see the ball shave the outside of the far post on its way out of play after Mike McKenzie had sent "Dippy" in behind the Preston defence.
Vice captain Mark CHISHOLM shot his side into the lead following a quickly taken Ross McWilliam corner to Mike McKenzie who in turn fed Steve Dolan. "Dippy's" dink over the top of the advancing Preston defence found the on-side "Chiz" and he coolly despatched the ball beyond Gilpin.
However the Banffers' lead was very short lived indeed as Preston immediately equalised through Callum Rennie, who ran onto a through ball to squeeze it past the advancing Blanchard from an acute angle, which was slightly cruel on the home side as Gregg Carrol was just rearranged his defence, replacing scorer Chisholm with Kyle Rae.
With Ian Murray on for Grant Noble Vale looked the more likely to go and win the shield and it was no surprise when they went back into the lead seven minutes later. Substitute Murray picked up a loose ball midway through the visitor's half before splitting their defence with a trademark drop of the shoulder and unselfishly playing in the waiting Jamie WATT who at last got the better of Gilpin as he slotted home from 15-yards.
The visitors were unlucky not to find themselves back on level terms when James Blanchard called for but completely missed a low cross from the right-hand bye-line but fortunately for the former Dons keeper Craig Scott couldn't find the net from a similar position from which he had scored earlier in the match, this time the ball landing a foot wide of the right post.
With just ten minutes remaining a Phil Hobbins free-kick from a dangerous position was deflected wide by the defensive wall for a corner but the Vale back-line remained vigilant as they cleared under pressure as Preston pressed hard for an equaliser.
An over-the-ball challenge from substitute Greg McColl caused a fracas between a clutch of players but referee Steven George eventually was able to remind the players that it was a "friendship shield" and calmed the situation down before play raged on.
Danny Craib saw his looping header off Steve Dolan's corner land on top of the net rather than in it before Kyle Rae's ambitious long ranger flew well wide of its intended target.
Robbie BROWN wrapped up the victory for his side when he swivelled to smash home from close range after good work by Mark Smith who got to the bye-line before crossing to the back post where Ian Murray cushioned a header back across goal and into "Brooner's" path.
Mark Chisholm was all smiles as he was presented with the trophy at the final whistle.

Vale:
Blanchard, Dolan, McWilliam (Smith), Chisholm (Rae), Slater, Craib, Urquhart (Brown), Kidd (Gilbert), McKenzie, Watt, Noble (Murray)
Subs Not Used: Dlugonski, G. Watt

Preston:
Gilpin, Murray, Costello, McGowan, Scott, McAuley, Houston (McColl), Barton (Cameron), Hobbins, Rennie, Wilson
Subs Not Used: Eadie

Manager: Stevie Myatt
Referee:  Steven George