Deveronvale's participation in the national tournament ended before it really started for the third season running when they went down one nil to Aberdeen side Cove Rangers in the Qualifying Cup as both sides finished the tie with ten men.
Mark Smith (for Vale) and Scott Fraser (for Cove) were the unlucky players to see red in a hard fought but never a dirty affair which saw Cove emerge as winners thanks to Kevin Steele's well taken strike eight minutes from time which came at a time when the away side were well on top with Cove doing their best to keep the score-line blank at the other end.
Both managers saw their squads hit by injury ahead of one of the biggest Saturdays of the season, John Sheran having Kevin Tindal and John Brown unavailable while opposite number Gregg Carrol was without Ross Bremner, Steve Dolan, Paul Urquhart and Ross McWilliam.

The tight pitch meant plenty of goalmouth action with Vale coming close again when Ian Murray flicked on Blanchard's goal-kick to strike partner Jamie Watt but he just failed to find the target with his volley which sailed a foot or so over the top.
Nicky Gordon responded for the home side but again failed to find the target with a downward header off Kevin Steele's corner with the Vale defence looking a little disorganised in their box for the set-piece.

Mike McKenzie passed up a decent opportunity to work Ivor Pirie when presented with a free-kick 30-yards out, the Vale maestro missing the target by a considerable margin.
Gary Clark darted through springing the Vale offside trap but as he got himself into a good scoring position James Blanchard was on hand to see his effort around the foot of the post for a well-taken but equally well defended corner kick.
A free-kick from a similar distance to the one which McKenzie had wasted saw Ian Murray beat Pirie all ends up but fail to find the net when it cannoned off the face of the cross bar before being cleared with the goalie well beat.

A great ball into the box from Terry Kidd, playing his first full ninety minutes of the season, picked out the run of Jamie Watt but the pint-size striker failed to get the required slightest of touches to divert passed the static Ivor Pirie who was able to collect much to his relief.

On the stroke of half-time Terry Kidd was upended by Pressley 25-yards out yet again providing Murray with a great chance to put his side one up but although "Molby" had Pirie scrambling across his goal the ball just failed to nestle in the far corner.

Watt himself was next to miss a scoring opportunity for the Banffers when he completely fresh-aired a ball at the back-post six-yards out.
Substitute Michael Ord very nearly made Vale pay for their missed chances and misfortune when he turned quickly on a loose ball 20-yards out only to see his dipping effort also come back off the woodwork with Blanchard beaten at full stretch.
Gregg Carrol's substitution with nine minutes to go saw Watt replaced by Grant Noble but a minute later the Vale boss suffered to the 'cruellest game in the world' when a through ball caught Robbie Brown on his heels allowing Kevin Steele, for the only time in the match, a free run in behind him and the former East Fife winger didn't disappoint when he found the far corner to knock the Banffers out of the cup at the first time of asking.
Ian Murray had an opportunity to pull his side level with five minutes to go but fired weakly straight at Pirie after Mike McKenzie had picked out the number ten with a deft ball over the top.
Kenny Gilbert, who had a quieter game than of late, warmed the gloves of Pirie from 25-yards but it just wasn't to be for the hard-working visitors who had dominated large chunks of the match but failed where it matters most, putting the ball in the net.

Vale boss Gregg Carrol was virtually on his knees when he said, "I couldn't have asked for any more from my players who gave everything but in the end failed to get the goal which I'm sure would have seen us through. It was a tight game and I felt it was always going to take one goal to settle it I just can't believe it wasn't us who scored it!"
Carrol has a massive job on his hands now to raise the spirit of his players for Wednesday's cup final against Buckie but he said, "the final will take care of it's self and I don't think I'll need to motivate the lads although we will be without the influential and suspended Kenny (Gilbert) and possibly a couple of others through injury but it's a great occasion and one we are looking forward to".