Friday night football returns to Aberdeen, with Banks o’ Dee welcoming Deveronvale to a sunny and warm Spain Park. It’s been a unsettled few weeks for both teams, with the home side faltering against Fraserburgh and Huntly in late August before a more convincing 1-6 away victory in Wick. This early run of poor form has damaged title hopes for The Dee, who are already eight points adrift from Brechin City at the summit.

The Vale have had a tough start to their league campaign, losing heavily to local rivals Buckie Thistle. Subsequent loses to Brechin and Clachnacuddin have left the Banff side sitting 13th in the league table. Garry Wood’s side also made a swift exit to the Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cup, losing at home to the Aberdeen Reserves.

Wood names himself in an unchanged side from last weekends 1-3 defeat by Clach, whilst Banks o’ Dee start Lachie LacLeod and Michael Philipson in a strong-looking side.

Garry Wood kicks off tonight’s fixture, where the opening moments saw Banks o’ Dee’s Max Alexander forcing a smart save from Vale’s Ethan Hopkinson to prevent an early lead. The keeper had to get down low to his left to stop Alexander’s shot from close range. The Dee had another early chance to take the lead through Lachie MacLeod, but his rush towards the ball resulted in a foul going against the striker. The ball continued to be firmly in the possession of the home side, with on-form Vale striker Ben Hermiston unable to show his skill early on. The ex-Montrose forward has made a positive impact at Princes Royal Park, with two goals so far.

Dee captian Kane Winton became the first player to enter referee Owen Lawrence’s book, for an off the ball reaction against Harry Noble. MacLeod once again received the ball in the Vale box in the 25th minute, driving the ball wide in the biggest chance of the opening half-hour. Winton perhaps should have had his marching orders in the 35th minute, halting a Deveronvale attack with his arm. Already on a booking, Banks o’ Dee were fortunate to continue with 11 men. A nasty challenge and subsequent reaction saw both Woods and MacLeod booked, just before Murray Esson blocked a goalbound strike from Mark Gilmour in an action packed few minutes, upping the tempo at Spain Park.

Gilmour found time for one last chance before half time, thundering down the right hand side before finding MacLeod in space. The striker composed himself with a touch but was unable to put the ball past Hopkinson.

Darkness fell and fog began to roll over Balnagask at half time, which saw a defensive alter for Deveronvale. Garry Woods dropped to Centre-Back, looking to subdue Banks o’ Dee’s technical attackers. Deveronvale earnt their biggest chance of the game when a deep ball unleashed Jack Mitchell down the right on the 50th minute, but his shot blazed over the bar.

Banks o’ Dee would get their opener on the 58th minute, when a deflected shot from Max Alexander fell fortuitously to Liam Duell who lashed the ball high into the net from close range. Vale reacted quickly, substituting Garry Wood and Demilade Yunus for Max Stewart and Rogan Read, and reverting to a back-four.

Just minutes after scoring, Banks o’ Dee were down to ten men. A late and nasty challenge from Kane Winton on Rogan Read left the referee no choice but to sent the captain off in the 66th minute. More substitutions refreshed both sides as the game entered the final 20. A revitalised Vale pressed forward, with a Ben Hermiston header forcing Daniel Hoban to make a fine save from close range to keep Banks o’ Dee ahead. The home side refused to sit back, with promising forays forward through Scott Milne and Michael Philipson. Vale made their final substitution an attacking one, replacing full back Esson with striker Cameron Angus.

With just 5 minutes on the clock Banks o’ Dee prove that often the best defense is offense, creating numerous chances down the right. Vale struggle to make the extra man count, and are limited to few chances from Hermiston, none of which are able to test the keeper. Philipson forces a late corner for Banks o’ Dee, allowing precious moments for the Vale to tick away.

90 minutes came and went, still without Vale creating a stone-wall chance. That would change in the 92nd minute, with a corner to Deveronvale. Keeper Hoban held on well to squash Vale hopes, in what looked to be the final chance of the game. One last corner in the dying embers saw keeper Hopkinson venture up to the Banks o’ Dee box, but Angus sent the last kick off the game over the bar.

A quiet opening warmed up to a tense finale, which saw the points deservedly stay in Aberdeen. The Banff side failed to take the opportunity of the numerical advantage, in what was a display of positive defending from Banks o’ Dee. Vale welcome Rothes to Princes Royal Park next Saturday whilst The Dee face a trip north to face reigning champions Buckie Thistle before an equally tough tie against Brechin the week after.

Match Facts

Goals:

Banks o’ Dee	Deveronvale
58′ Duell

Bookings:

Banks o’ Dee	Deveronvale
18′ Winton	35′ Woods
35′ MacLeod
66′ Winton (Sent off)
76′ Kelly