Thistle were well and truly horsed, losing by three clear goals to a very industrious Deveronvale side, before a healthy crowd, despite the rain.

The visiting fans were getting more to shout about as their side began to take control of the game in the early stages.

Lewis MacKinnon was an early casualty of the referee's pen after a hefty challenge on Graeme Watt, but Buckie took the lead, somewhat against the run of play in 19 minutes, through BRIAN NEILL, after Tony Low had robbed Vale's Clark in midfield, before threading a defence-splitting pass through to him.

Undeterred, the Banffers rolled up their sleeves and, led in "Roy of the Rovers" fashion, by their midfield enforcer, Robbie Brown, who ultimately won the Sponsors' "man of the Match" award, got stuck into the jags, who appeared somewhat listless.

The Valley Crew were delighted in 29 minutes, when their new-found hero, John Coutts went down in the Buckie ‘box, allowing ROBBIE BROWN to level matters from the ‘spot.

This was a great relief to Greg Carrol whose side had previously squandered their two spot awards in previous games this season.

Thistle seemed unable to get to grips with the industrious Vale midfield and it really came as no surprise when, after a well sculpted build-up, Graeme Watt cut the ball back into the crowded Buckie ‘box and who was there, but JOHN COUTTS, to fire home a twelve yard grounder, to put his new side ahead, with 36 minutes played.

Two minutes later, Thistle could have been back on level terms, but after Mike Macdonald had crafted an opening, with excellent wide play on the left to set up Brian Neill, the former Don's shot flashed a foot or less over Blanchard's crossbar.

Deveronvale were Tigrish though and came back to hit Buckie with a real sucker punch, four minutes from half time, when Buckie loon, MARK CHISHOLM repaid his critics in the crowd, with a towering header at a flag kick, although credit is due to the group of Jags players who watched, dum-struck as the ball bounced past them and into the net.

The writing was on the wall then, as the interval approached, but in the second half Thistle look more promising, and a great run and cross from the left by Mike Macdonald appeared to have done the trick, but the ball was just behind the inrushing "Spider" Stewart, whose header failed to hit the target.

Both sides' discipline appeared to be evaporating as the second half unfolded and Vale's Clark was booked for a late tackle on Lewis MacKinnon, closely followed by "Franny" MacMillan, following a melee which threatened to spill over, in centrefield.

Play continued at a frenetic pace and Vale booked their passage into the second round courtesy of a 59^th minute strike by another former Jag, MIKE EWEN, who had the easiest of tasks to steer the ball home from 8 yards, after the chance was teed up for him.

Jamie Shewan joined the lengthening list of yellow cardees after he clipped Brow's heels when the midfielder tried to ease past him, perhaps a symptom of the frustration clearly setting in.

With the game all but lost, Thistle did show some spirit and Blanchard was tested by David MacRae, making his debut off the bench, but the dependable Vale goalie held the searing 30 yard shot at the second time of asking.

Matt Edmond shot straight at the Vale custodian, who eneded a good afternoon's performance with a diving save to palm away a fierce drive by Lewis MacKinnon, for a corner to the Jags, as time ebbed away.

At the end, Vale were worth their victory and the sourness in the Buckie support's mouth manifested itself in jeering at former hero, now zero, John Coutts.

He certainly played well up front on the day, perhaps doing more in his 80 minutes afield than he did in a Buckie shirt, when the chips were down for him at the tail end of last season.

Manager, Duncan Shearer was obviously upset at the manner of the defeat, admitting after the game "We were well off the mark out there, with eight or nine of the players, who had served me well in our first two games, simply not performing at the level required."

He went on to concede "a very good Deveronvale side punished us today and although we scored early on, they bounced back strongly to regroup and prevent us getting back into the game, throughout."

"I hope that this serves as a wake up call to our lads and I am confident that they will bounce back for what look to be another titanic struggle on Wednesday, when we go to PRP for the Aberdeenshire Cup Semi Final." He concluded.

The stage is set, therefore, for another battle in midweek, although Thistle will need to up their game by several magnitudes, if they are not to allow a repeat scoreline.

Buckie Lineup: Main, Shewan, Lamberton, Grant, Stewart(Matheson55), Small, Low, Neill, Mackinnon, MacMillan(Edmond70), Macdonald(MacRae55). Not used: Jay Jay Urquhart, Strong(gk).

Vale lineup: Blanchard, Dolan, Dlugonski, Chisholm, S Fraser, Clark, P.Urquhart(Cowie88), Brown(Bremner73), Ewen, Coutts(Robertson80), Watt.

Referee: Mr D Watt.