Four first-half goals helped Formartine to victory against Deveronvale.
United’s Garry Wood scored a ninth minute opener and three minutes later Scott Lisle doubled the advantage.
Michael Clark’s header on the 15 minute mark made it 3-0 and he added another just before the break.
Vale improved in the second half with Rob Scott netting a consolation in the 75th minute.
United player-manager Paul Lawson praised his players for their fast start to the match.
He said: “I thought we were excellent in that first half. We played some really good stuff and were worthy of our four goal lead.
“Deveronvale played really well in the second half when we maybe took our foot off the gas but full credit to Vale, they deserved their goal with their second half performance.
“After the break both sides created chances but in the end it was a comfortable victory.
“We did make a couple of changes after our midweek Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup penalty shoot-out victory at League 1 Peterhead.
“With hindsight, in the second half on a really hot day, we came to realise that the midweek cup game perhaps took more out of the boys than we had thought at first.
“But with the way we started the game we really had done our job by half-time.”
The former Celtic, Motherwell and Ross County midfielder went on to praise central defender Clark, adding: “Michael certainly has a presence in the opponent’s box.
“His first goal was a great header. It’s pleasing that he gives us a little bit more height in the penalty box and it’s good he’s now off the mark.”
Vale manager Steve Dolan admitted that the game was over by half-time but was pleased with the way his side responded in the second half.
He said: “They scored three goals before we’d played 15 minutes and by then the game was probably dead.
“We rallied a bit but then they scored a fourth goal before the break. I told the lads to go out and try to win that second half; we played well and did.”
Formartine travel to Huntly on Aberdeenshire Cup duty on Wednesday night.