Princess Royal Park's playing surface was at last declared playable after three idle weeks for the Vale players and their supporters, with both eager as each other to get a game under their belts, as the title race heats up.
Visitors to Banff were Brora Rangers under the management of much travelled and experienced winger Billy Ferries who is in his first season in charge of the Sutherland side.
Vale had scraped a narrow victory at Dudgeon Park earlier in the campaign thanks to a very late winner and the players needed to be at their best if they were to hold on to their position at the top of the league with local rivals Fraserburgh now breathing down their necks, only one point behind. Vale had recent signing from Huntly, Gary Nicol, starting on the bench as manager Gregg Carrol opted for Derek Craigie to partner top scorer Jamie Watt, up front.
Robbie Brown and Paul Urquhart were both missing through suspension giving Franny More the opportunity to stake a regular place as he lined-up on the right-hand side of a midfield four.
The kick-off was delayed as a minute's silence was observed for Princess Margaret who had sadly passed away during the night.
When the game did start the home side were quickly on the attack and Murray saw his cross-come shot hit the top of the cross bar before landing the wrong side of the goal. Gray in the visiting goal did well to hold onto Dolan's awkward cross with Craigie looking to pounce on any error by the keeper before the latter miss-cued his shot completely from the edge of the penalty box after neat play by Watt. Murray blasted high over and then Munro sliced over his own crossbar as Vale pushed for the opener. Chisholm should have opened the scoring for the Banffer's when clean through on Gray however the keeper stood up well to save "Chis's" tame effort. Two minutes later MORE put the Vale into a deserved lead with a simple tap-in after Gray could only parry Murray's 20 yarder into the path of the lurking midfielder. MORE was in the thick of the action again five minutes later, finishing again from close range as the Brora defence failed to clear a Dolan cross from the left to put the home side two-up. Brora were desperately unlucky not to pull a goal back when Hercher saw his header come back off the post and be cleared by Pressley. Craigie had an effort cleared off the line when he beat Gray to a loose ball and rounded the keeper only to find Munro in the right place to boot the ball to safety. More might have completed his hat trick on the stroke of half time but he shot wide when picked out by Murray at the far stick.

Craigie headed just wide of the target before Watt missed a snip when through on goal with only Gray to beat. The uneven playing surface playing it's part as the ball sat-up just as the striker pulled the trigger. Pressley hauled down Hart as he ran through on goal, which saw the Vale player collect a yellow card for his troubles, the latter's free kick however was high over Speir's crossbar before the Vale increased their advantage.
Murray took a tumble in the box under a challenge from Morton and referee Andrew Halliday pointed immediately to the penalty spot. Up stepped Jamie WATT to convert the award to score his 26th goal of the season and make sure of the points.
Minutes later the referee gave a similar award to the visitors when Speirs was adjudged to have impeded Hercher as they raced for a loose ball. The stand-in keeper made amends with a superb stop from Hart's spot kick. Gray did well to smother Watt's flicked effort on the line after a low cross from More had caused panic in the visitor's defence.
Chisholm was then flattened from behind in the box but this time the referee waved away Vale's loud claims for another penalty kick. Ian MURRAY capped a fine performance by scoring Vale's fourth of the afternoon, volleying home from close range after another excellent cross from the hard-working Franny More.
Murray could have doubled his tally when the home side broke quickly and nice inter play between new signing Gary Nicol and "Molby" saw the midfielder unable to finish off an excellent free-flowing move. Gray denied Murray twice from close range as Vale looked likely to run riot during the late stages of the game.
Deep into injury time HART scored a consolation for the visitors with a cracking drive from all of 25 yards giving Speirs no chance. Another fine performance by the Banffer's but with Cove and Fraserburgh both winning the top of the table remains unchanged.