Inverness was the venue as Vale travelled away from home for the second week in a row.
Despite defeating their hosts twice already this season manager Gregg Carrol knew only too well that every game from now until the end of the season would be a cup final, if they were to win the coveted end prize.
Clach were out to avenge their Qualifying Cup and League defeats at Princess Royal Park, both of which were close run affairs and both having had turning points, which had favoured the Vale on the day.
The Vale line-up showed only one change from last week with Mark Chisholm replacing Darren McAllister in the midfield. Clach had Neil McCuish serving an automatic suspension after being sent off last week during their home defeat to Inverurie Locos.
The "Lillywhites" opted to play with the breeze at their backs as Vale kicked off on the heavy playing surface. The match had only be given the 'green light' after a mid-day inspection and the pitch was very wet and uneven underfoot as Paul Urquhart found when his lined-up shot took a wicked bounce causing him to miscue the first opportunity of the game. Chisholm then found himself through on goal after a nice layoff by Watt but Rae, in the Clach goal, beat "Chis" in the race to the ball. Urquhart and McKenzie both had strikes from the edge of the area miss the target as the visitors went looking for the opener.
Watt almost found Chisholm with a cross to the far stick before Clach won the first corner which the Vale defence looked uncomfortable dealing with. Vale then broke up field and good inter play between Urquhart and Watt set up McKenzie but the ball held-up in the mud allowing McLeod time to clear the danger. Urquhart drove at the home defence and released Watt but again the ball held-up and the chance was gone. Thompson was called into action at the other end, touching a Polworth effort over for a corner, which eventually led to the opening goal. Thompson did brilliantly to keep out McPherson's drive but as the ball came back out Polworth fired it low into the net to put the home side one up. Within a minute the visitors were level. Chisholm won a free kick at the edge of the box and up stepped Ian MURRAY to fire a low shot past Rae and into the bottom corner. Six minutes before the break Clach went back into the lead with a simple goal. McLeod was allowed time on the right to pick out the unmarked McPherson who headed past Thompson from 10 yards. McKenzie almost equalised for the Vale but his close range shot cannoned off Watt and harmlessly wide.

Chisholm's header drifted over and then Murray headed straight at Rae when well picked out by McKenzie at the back post as Vale tried to get back into the game. The visitors equalised from their first corner of the match when Pressley's header was well saved by Rae but as the ball fell loose top scorer Jamie WATT was on hand to smash the ball into the net.
Watt should have put the Vale ahead moments later when clean through on goal but he screwed his shot wide with only Rae to beat. Montgomery did well to clear from under his own cross bar after Thompson had dropped a cross under pressure from McPherson. Substitute Franny More came close with an angled drive after good work by another substitute, Derek Craigie.
Jamie WATT clinched all three points for the Vale with another typical poachers goal from 3 yards after Rae could only parry Murray's wicked in-swinging cross into waiting hit-man's path. Murray, who had swapped wings with More, almost found Watt with a clever pass through the missing home defence, which Rae did well to clear with Clach throwing bodies forward in search of an equaliser. But the Vale defence held strong and can now turn their attention to their next match against league champions Cove Rangers, next Saturday.