It was back to league business for the Vale players as they travelled to Speyside looking for the three points, which would keep them at the summit of the Highland league.
It was both sets of players' first league match of the New Year and for the Vale players' it was their first league match since November last year, when they travelled to Fort William.
With Robbie Brown completing his second of a two game suspension Paul Urquhart grabbed the opportunity to stake his claim for a regular place in the starting line-up. Mike McKenzie, who showed up well when coming on as a substitute last week, was selected to partner Jamie Watt upfront. Ian Murray dropped back into the left side of midfield and Darren McAllister was preferred to Franny More on the right.
McAllister got free down the flank and crossed to the back post but Esson beat Murray in the air at the expense of a fruitless corner. The home side had a stiff breeze at their backs but were offering very little as the Vale took the game to their opponents with wave after wave of attack. Murray headed on to McKenzie but his effort on goal had the sting taken out of it before it reached Bowman, in the Rothes goal. McKenzie then picked out Urquhart but the midfielder couldn't get control of the ball and the chance was gone. Watt had a golden opportunity to open the scoring after good work by Murray at the back post. The usual deadly striker completely fluffed his shot and the ball rolled harmlessly into the arms of a relieved Bowman.
McKenzie went close with a header off a Dolan corner before Watt missed another snip when sent through on goal by Kinghorn. This time the pint-size striker sent the ball past the advancing Bowman but also past the upright to the relief of the static home defence who were looking for offside. Watt then tried to lob Bowman from 20 yards but again the ball fell the wrong side of the far stick. Rothes weren't seen much as an attacking force but Ord should have put them ahead when he was given a free header 6 yards from goal. The large Vale following were glad to see the ball go the just past Thompson's left-hand post with the visiting defence caught napping. Kinghorn was unlucky to see his well-struck drive excellently saved by Bowman as Vale laid siege to the home goal. Eventually the pressure paid off for the visitors when Ian MURRAY opened the scoring for the Vale, latching onto a loose ball, which Bowman could only parry, after a good run and low cross by McAllister from the bye-line. Murray and McKenzie both tested Bowman from distance, the keeper doing well to save both attempts as the Vale kept the pressure up on the home defence. Urquhart's drive was deflected for yet another corner, which came to nothing, as the whistle sounded for the interval.

Vale started where they had left off in the first half and Watt drew another blank when he his header lacked the elevation to beat Bowman before Urquhart's effort flew over the top. MacRae came close with a 35-yard drive, which had Barry Thompson scrambling across his goal only for the ball to whistle past the post. Montgomery pushed forward and tried a one-two at the edge of the Rothes box but as the move broke down the home side almost caught Vale as they drove forward in numbers only to blow the chance with a poor final ball.
Montgomery was involved again this time finding McKenzie in space with a fine pass but the big striker couldn't beat the inform Bowman who saved well, low down to his left. Watt had another chance to put the issue beyond doubt but again Bowman was equal to his shot, this time parrying the ball to safety as McKenzie rushed in looking for any scraps.
Gregg decided to make a change with More replacing the tiring Murray and within minutes the points were save. The inspired substitution paying off as MORE latched onto the loose ball which Bowman couldn't hold, from a McKenzie strike, and smashing the ball into the empty net from 3 yards. Two minutes later Steve DOLAN scored his first goal of the season after playing a neat one-two with McKenzie and rounding Bowman before finding the net from an acute angle. URQUHART made it three with a tap in when again Bowman couldn't hold a drive from substitute Derek Craigie, leaving the midfielder with a simple finish from 5 yards. The home defence were at sixes and sevens as Vale piled on the misery and went nap with their fourth goal in six minutes. Esson downed CRAIGIE in the box and the big striker hid the ball under his jersey from Mike McKenzie, who was looking to take the spot kick, before sending the home keeper the wrong way. A great win for the Banffers, which sets them up nicely for their difficult trip to Inverness to play Clach next Saturday