A four-goal blitz in thirteen minutes saw Vale increase their lead at the top of the table to ten points on Saturday seeing off neighbours Buckie Thistle in the process.
Ian Murray was again the man who mattered most, setting up the first as well as scoring two others taking his tally to an incredible thirty-one goals with only four months of the season gone.
The result was rather unkind to the visitors who had started the match the stronger and with a little luck could have been a goal or two to the good before Vale's striker-force took centre stage.
The cold and bitter day was rather akin to the wintry weather usually seen when the local rivals played each other over the festive period. This season however the 'Christmas Derby' fixtures have been done away with which is a disappointment to both the clubs, who usually enjoyed a bumper crowd, and the fans who always looked forward to a good old bit of friendly rivalry with their league neighbours.

The visitors won the toss and went straight for their hosts from the offset. Gairns heading wide when he rose to meet a Davidson free kick with Vale's defence posted missing. Barry Thompson was then forced into save low to his left following a McDonald long-ranger which skidded off the greasy surface before the keeper got his body behind it. The Jags were making all the early running with Vale struggling to find any rhythm to their play.
On Vale's first serious attack McPherson was forced to clear off his goal line following McKenzie's close range flick goal-wards. An excellent well-timed tackle by Dlugonski on Milne prevented a certain goal as again Buckie found room in behind the home defence. Vale had another let off when Thompson brilliantly saved at Wood's feet before McDonald volleyed the loose ball wide with the goal at his mercy. This was to turn out to be a big turning point in the game as minutes later the home side took the lead. Murray threaded the ball into the path of Darren McALLISTER and the local lad made no mistake as he smashed it low past Bowman from 12 yards for his first goal of the season.
McKenzie found himself straight through on goal seconds later but Bowman stood-up well to deny the striker with his legs. However Bowman could do little to prevent his side falling further behind minutes later. Ian MURRAY looked to have little on when he picked up the ball at the edge of the 6-yard box but somehow he managed to turn his man before looping the ball high over Bowman and into the net for his thirtieth goal of the campaign.
Worse was to follow for the shell-shocked Jags when Mike McKENZIE got in on the act with a crisply taken free kick which flew past Bowman before the keeper could move and put Vale on 'easy street'. To cap a fine quarter hour spell by the homesters Ian MURRAY curled a beauty past Bowman from inside the penalty box after Levi Stephen had picked him out with a well-judged pass.

Vale started the second half strongly and the visitors had Bowman to thank for keeping the score line respectable. Firstly the ex-Rothes stopper brilliantly saved Urquhart's header before denying the same player with his legs when "Yogi" was sent clear in on goal by McKenzie. Anderson saw his header just clear the upright and at the other end McDonald header over when well placed. A poor clearance by Thompson allowed Milne a golden opportunity for the visitors but he hit the cross bar when really he should have done better. The game went into a bit of a lull with Buckie working hard to get something out of the game and Vale understandably going through the motions knowing the points were pretty safe. The Jags hit the cross bar again in the dying minutes but it just wasn't their day.

After the match manager Gregg Carrol commented
"I'm pleased to come away with the 3 points. I was disappointed with the second half though as we never looked like we wanted to score again. Had luck gone Buckie's way for a couple of chances then the second half might have been a whole different ball game."
Vale:
Thompson, Dolan, Kinghorn, Urquhart (B. Stephen 77), Dlugonski, Anderson, McAllister, L. Stephen, McKenzie (Taylor 79), Murray, Brown (Montgomery 70)
Subs not used: Chisholm, Speirs
Buckie:
Bowman, Thomson (Craik 55), Lamberton, McPherson, Pirie, Catto, Davidson, Gairns (Rattray 60), Wood, Milne (McGuigan 60), McDonald
Subs not used: Shewan, Reid
Referee: P. Cheyne