Vale took another huge step towards their first ever Highland League Title with a fine four-two victory over retaining champions Fraserburgh at Bellslea Park on Saturday leaving them needing just three more victories from their remaining five fixtures to secure the coveted prize.
Bryan Dlugonski had the Banff side off to yet another flying start with an 18-yard strike after only two minutes-twenty-five seconds and Ian Murray doubled their lead soon after with a close-range header. Although the home side did pull a goal back thanks to McLaren's acrobatic bicycle-kick Mark Chisholm's seventeenth of the season had the table-toppers three-one up at the interval. Broch rallied in the second period but only managed a single strike for their tireless efforts through Trevor Fleming but Mike McKenzie put the issue beyond any doubt with a spectacular finish with eighteen minutes of the contest remaining.
The home side were minus the skills of the injured Mike Stephen and had top striker Paul Keith on the bench following a late fitness test, which ruled him out of a starting berth.
Vale went with the same line-up which had thumped Fort William the previous Saturday and their only change was amongst the substitutions where Ryan Pressley made the bench for the first time since his facial injury sustained towards the end of last year.

The visitors kicked-off as if they meant business and won a series of corner kicks before the Broch had time to settle. On their fifth corner inside three minutes the Banffer's shocked the large crowd when they took an early lead. McAllister's set-piece was only partially cleared to the edge of the penalty area and Bryan DLUGONSKI sent the ball back through a melee of bodies and it completely eluded the unsighted Billy Gordon on it's way into the bottom corner giving the jubilant central defender his forth goal of the campaign. Worse was to follow for the home defence a couple of minutes later when they found themselves two-down. Chisholm latched onto a loose ball inside the Broch 18-yard box and his delicate chip to the far post was easily finished by the head of Ian MURRAY for his 39th of the season. The 'never say die' attitude of the Broch side saw them pull a goal back five minutes later through McLaren when his overhead kick flew past the static Barry Thompson following a near-post knock-on which the Vale defence failed to deal with. Thompson was then forced into a fine save after Kidd and Chisholm failed to clear on the edge of their own penalty box allowing Mackie the opportunity to strike at goal. McKenzie had an effort blocked by Fleming before the visitors restored their two-goal advantage. CHISHOLM chased a Murray through ball and pipped the out-rushing Gordon to the ball, poking it under the keeper from 16-yards with the home defence nowhere to be seen. Murray came within inches of reaching Brown's centre as Vale broke with purpose but Christie did just enough to prevent the league's top-scorer from reaching his fortieth. Gordon then saved comfortably from McAllister's header after the unmarked winger had been picked out by Chisholm's deep cross.

Broch opened the second half on the ascendancy and came close to pulling a goal back when Main headed wide following a quickly taken corner kick which caught the Vale defence totally off-guard. At the other end Dolan's run and tempting cross saw no takers inside the six-yard box much to the frustration of the hard working Vale full-back. McKenzie then broke into the Broch penalty area but Gordon did well to block his angled shot forcing the ball round his post for a fruitless corner kick. Gordon then twice denied the Banff side, as they looked to tie-up the three points.
Firstly Robbie Brown broke clear of the home defence only to see Gordon rush quickly from his line to block the Vale midfielder's effort before the experienced keeper tipped a rasping McKenzie drive over his own cross bar after good build-up play between Kidd and McAllister. Murray knocked a loose ball over the top from just 6-yards after receiving a miscued shot from strike-partner McKenzie but the far-side linesman's flag was already raised for offside to spare the ex-Broch player's blushes.
McKenzie then warmed Gordon's hands with a fiercely hit but rather ambitious free kick from distance before the home side pulled a goal back. A short corner allowed Milne far too much time before crossing to the head of Fleming who easily netted past the stranded Thompson from 12-yards.
It was now 'game on' and Broch threw everything at the visitor's defence in an effort to get something from the match but Vale stood firm with some resolute defending from Anderson, Dlugonski and co. Levi Stephen replaced the impressive Terry Kidd and within a minute Vale killed off their hosts with a fourth goal. A high ball was only partially cleared to the edge of the Broch penalty area where Mike McKENZIE was in-waiting and he unleashed a ferocious first-time volley which hit the back of the net before Billy Gordon could even move.
The noisy 'Valley Crew' were now in chants of 'Championiees' and who could blame them after seeing their favourites overcome one of the biggest hurdles, which stood in their way towards their first Highland League crown.
As the game petered out McKenzie saw his low drive saved by Gordon before Darren McAllister had the ball in the net only for it to be ruled out for offside. Substitute Ritchie Taylor, who had replaced Ian Murray, found room inside the Broch penalty box before laying it off to McKenzie but Fleming stepped in at the vital moment to clear the danger.

Vale:
Thompson, Dolan, Kinghorn, Chisholm, Dlugonski, #Anderson, McAllister, Brown, McKenzie, Murray (Taylor 84), Kidd (L. Stephen 71)
Subs not used: Montgomery, Pressley, Speirs

Fraserburgh:
Gordon, Milne, #Geddes, Christie, #Wemyss, #Fleming, #Norris, Mackie, Main, McLaren, Noble
Subs not used: Main, Keith, Cowie, Scott

Referee: S. Duff
Another professional performance from the Banffer's leaves them just requiring eight more points to be sure of the title. " Not a game for the purists but a satisfactory outcome" said Manager Gregg Carrol after another gruelling ninety minutes of frantic football. "We wanted so much to come here and get a result after the disappointment of last season and we did just that although it wasn't a classic in terms of football. At this stage it's all about picking up points", added Carrol.