Vale had to settle for a share of the spoils with last season's champions, Fraserburgh on Saturday in an encounter played in perfect conditions but not matched by the players in a rather scrappy affair which leaves Vale trailing Inverurie locos by three points at the top of the 'Scot Ads Highland League'.

The home side had taken an early lead through top scorer, Ian Murray but Broch squared the match seven minutes later with a well-taken strike from Gavin Wemyss. Neither team could take advantage of the few real chances that were created during the remainder of the game and had to settle for a point-a-piece.
It was the second meeting of the local rivals in the space of ten days with the visitors out looking for revenge after their recent defeat to their hosts in the semi-final of the Aberdeenshire Shield.
Vale boss Gregg Carrol kept faith with the same eleven who started the demolition job at Fort William last Saturday although the manager took a chance on skipper Scott Anderson who was suffering from the Flu and had to be replaced after just forty-five minutes.
Vale kicked off and won an early corner but Stephen's poor delivery was easily cleared by the visiting defence. The home side continued to press and were awarded when they took an early lead. Stephen's early free kick released Mike McKenzie down the right and his low struck cross was headed past Gordon via the post by Ian MURRAY. Speirs got himself injured at the other end as he punched clear under pressure from Keith but after treatment the young keeper was able to continue. Robbie Brown was very unlucky to see his header come back off the upright following a deep cross from Matty Kinghorn.
The visitors equalised seconds later when Dolan failed to cut out a through ball leaving Wemyss time and space to rifle the ball high past Speirs from the 16 yards.
Brown then had a header cleared off the line following a Stephen corner as Vale tried to regain their advantage. Chisholm headed just wide and at the other end Brown had to hack clear inside his own box as McLaren looked to pounce.
The game continued to swing from end to end with neither keeper called into any kind of serious action and neither side having the upper hand.

Nigel Montgomery replaced Scott Anderson for the second forty-five and this changed the shape of the homesters' play but although they enjoyed the lion's share of possession during the half they could not find the all-important winner. Urquhart headed just over after good work by Murray and then the same player tested Gordon from 18 yards but the keeper held well.
Geddes went on a great forty-yard run but his final shot was well wide of Speir's upright, much to the relief of the home support.
Gordon saved comfortably from Stephen's weaker right-footed effort before McKenzie passed up a good opportunity when he shot straight at Gordon when well placed.
Dolan played a neat one-two with McKenzie on the edge of the penalty area but the defender's shot was weak and easily gathered by the visiting keeper.
McKenzie wasted another good opportunity for the home side when left with options to his left or with Nigel Montgomery unmarked and in acres of room at the far stick the striker elected to shoot and rather smother his shot allowing Gordon an easy save.
Gordon then did well to save from Murray as the wee striker wriggled his way past Milne before firing from six yards. With virtually the last kick of the match a mistake by Stephen gave Keith a great chance to sneak all three points for the visitors but Speirs was equal to the hit-man's effort blocking with his legs to save his team-mates' blushes. Referee Northcroft found it necessary to book four Vale players in what was a hard fought but never a dirty game.

Manager Gregg Carrol was disappointed with his team's performance and agreed that a share of the points was just about right over the piece. Carrol went on to say "we didn't play particularly well and might have even lost the game in the dying minutes, as the players tired, but it's two points dropped rather than a point gained in my book".