The ding-dong battle at the top of the Scot Ads Highland League took another twist on Saturday when Deveronvale went back to the summit on goal difference over Clach courtesy of an Ian Murray hat-trick against first-footers Cove Rangers, while Fraserburgh crept up to third just a point off the joint table toppers.
In a hard fought match played at a frantic pace Vale just about edged the three points off their visitors but it took a real gritty performance and some excellent finishing from the prolific "Molby" Murray to finally see off the Aberdeen based side.
Cove travelled to Banff with high expectations after a relatively poor start to the season and with former Vale favourite David Henderson making his debut at the back and perhaps went home wondering what might have been if Mike Beattie's second half effort had sneaked in instead of crashing off Ross Bremner's crossbar.
The Banffers were again missing Robbie Brown, who was completing his three-match ban, and the injured duo of Mark Chisholm and Darren McAllister while Cove were at full strength apart from long-term injury victim Marc Coull, the keeper who broke his leg in the first game of the season. Prior to kick-off a minutes' silence was observed for Sterling Foss, who sadly passed away recently. The ex-Vale keeper, who kept goal for the Banffers from 1949-1952, was part of a side who picked up both the Qualifying & Aberdeenshire Cups during the 51-52 season.

A nasty low sun faced Vale as they kicked off in otherwise perfect conditions but unlike the weather the Banff side got off to less than ideal start. Skipper Scott Anderson took a first minute knock following a half-way line challenge with Nicky Gordon and although the defender tried to run it off he was unable to continue and was replaced by Terry Kidd five minutes later.
Gregg Carrol made the enforced change and immediately pushed Stuart Gray into the sweeper's position leaving substitute Terry Kidd to fill in at right fullback.
Vale understandably took time to settle before normal service was resumed and Steve Dolan skipped into the Cove penalty box chasing a Mike McKenzie through ball but his cutback was cleared at the near post by Henderson. As Vale pushed forward looking for the opener a Mike McKenzie drive was on target but Kevin Martin, in the visiting goal, got his full body behind it to save comfortably. A poor defensive clearance was picked up by Mike Beattie at the other end who in turn slipped the ball to strike partner Nicky Gordon but his effort on goal was a couple of feet wide of Ross Bremner's right-hand post.
Vale went into a seventeenth minute lead after a crunching tackle in the middle of the park from Ryan Pressley saw Levi Stephen pick up the loose ball before picking out "Dippy" Dolan's run into the Rangers box and although the defender had the time and space to score himself he elected to fire low across the six-yard box to the waiting Ian MURRAY and he slid the ball home ahead of Martin.
Paul Urquhart saw a 20-yarder sail wide before Murray almost increased Vale's lead when he sneaked in on the blind side of Craig McHattie only to knock his effort from a tight angle wide.
A mistake form Stuart Gray inside his own half almost cost his side dearly but fortunately Gordon pulled his opportunity wide after being teed- up at the edge of the Vale box.
A minute later however Vale were again caught dilly-dallying in defence and this time it cost them dearly as the Aberdeen side pulled level. Bryan Dlugonski's slack pass to Steve Dolan was pounced upon by John Brown and he in turn fed in Mike Beattie who beat Bremner to the ball to score from close range. Vale responded with a Mike McKenzie effort from distance, which was easily saved by Martin. Ian MURRAY, who was looking as sharp as ever in front of goal, lifted the Banff side's spirits again with a beautifully executed goal minutes later to put Vale back in front. Levis Stephen chipped an inch perfect exquisite pass over the top of the visitor's defence to find the feet of the striker, who was making his first start since October, and he delightfully dinked the ball over the body of the diving Martin after drawing the keeper from his line.
Gary Clark, who saw red when the teams last met, was very lucky to find female referee Morag Pirie in lenient mood when he took out Stephen blatantly from behind only to receive a stern word from the lady in black before rightly awarding Vale a freekick.
On the stroke of the half-time whistle Steve Dolan looked to have won a penalty kick following John Brown's clumsy tackle on him as he darted into the box but referee Morag Pirie's line of view was either blocked or she thought Brown got something on the ball as he attempted to clear but neither the less she waved away Vale's strong claims and play raged on.
Just to rub salt into the Banffer's wounds Cove went up the other end and equalised. An out-swinging cross from the left was perfect for the in-rushing Naill Mullen who side footed home past the unprotected Ross Bremner from close range.

The surprisingly low crowd welcomed the home players back on for the second period with an optimistic cheer and Mike McKenzie almost handed them just what they were looking for with a rasping drive, which sailed a foot or so over the top.
Cove replied with a Mike Beattie header, which hit the rigging behind the goal after he had out-jumped Terry Kidd at the back stick.
Paul Urquhart's effort across the face of goal had Martin worried but the ball bounced inches wide of the opposite post with no Vale strikers on hand to tap home.
With eleven minutes of the second half alive Ian MURRAY scored his third of the afternoon and what turned out to be the winner for his side when he finished with aplomb from close range following another great tackle from Ryan Pressley who won the ball back for Vale before Murray was picked out by Terry Kidd's accurate pass into the penalty area.
Captain Mike Beattie sent out a warning to the hosts that his side were not done for yet and he was unlucky to see his volley cannon back off the crossbar as he latched onto a Henderson up-and-under clearance.
As the game started to open up Sponsors man-of-the-match Ryan Pressley had a low drive blocked by a ruck of players before it could reach Martin inside the Cove box following a corner which was only partially cleared by the visiting defence.
Levi Stephen was caught for the second time by Gary Clark after the ball had gone but again the referee failed to spot the foul and although the Vale midfielder had to leave the field for treatment he was soon back in the thick of things.
As the game wore on past eighty minutes Cove were still pressing for an equaliser but the patched up home defence were not for breaking and again and again denied the Rangers strikers any real attempts on goal with some stern solid defending.
Barrie Stephen twice had opportunities to make the points save for his side but both times the league's top-scorer's efforts lacked the cutting edge to beat the Cove number one. Ian Murray then set-up Stephen with a delightful ball to the back post but this time Kevin Martin did earn his corn with a fine save with his feet to deny the young winger.
Stuart Gray might have scored what would have been a rare goal for the defender when he was all alone inside the six-yard box as Stephen's whipped cross came over but the youngster in trying to put the deftest of touches onto the ball missed it completely and it bounced innocuously past the upright with Martin truly beaten.
Ross Bremner was forced into a save when he tipped over a dangerous looking cross from Mullen and then moments later the big keeper did really well to pounce and hold an awkward dipping centre from Cove play-maker Mark Smith.
Smith then picked up the only yellow card of the afternoon as he swung his boot dangerously high at the head of Ryan Pressley although it was more in frustration than with any malice intended. With five minutes left Barrie Stephen made good progress into the Cove box but after doing all the hard work he let himself down with a weak effort, which was easy for Martin to collect.
Substitute Jamie Watt, who had earlier replaced the slightly out of touch Mike McKenzie, ran onto a Terry Kidd through ball and was inches from putting the finishing touches to good afternoon's work from the Banff side when his well-struck effort crashed off the post, much to the delight of the sparse travelling support who were ironically cheering the striker for choosing the Vale ahead of signing for Cove.

"Three points are very welcome at any time and it just goes to prove that's there's no easy games especially when your champions" said a very relieved Gregg Carrol after watching his side set themselves up nicely for a crack at League rivals Clach next Saturday.
After completing the double over the Aberdeen side Carrol said, "Cove came here and played really well, they certainly seemed to have turned the corner now and I'm sure will give any side a run for their money between now and the end of the season. They could easily have went away with a point although we did have the chances to seal the points but failed to stick the ball away after creating decent opportunities. I thought Ian (Murray) was different class and apart from the first goal Terry (Kidd) slotted in well at right-back. We gambled a wee bit and it paid off for as we could have easily put Ryan (Pressley) back into defence but we decided to stick with our game plan and it paid off".
Carrol went on to say, "the second half was a real end-to-end battle and we have Ross Bremner to thank for commanding his box brilliantly as Cove applied some late pressure on our shored-up back four. We may be missing Scott (Anderson) again next week after he picked up the early injury today but I'm sure the boys who are selected will do their utmost to keep things tight at the back again".
"Next Saturday will take care of its self as the players know what is expected of them and if we apply ourselves correctly then we might just get what we're looking for".

Vale:
Bremner, Dolan, Gray, Pressley, Dlugonski, Anderson (Kidd 6), B. Stephen, L. Stephen, McKenzie (Watt 78), Murray (Campbell 87), Urquhart
Subs not used: - Sharp, Phimister (GK)

Cove Rangers
Martin, McHattie, McCraw (Cheyne 87), #Smith, Henderson, Livingstone, Mullen, Clark, Gordon (Yeats 77), Beattie, Brown
Subs not used: - Flaws, Fraser, Charles (GK)

Referee: M.Pirie