Champions Vale and title hopefuls Fraserburgh fought out an intriguing draw at Princess Royal on Saturday to all but end Vale's faint hopes of retaining their title and in doing so move the visitors one step closer to securing a second Broch league victory in three years.
The home side took the lead courtesy of Paul "Yogi" Urquhart's second goal in as many games but it was short lived as Broch levelled just three minutes later thanks to Trevor Fleming's close range header.
Considering the Arctic conditions which befell the Aberdeenshire area over the previous four or five days Princess Royal Park was in pretty good condition as Vale welcomed league leaders Fraserburgh to Banff in one of only three matches in the Highland League to beat the snowy weather.
Broch travelled the short distance along the A97 looking to pick up something from the game as they fought out the championship with, until recent, long time leaders Clachnacuddin whilst Vale were looking to restore some home pride after losing heavily to Huntly in their last home fixture two weeks ago.
Charlie Duncan's side were at full strength for the clash while opposite number Gregg Carroll was again without injured skipper Scott Anderson and the suspended Robbie Brown, electing to go with the same starting eleven who had won at Wick the previous weekend.

Vale kicked off with a strong northerly wind at their backs but it was the inform visitors who were quickest out of the traps and soon had Vale's defence under some early pressure.
A Stephen corner from the left was headed narrowly past Bremner's post by Russell McBride with Vale's defence looking slightly suspect to the Broch movement from their first set piece of the afternoon.
Michael Stephen was soon in the thick of things and was giving marker Stuart Gray plenty to think about using his pace and trickery to his advantage over the young Vale defender in what was starting to look as a key area of the eagerly awaited encounter.
Vale came into the game with about ten minutes played and a Mike McKenzie deep curling cross picked out Barrie Stephen at the far post but his headed effort sailed narrowly past the far stick although it wouldn't have counted as the stand-side's flag had already been raised for offside.
Mark Chisholm saw his 16-yard drive well saved by Broch number one Billy Gordon as Vale started to click into gear and from the resulting corner Jamie Watt was inches from getting the all-important touch inside the 6-yard box to Barrie Stephen's low centre.
Captain Steve Dolan tried to get the better of Billy Gordon with a curling effort from distance but the Broch veteran saved comfortably at his near post.
A last ditch tackle by Stuart Gray thwarted Bissett as he tried to turn & shoot following some good link up play between Stephen and Wemyss at the edge of the area.
At the other end a McKenzie drive from distance took a slight deflection on its way goalwards but the Banffers failed to make the resultant corner count.
The large crowd were being treated to a free flowing and enthralling match with both sides playing some great attacking football making it very pleasing on the eye and easy to referee for match official Alan Freeland.
A delightful chip from Jamie Watt had Billy Gordon well beat but unfortunately for the pint-size striker the ball cannoned back of the crossbar before being cleared by a relieved Broch rearguard. Broch broke quickly and Bremner came to Vale's rescue when he saved Wemyss' low shot with his left leg following a free-flowing move involving three or four players.
Gordon picked the ball off Paul Urquhart's head as he looked to meet Barrie Stephen's cross and at the other end Bremner brilliantly turned Geddes' 25-yarder around the post with a strong left-hand.
Good inter play between Urquhart & Watt saw the latter pushed as he made way into the Broch penalty box but the wee striker elected to stay on his feet and shoot although from a tight angle it was always going to be difficult to beat Gordon and perhaps if he'd decided to go down under the initial challenge Vale may well have been awarded a penalty kick for the infringement.
McKenzie and Pressley were cautioned in quick succession just before referee Freeland blew for the half time interval.

A super ball in from the right was headed narrowly wide by Mark Chisholm as Vale went looking for an early goal at the beginning of the second period.
Stuart Gray unfortunately limped off for the Banff side five minutes after the re-start and was replaced by Darren McAllister who went straight into the right-back position vacated by Gray.
Within two minutes of coming on Darren McAllister had a hand in setting up the opener for the homeside. Darren's ball to Barrie Stephen on the right was whipped into the far post and although Mark Chisholm was just beaten to the flighted cross by his marker Paul URQUHART was on hand to steer the loose ball into the corner of the net from 6 or 7 yards out.
Broch responded immediately and hauled themselves level three minutes later under slightly suspicious circumstances.
Mike Stephen's corner from the left was right on top of Ross Bremner and as the keeper attempted to punch he may well have been impeded as he attempted a fisted clearance but Trevor Fleming wasn't hanging about to see as he powered the loose ball home from a couple of yards to square the match.
Bremner pulled off a fabulous point-blank save minutes later to deny scorer Fleming as the defender-turned-midfielder volleyed towards goal from the edge of the six-yard box looking to beat "Brems" for the second time in the match.
Mike McKenzie fired straight down the throat of Billy Gordon as Vale responded but it was the visitors who looked the likelier to grab the points and Bissett headed narrowly over following another Mike Stephen corner.
Bissett, who was a constant pest for the home defence all afternoon, fired another effort wide before Steve Dolan almost brought the house down with an audacious lob which beat Gordon but failed to find the net thanks mainly to the strong wind which seemed to take the ball away from goal rather than allowing it to nestle in the far corner.
Vale's goal had a real let off when Fleming's well-struck drive cannoned back off team-mate Bissett's head as it looked to hit the back of the net, as the game raged from end to end.
Dolan had another attempt on goal following some patient build-up play from the Banffers but his effort was blocked on the six-yard box before it could test Gordon.
Broch went straight up the other end and the impressive Russell McBride's header came back off the crossbar following yet another dangerous corner kick into Vale's penalty area.
Bremner rushed from his line to deny substitute Neil McLaren as the striker looked to latch onto a threaded ball in behind messers Pressley and Dlugonski but the big keeper got there first in what turned out to be the last chance of an entertaining afternoon of football.
Ross Bremner picked up the sponsors' man-of-the-match award for the first time for his new club.

Vale gaffer Gregg Caroll was quietly pleased with his side's performance even though it meant that their title challenge was over.
Carrol said, "I thought we defended very well throughout and couldn't fault any of the back four or the keeper for what was very much workman like performance from my boys. The team spirit is certainly there for all to see and I was pleased to see Paul (Urquhart) score for the second week running as he works very hard and it sometimes goes unnoticed by some.
A draw was a fair result and something we can build on for what is a relatively young Vale side".
"A draw probably suits them better than us but to be perfectly honest our chances of winning the title were lost a few weeks back so I'd prefer to look to the League Cup and next season from now on in", added Carrol.

Vale:
Bremner, Dolan (Cpt.), Gray (#McAllister 51), Chisholm, Dlugonski, #Pressley, B. Stephen (Farmer 88), Kidd, Watt, #McKenzie, Urquhart
Subs not used: - Walker, Munro, Phimister (GK)

Fraserburgh
Gordon, Milne, Geddes, Clark, Bissett, Fleming, Norris, McBride, Wemyss (Cowie 75), #S. Main (N. Main 61), M. Stephen (McLaren 87)
Subs not used: - Thomson, Christie

Referee:  A.Freeland