Jamie Watt celebrated his brace, which in the end was just enough to see off champions Clach in a highly charged encounter, by putting pen to paper on a new two year deal at the Banff club as they jumped to joint third in the table in one of the most exciting league races that the Highland League has ever seen.
Watt's goals, which were only separated by ninety seconds, saw Gregg Carrol's side finally get the better of the Inverness outfit in a tense affair strictly not for the faint hearted.
Alex Bone had opened the scoring with a hotly contested penalty midway through the first half after captain Bryan Dlugonski was adjudged to have pushed Mike Sanderson inside the area.
However Vale regrouped at the interval and just managed to pick up the three points when twice in a matter of minutes Jamie Watt found himself through one on one with Clach keeper Ally Ridgers and both times the wee striker kept his nerve to net sending the ecstatic home crowd into raptures.

A big build up to the match was enhanced by Clach's noisy travelling support as third place and reigning champions played fourth in the race for the championship flag.
Chances were far and few in a nervous and untidy first forty-five although Dave Ross may have done better when he headed weakly past at the back post after marker Robbie Brown, who had replaced Paul Urquhart in midfield for this one, allowed the tall number eight half a yard inside the penalty box.
At the other end Mike McKenzie and Jamie Watt combined well at the edge of the Lilywhites' box but McKay timed his block to perfection as Watt looked to connect with strike partner McKenzie's low cross into the six-yard box.
However, with many misplaced passes (mainly from the visitors it has to be said) and the game looking to be going nowhere the visiting first-footers shocked Vale when they grabbed the all-important opener midway through the first period.
A deep diagonal ball was sent into Ross Bremner's 18-yard box by Neil MacCuish and as Mike Sanderson and Bryan Dlugonski came together down went Sanderson under the challenge. Referee Duff seemed to have a decent view of the incident and pointed straight to the spot although it did seem a little harsh. Chisholm and Dlugonski hotly contested the decision but it stood and Alex Bone sent Bremner the wrong way to send the vociferous travellers from Inverness into huge celebrations on the Canal Park Bank.
The Banffers responded when they won two corners on the right in quick succession which saw Robbie Brown get his head to the second but Ally Ridgers, who missed the first one completely, was on hand to save "Brooner's" effort on his goal-line.
Steve Dolan was then inches from connecting with a Mike McKenzie centre, which dropped dangerously in front of the visitor's goal.
McKenzie then volleyed wide after Bremner had saved comfortably from Alex Bone's snap shot from the edge of the box.
Bone had a great chance to put his side in a very commanding lead two minutes from the half-time whistle but headed straight at Bremner off Mike Sanderson's cross from the left touchline.

The wind increased as Vale came out for the second half looking for a way back into the game and Terry Kidd fired an early effort well wide of Ridger's right-hand post.
As the game threatened to boil over Gregg Carrol was severely lectured by referee Duff for voicing his disapproving opinion too loudly from the sidelines.
Mr Carrol had to hold his tongue minutes later as Princess Royal erupted with screams for a penalty after Terry Kidd looked to be tripped as he wriggled into the Clach 18-yard box and past a couple of defenders but the referee stood strong and waved away Vale's loud appeals.
Another claim for a spot kick was turned down when the ball appeared to strike the arm of Steve MacDonald as Mike McKenzie attempted to put the ball into the danger area but this time perhaps the man-in-black was correct with his decision as it looked more like ball to hand than the other way around.
Graeme Cadger was sent on in the place of Danny Craib as Vale went to a more attack minded formation knowing that a defeat simply wasn't on the agenda and with seventy-four minutes on the clock they dragged themselves level.
A ball into the box from Mark Smith bounced awkwardly in front of Steve MacDonald and then over his head and the ever-alert Jamie WATT was onto it in a flash leaving him with only Ally Ridgers to beat and the top-scorer didn't disappoint with a cool finish into the bottom corner of the net. Clach immediately won a corner at the other end but Gary Ross headed Colin Mitchell's centre well wide of the upright.
Incredibly Gregg Carrol's side went straight up the other end and scored again with a very similar counter.
Ross Bremner's long goal kick completely eluded the visitor's defence leaving the anticipating Jamie WATT through all alone with Ridgers standing in the way of his second of the afternoon but the pint size number ten was the most un-nerved person in the place as he tucked the ball past the advancing keeper with great aplomb to wrap up the points for the Banffers.
Vale had to battle hard to keep hold of their hard earned victory and unsung hero Ross Bremner turned from goal maker to points maker when he somehow palmed Alex Bones point blank header onto the cross-bar before catching the ball as it rebounded to him on the goal-line.
With the minutes ticking away Bremner again denied the champions when he dived at full length to pluck a dangerous looking cross from the left bye-line out of the air before it could reach the waiting Bone.
Sponsor's man-of-the-match Jamie Watt might have had a hat trick near the end when Bryan Dlugonski broke clear down Clach's right with the visitors from Inverness short on bodies as they pushed forward but the skipper's centre to the waiting Watt was slightly in front of him and the chance was gone.

While Clach boss Robbie Williamson may look at the outcome of the match as two lapses of concentration from his defence opposite number Gregg Carrol saw his side's victory as a result of "true grit".
Carrol said, "I thought the performance today was first class and all my players were heroes. To come back from a soft first half goal to win it was absolutely tremendous especially as we haven't seen too much football over the past ten weeks." "Although I seldom pick out any individual for special praise Ross Bremner's save near the end was top drawer and deserves a mention as does Mike McKenzie's second half performance but all in all every player played his part and we're obviously delighted with the victory".
Vale have yet another free Saturday next weekend before travelling to Keith a week later in what will be another massive test for Carrol's league title hopefuls.