Deveronvale picked up their first points on the road this season with a convincing victory over hosts Forres Mechanics to move themselves up to fourth in the table, just above the Morayshire side on goal difference.
Gregg Carrol's depleted squad dictated play for the majority of the ninety minutes and left with all three points to heap more misery on Alan Scott's side who had lost seven goals at Inverness the previous Saturday.
With Steve Dolan calling off late on Friday night following a wedding and Ryan Pressley failing a late fitness test Carrol was again down to the bare bones but the manager's team selection showed all the ingredients of a winning formation from the offset and Vale thoroughly deserved all three points with a superb team performance.
Mike McKenzie orchestrated things from the front scoring one and creating another two and Robbie Brown, Mark Chisholm and Mark Slater seemed to have a good understanding in a makeshift back-three, who had never played together, as they dealt efficiently with the threat of Charlie Brown and Ryan Green.

When Mark Smith forced a third minute corner, which came to nothing, the signs were there for the home side that their visitors meant business and although Jamie Watt passed up a decent chance when he fired more or less straight at McKenzie in the Forres goal, Vale continued to dictate the play early on, firing into a stiff westerly breeze.

Paul Urquhart tested Ally McKenzie with a rather tame effort from the edge of the area before Mike McKenzie thought he had opened the scoring when he drilled a grounder past the Mechanics number one only for it to bounce off the foot of the upright and fall to safety.
Mike McKenzie was making the Vale tick in the final third and deservedly got his name on the goal-sheet midway through the first half with a goal started and finished by the highly talented striker.

Mikey threaded a ball through the Mechanics defence to find Bryan Dlugonski galloping to the bye-line and as the ball was fired back across the six-yard box MCKENZIE was on hand to coolly plant the ball into the bottom corner for his fourth of the campaign.
Matheson fired wide from a decent position as Mechanics responded and had broken quickly following a Vale corner. Ross Bremner then did really well to deny Ryan Green at his feet after the huge striker had been fed in behind the Vale defence by strike partner Charlie Brown.
Mark Smith almost grabbed a second for the Banff side when made some room for himself inside the Forres box before placing a low effort towards the bottom corner but McKenzie was equal to it as he dived at full stretch to turn the ball around the foot of his post.

Charlie Brown had a half chance to get his side back in the game as Forres came out all fired up for the second period but the inform striker smothered his shot making it an easy save for Ross Bremner.
A minute or so later Vale doubled their advantage to knock the stuffing out of their hosts when Jamie WATT rose unmarked to head a Mike McKenzie corner past the stranded McKenzie from close range.

Stuart Gray forced McKenzie into a smart save when he fired a shot goalwards from the corner of the eighteen-yard box but the keeper kept his side in the game with a decent stop before mike McKenzie hit the side netting from close range as he waltzed his way into the Mechanic's box looking for a second.
McKenzie fired a wind-assisted free kick over the top before Matheson wasted a good chance for the hosts when he completely missed a Charlie Brown centre, unmarked at far post and with only "Brems" to beat.
A flowing move started by the impressive Stuart Gray, in his new wingback role, ended with Mike McKenzie glancing an effort just wide as vale continued to dominate proceedings.
A super ball into the 6-yard box from Jamie Watt was just missed at the far post by the in-rushing Mark Smith but the Red-haired midfielder wasn't to be denied and did manage to get his name amongst the scorers minutes later.

A delighted Gregg Carrol found it difficult to pick out a man-of-the-match from his side that swept aside their opponents with a fine away victory, "All the lads did us proud today and it's very hard to single out any of them as they all played their part. After much debate we decided to stick with the same formation as last week and it turned up trumps again although sometimes decisions go for you and sometimes they don't and today was our day".
"We climbed the table and another rung in the ladder today but we're not getting carried away just yet as there are many hard games to follow and we must keep our feet firmly on the ground and take each game as it comes although this is a hard place to come to and any victory is welcome especially with a clean sheet", added Carrol

Forres:
McKenzie, Grant, McLean (Matheson 75), McLean, McPherson, Morrison, Whyte, Brown, Green, Matheson, Holmes (#Rowley 87)
Subs not used: - Black, Nicolson, Hardie
Manager: - Alan Scott

Vale:
Bremner, Dlugonski (Cpt.), Gray (Farrimond 72), Chisholm, Slater, Brown, Smith, Kidd, McKenzie (Noble 87), Watt, #Urquhart (Gilbert 72) Subs not used: - Phimister (GK)

Referee:A. Mathers (4)
Approx. Attendance 270