Jamie Watt's twenty-first goal of the season all but ended Broch's championship aspirations, and more than likely handed Huntly their first title in over seven years, when Vale went on to complete the league double over Charlie Duncan's side in a hard fought match played at one hundred miles and hour from start to finish.
Watt netted Stuart Gray's cross from close range five minutes from the interval and although the home side continued to dominate proceedings they could not find a way past the well-organised visiting defence who had, man-of-the-match Mark Chisholm, Danny Craib and skipper Bryan Dlugonski in fine form.
Gregg Carrol surprised a few when he included Mike McKenzie in his starting eleven for the first time since the midweek away tie at Huntly four weeks ago, McKenzie replacing the absent Graeme Cadger upfront alongside top scorer Jamie Watt.
Carrol was also without the suspended Robbie Brown and in came Danny Craib as a straight replacement in a three-man defence.
Ryan Pressley also featured for the Banffers in a holding midfield role, which saw Mark Smith and Terry Kidd relegated to the subs bench.
The home side were at full strength as they attempted to put the Vale hoodoo behind them and give themselves a chance of stealing the league title from under the noses of Huntly although it was a tall order if they did pick up the three points against their visitors.

A second minute corner from Kenny Gilbert caused a little flutter in the hearts of the home support as things got underway but veteran keeper Billy Gordon was on hand to collect after the ball had bounced about inside the Broch six-yard box.
At the opposite end of the field Ian Murray tried a trademark cheeky lob which Ross Bremner had to watch closely as it drifted just over the cross bar.
"Brems" had to then rush from his goal line to clear ahead of the speedy Mike Stephen as he broke in behind the Vale defence.
The Banffers thought they had taken the lead when they caught out a very square looking home back-line but Jamie Watt, who was the first of three Vale players to the ball whilst they bore down on Billy Gordon's goal latching onto Mike McKenzie's threaded pass was adjudged to be offside by the stand-side linesman whose flag was very late indeed.
Bremner did well to stop Trevor Fleming's disappointing 16-yarder after Ian Murray had tee-ed up the defender come midfielder at the edge of the 18-yard box.
Michael Stephen, who looked alert all night, tried to find the far corner with an audacious effort from the tightest of angles saw his effort sailed a foot or so wide of its intended target with Ross Bremner well beaten. Broch continued to press for the opener and Ian Murray fired another attempt over under pressure from Danny Craib.
A superb low cross into the Vale penalty box from Cowie should have seen the home side take the lead but Stephen Main just failed to get his toe on the end of it although to be fair to the winger he did see the ball late. Danny Craib very nearly gave away a penalty when he on the wrong side of Ian Murray just inside the box but referee Stuart Duff waved away Broch's claims when the diminutive striker went down under the challenge from behind.
With just five minutes of the first period remaining the visitors stunned the home support when they grabbed the lead.
A corner was eventually cleared out to Stuart Gray on the right and his ball back into the six-yard box found the out-stretched boot of Jamie WATT who got enough on the ball to divert it past the stranded Billy Gordon with the remainder of the home defence screaming at the stand-side official for the offside flag.
Main fired high and wide when he snatched at a loose ball which fell off of Ryan Pressley as he attempted to clear but the finish from Main summed up Broch's first half performance, plenty of effort but lacking composure when it was required.

Jamie Watt very nearly picked out the deep run of Kenny Gilbert with a floated cross which was just cutout by Russell McBride.
Vale's confidence grew and Watt was presented with another opportunity when through on Billy Gordon's goal but the scorer elected to pass inside rather than go for goal and the chance went a-begging.
Michael Stephen's low cross into the opposite six-yard box found no black and white stripped shirts as play raged from end to end.
McBride forced Ross Bremner into a fairly comfortable save following a corner before Danny Craib popped up in the right place at the right time to clear another dangerous Stephen low cross into the mixer.
As the game threatened to boil over Trevor Fleming was rightly yellow carded for leaving his boot in after hauling down the industrious Paul Urquhart.
Billy Gordon was called into action to deal with a Stuart Gray low cross, which was on its way to the waiting Jamie Watt, but Gordon was brave and dived at the feet of Watt to keep his side in the game.
Steve Dolan, running onto a cushioned Paul Urquhart header, found Billy Gordon again in fine form as he got his positioning spot on to beat away "Dippy's" left-foot drive, although the wing-back had a chance from the rebound which he fired over with his weaker right.
Gaps started to appear in the home defence as they threw bodies forward in a desperate effort to get something from the game with Mike McKenzie very nearly carving out another chance with some fine skill to side foot Fleming before standing the ball up to the back post but there were no red shirts to capitalise on the fine flighted ball.
A quick sweeping break from the Banffers, not dissimilar to Vale's second at Broch two weeks earlier in the League Cup, saw Urquhart dart down the left channel before picking out the run of Jamie Watt but again Billy Gordon came to home side's with a fine stop, spreading himself full length to thwart Watt.
Derek Milne showed Danny Craib a clean pair of heels but elected to cut the ball back across goal rather than shoot himself, which might have been the better option as Dlugonski and co mopped up once more.
Substitute Gavin Weymss came as close as Broch were to come when he volleyed a corner against Ross Bremner's right-hand upright, the ball landing out for a goal kick which just about summed up Charlie Duncan's side's luck on the night.
Weymss had another half chance but got too much on his header when all that was required the faintest of touches before Milne pulled another effort wide.
Derek Milne had a great chance to level the match with five minutes remaining but volleyed straight at Bremner with the goal at his mercy.
Ian Murray also came close with a turn and strike and at the other end Urquhart fired over when well placed. In the ninetieth minute Jamie Watt should have doubled his tally when straight through with only Gordon to beat he placed his shot wide after being set-up by Mike McKenzie, who looked back to his best in patches over the ninety minutes.

A satisfied Gregg Carrol who saw his side go 14 out of fifteen games unbeaten at Bellslea said, "It was an encouraging display considering we were playing for pride only and although Broch put us under a fair bit of pressure over the piece I thought our defending was pretty solid."
"I would have preferred to give some of the younger lads a run tonight but it would have been disrespectful to the rest of the league and we also want to keep the run going as we gear up for the League Cup final".
When asked about the players who would be available for the cup final Carrol said, "I have asked all the players in question and we are making headway but I cannot confirm at this moment who will definitely be available for selection".

Broch:
Gordon, Milne, N. Main, McBride, Christie (Johnston 81), #Fleming, Norris (West 81), Cowie, Murray, S. Main (Weymss 65), Stephen
Subs not used: Geddes, Thompson
Manager: Charlie Duncan

Vale:
Bremner, #Dolan (Smith 81), Gray (Farrimond 58), Chisholm, Dlugonski (Cpt), Craib, Pressley, #Gilbert (Kidd 65), McKenzie, Watt, Urquhart
Subs not used: Noble, Fowlie (GK)

Referee:  Stuart Duff