League leaders Fraserburgh were literally blown away at Banff on Saturday when they were comprehensively beaten by Gregg Carrol's Deveronvale who put on their best display of the season so far with a stunning performance, especially in the second forty-five to run out worthy winners.
The billed game of the day lived up to expectations, well certainly to the valley faithful, as Vale bombarded Billy Gordon's goal for the majority of the match creating no less than twenty-one attempts and if it wasn't for the veteran Broch keeper it could easily have been double figures as the Banffers closed the gap at the top of the table to just two points.
The rest of the P & J Highland League will sit up and take notice of Vale's recent run of form which has seen them record five straight league victories scoring twenty-two goals in the process and climb up the table to joint second alongside Inverurie Locos and although there's along way to go in the championship race on Saturday's performance Vale won't be far away come next Spring.
Gregg Carrol was without injured defenders Mark Slater & Mark Chisholm for the encounter but welcomed back Ryan Pressley, Carrol re-instating messers Steve Dolan & Bryan Dlugonski to their recognised positions of left-wing back and central defence respectively in a three-five-two formation.
Charlie Duncan's side travelled to Banff looking to get back to winning ways after their home defeat to champions Clach last time out and included former Vale hit-man Ian Murray in their line-up as they looked to find their form again after racking up eight back-to-back league wins prior to last Saturday's reverse.

A strong North wind greeted the players as they locked horns, Broch kicking off into the breeze in their familiar Black & White stripes backed by an unusual low travelling support. Vale were first to threaten when Jamie Watt threaded a ball to Paul Urquhart at the edge of the area but the wee midfielder saw weak his effort blocked. However the home fans didn't have to wait long to see their side take the lead and what a beauty it was.
Mike MCKENZIE picking up the ball twenty-five yards out before smashing it into the far corner with Billy Gordon unable to move never mind see it as the wind assisted Mike's fiercely drive strike into the net.
The visitors responded and Russell McBride headed narrowly over following a Weymss cross from the left. Mike Stephen then fired well wide from an acute angle and at the other end Jamie Watt's through ball was sent a yard past the upright by the outside of Mike McKenzie's right boot.
Paul Urquhart was denied by Billy Gordon's brave save at his feet as the Vale midfielder intercepted a poor pass back before Broch squared the match from the penalty spot.
Robbie Brown foolishly scythed down Stephen inside the areas when the striker looked to be going know where and Stephen dusted himself down before sending Bremner the wrong way from the resulting spot kick.
Brown tried to make amends at the other end when he cut-inside before firing goalwards but the ball sailed high over the top. The tireless Terry Kidd did likewise before Vale grabbed the lead for the second time in the match. A nicely worked move down the right saw Stuart Gray make progress to the bye-line before sending in a cross to the back post and although the ball looked to be going out Steve Dolan gave chase before sending it back into the area where Paul URQUHART was arriving right on cue to stab the ball beyond Gordon from close range for his third of the season.
The impressive Urquhart was then denied a second when Gordon flung himself to his left to touch the ball to safety as Vale looked to kill the game off before half time.
Billy Gordon somehow kept his side in the game again minutes later when he got his body behind Mike McKenzie's strike after the vale number nine had waltzed through the Broch defence and looked to score a third for the rampant Banffers.
McBride just failed to get enough on his header as he out-jumped Brown to a Stephen free kick before Bremner did very well to save at the feet of Stephen after Murray had played in an enticing ball between defence and keeper which could so easily have ended up in the back of the net to give the visitors a lifeline.

The second period was expected to be an onslaught to Ross Bremner's goal as the Broch came out with the wind at their backs looking to get themselves back into the game but it turned out completely the opposite.
Vale forced an early corner but a poor delivery was easily mopped up by Geddes and co. and as Broch broke to the other end Ian Murray went down rather easily under a Steve Dolan challenge. Referee Paul Cheyne wasn't in the least bit interested and waved play on.
To make matters worse for the travelling support Vale went further ahead five minutes later with another fabulous goal. Jamie WATT picking up a pass at the edge of the area before delightfully chipping the stranded Billy Gordon to send the home support into raptures.
Gordon was fast becoming a contender for man-of the-match when he brilliantly denied Stuart Gray his first of the season with a great block from point blank range to keep his side, albeit narrowly, in the game.
Urquhart was then brought down right on the edge of the penalty box but mike McKenzie's set-piece was blocked by the defensive wall for another wasted Vale corner.
McKenzie had another effort blocked before the homsters secured the points with a fourth. A corner from the left was cleared off the line by Derek Milne but as the ball came back into the mixer Jamie WATT beat Gordon to the low ball and slipped it home despite James Geddes' desperate attempt to clear as the ball rolled over the line. Ross Bremner who had very little to do in the second period apart from keep warm plucked a couple of Broch efforts out of the air as the visitors to their credit kept playing away looking for a second.
Paul URQUHART made it five for his side on sixty-nine minutes when Mark Smith skipped down the right before dispatching a low cross to the waiting Mike McKenzie and although the blonde headed striker could have gone for goal himself he unselfishly fed in "Yogi" who in turn dispatched the ball high beyond Gordon and into the far corner for his second of the afternoon.
Urquhart was denied his hat trick when Gordon pulled off another stunning stop as vale carved through the visitors' defence with ease. Bryan Dlugonski tried to get in on the act when he burst out of defence running a fully fifty yards with the ball but he unselfishly played in Mike McKenzie who was foiled at the final hurdle by the outstretched foot of James Geddes.
Ian Murray slotted a late consolation for the visitors after Bremner had blocked a couple of attempts from Stephen and Main with Vale's defence caught ball watching for the only time during the ninety minutes.
Substitute Keith Hendry who had earlier replaced the limping Mark Smith sliced a Steve Dolan free kick wide before the end as Vale celebrated a fine victory over the table toppers and morale boosting result in their quest for the championship.
Mike McKenzie was voted sponsors man-of-the-match.

A beaming Gregg Carrol said, "I thought we were outstanding today and thoroughly deserved the points. We started well, got the early goal and although the penalty let them back in to the game we got our next four goals at important times to kill them off. The changes we made in defence worked a treat and they were emmense allowing the dangerous Murray & Stephen very little space and opportunities during the ninety minutes".

"The goals we lost were disappointing but perhaps that's a little hard on the boys as I would have taken the result before kick off. Unfortunately Robbie Brown misses next Saturday's tough match at Buckie through suspension so I need to change things again but we will just have to live with it as your always going to have players out through injury or suspension during the campaign" added Carrol.

Vale:
Bremner, Dolan, Gray (Farrimond 72), Dlugonski (Cpt.), Pressley, Brown, Smith (Hendry 79), Kidd, McKenzie, Watt (Noble 88), Urquhart
Subs not used: - Craib, Phimister (GK)

Fraserburgh
Gordon, Milne, Geddes, Christie, McBride, Fleming (Cowie 65), Norris (S. Main 65), Mackie, Murray, Wemyss, Stephen
Subs not used: - West, Johnston, Thompson (GK)
Manager: - Charlie Duncan

Referee:  Paul Cheyne