Vale full-backs Kenny Gilbert and Steve Dolan delivered the goals which finally saw-off plucky Nairn County in a close match and more importantly saw the Banffers pull five points clear at the top of the league table.
Title favourites Vale were forced to come from behind after Ian Brooks had headed the visitors into the lead, and indeed the homesters rode their luck slightly when Willie Barron saw a close range flick come back off the upright before assistant manager Kenny Gilbert pulled his side level five minutes short of the interval. Steve Dolan slotted home the winner from close range late on in the match to send the nervous "Valley Crew" home with a smile on their faces especially as the result filtered through from Huntly.
With close rivals Huntly and Forres drawing two-each at Christie Park it turned out to be a very good day at the office for Gregg Carrol's side but whether it was the fact that his players hadn't played the previous Saturday or that the 'favourites tag' was getting to them it certainly wasn't a convincing victory for the Banffers although take nothing away from the "Wee County" as they certainly aren't a bad side with a lot of talent in their ranks and played to a system which very nearly saw them leave Princess Royal Park with at least a point.
With experienced defenders Scott Kellacher, Duncan Jones and Andrew Allan unavailable manager Les Fridge stuck with his three-six-one system which has paid off for his side on their travels elsewhere and although on paper seems to be quite a defensive line-up it certainly made life difficult for the league leaders although in the end the relentless Banffers got the vital three points which their second half performance just about deserved.

A superb double save from James Blanchard denied Willie Barron after he had taken full advantage of a wayward pass in the midfield by the out-of-sorts Mark Smith before running down the throat of the Vale defence.
However the resulting corner kick did pay dividends for the visitors when Ian Brooks headed his side into the lead. The set-piece had made its way to the back post which found Willie Barron and he swung the ball to the opposite post to pick out the unmarked Brooks and his guided header nestled in the far corner with 'Blanchy' well beat on this occasion.

Barron couldn't believe his luck three minutes later when he flicked-on a deep Brian Macleod cross from 6-yards only for the ball to strike the right-hand post and fall kindly into 'Blanchy's' arms right on the goal-line.
Terry Kidd, who was playing his final game for the Banffers before jetting off to take up a coaching job in Dubai, very nearly made it a dream send-off when he met a Mike McKenzie lay-off at the edge of the box but the slightest of touches took the ball inches wide of John Campbell's right-hand post for a disappointing corner kick.

Jamie Watt was next to come close for the homesters when he ran onto a ball over the top of the County back-three but after drawing and beating John Campbell with a low strike the defending threesome got back in time to clear Jamie's effort off the line.
Vale were awarded for their increased pressure five minutes from the break when they pulled level. Kenny GILBERT picked up a loose ball and drove at the Nairn goal, played a one-two with Mike McKenzie at the edge of the penalty area before dispatching a beauty over the stranded John Campbell and into the far corner of the net for his third of the season.

Mark Smith came very close to putting his side into the lead when he knocked the ball into the side netting from close range after good work by Ross McWilliam on the right bye-line.

The County keeper was at full stretch and could only fist the ball to his right where Steve DOLAN was in acres of space to gleefully stroke home the winner for his 50th senior career goal, much to delight of the 'evergreen' Dippy, his team-mates in red and the ecstatic home support.
The Vale defence had a nervous moment before the end of the match when Ian Brooks looked to be getting a clear site of goal but an offside flag from the stand-side assistant was as welcome as the final whistle when it came. Home captain Mark Chisholm, not for the first time this season, rightly won the sponsor's man-of-the-match award.

After such a frantic finale Vale boss Gregg Carrol said, "It wasn't one of our most memorable games but the result certainly is one of the most important. We battled hard right to the end and got what I thought was deserved as we had also had another couple of opportunities just before we got the goal".
"We were poor in the first half and I put that down to not having the game last week but in the second half we upped the pace and it is marvellous that Steve got his 50th career goal for us whilst at the same time notching the all-important winner".
"We now have another six cup finals to play as we stake our claim for the championship but we just have to concentrate on our own game during this spell and if we get help from other clubs along the way it will be an added bonus".