After four successive Highland League victories, Deveronvale slumped to their second home defeat on the trot as championship challengers Fraserburgh recorded a comfortable victory.
Vale were hit by injuries to Grant Noble and Colin Charlesworth during a first half when there was little between the teams but once the unmarked Grant Campbell headed Broch in front from six yards following a Paul Young corner there was only one winner.
Sean Butcher added a second from 20 yards seven minutes into the second half before substitute Ross Willox, who could have netted a hat-trick in the last 15 minutes, completed the scoring with a header as Vale conceded from yet another corner.
Fraserburgh manager Mark Cowie was delighted to leave Princess Royal Park with a clean sheet and three goals to the good.
He said: “We were the better team in what is a bit of a derby and to be honest we haven’t had the best record here since I have become manager.
“Vale had been on a bit of a run until last week so we knew it would be difficult but we didn’t have too many problems, especially in the second half against a side full of young eager runners.
“We were delighted to get Scott Bruce to stand in between the sticks as all our signed keepers are injured, so it was also pleasing for him to get a clean sheet as not many get to achieve this against Vale at home.”
Vale manager Steve Dolan was pleased with his team’s first-half display until the injuries caused him to change the shape of his team but admitted the second half was as poor as the performance against Keith seven days earlier.
He said: “Losing Colin Charlesworth changed the whole game as he was willing to run in behind the Broch defence. After that we ended up playing with no strikers as none of them wanted to get into the box and they all played 30 or 40 yards from goal.
“I told them if you are a striker you need to get into the box.
“You never see Scott Barbour that far away from the box and he caused us problems all game.
“There was nothing in the game during the first 35 minutes but we again lost two goals from set pieces and that is something we also need to look at in training this week.”