Inverurie Locos produced a very polished performance to move joint top of the Highland League table alongside Brora Rangers.
Andy Low’s side can now head into a fortnight of cup challenges with ties against Aberdeen in the Aberdeenshire Shield, Formartine United in the Highland League Cup and Broxburn Athletic in the Scottish Cup all to come.
Low said: “I was a little bit disappointed not to get a clean sheet. It was a good performance and I felt our goalkeeper and back four deserved a clean sheet.
“I had one eye on Tuesday’s match against Aberdeen and one on Saturday with my team selection. I feel we have quality within our squad to do that without weakening the team.”
The Railwaymen got off to a great start on a day when centre back Mark Souter was captain on his 200th appearance for the club and went on to be named man of the match.
They took the lead in the sixth minute when Greg Mitchell nodded home Neil McLean’s in-swinging corner.
Jake Williamson tipped a Ryan Stott shot over the crossbar before Stott should have done better when sent through by Andy Hunter but produced a weak left-footed effort.
It should have been a bigger lead at the interval for the hosts but in 46 minutes the experience of former Cove Rangers and Keith striker Jonny Smith showed.
He found himself in space in the box but allowed the ball to sit up for himself before despatching it past the Clach goalkeeper.
Within two minutes the game was all over as a contest when Stott netted with an equally impressive finish before Callum Dingwall made it four in the 57th minute when he beat Williamson with a rebound on his right foot after his initial shot was saved.
The young Clach team refused to let their heads go down and in 78 minutes, after an extremely impressive spell of tricky footwork by Ross Logan, the leeway was reduced with Martin Callum scoring with the aid of a slight deflection.
Lilywhites manager Sandy Macleod said: “The two quick goals killed us.
“We have to sit in and try to hit teams on the break because the longer you can stay in the game only a goal down there’s always a chance.”