Buckie Thistle beat Nairn County 3-1 at Station Park to move to the top of the Breedon Highland League.
The Jags had to come from behind after Ross Tokely’s penalty put the Wee County ahead.
But strikes from Max Barry, Joe McCabe and Josh Peters earned the visitors the points.
Victory means Buckie move two points above Brechin City – who have two games in hand – at the top of the division after the Hedgemen’s clash with Fraserburgh was postponed.
For the home side defeat ends a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions and a run of eight unbeaten in the league.
Nairn manager Steven Mackay fielded himself in the starting line-up and was also forced into a change after the warm-up with Callum MacLean replaced by Cameron Lisle.
Buckie boss Graeme Stewart made one alteration from the side which beat Aberdeen in the Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shield in midweek.
Jack Murray returned from suspension to replace player-assistant manager Lewis MacKinnon.
Exciting opening
The Jags threatened in the first minute with Barry playing Peters in down the right, but Wee County goalkeeper Dylan MacLean made a good save at his near post.
Nairn broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the seventh minute. Murray was penalised by referee Scott Donohoe for a shove on Andrew Greig at a throw-in.
Tokely – who has signed a contract extension for next season – stepped up and found the right corner from 12 yards.
A few minutes later Tokely made his mark at the other end with an excellent recovery challenge to stop Peters getting a shot away.
On 17 minutes Tokely was perhaps fortunate to stay on the pitch. Peters got in behind the experienced defender, who tugged him back, the striker stumbled and fell.
Had ref Donohoe deemed it a foul it would have had to have been a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, instead he gave nothing.
Buckie equalised in the 24th minute and it was goal made and finished by Barry.
The midfielder’s excellent pass released Peters on the right side of the box and although MacLean made a good save Barry followed up to slot home the rebound.
The visitors had a period in the ascendancy after scoring and Murray and Barry sent strikes narrowly off target from 20 yards.
Nairn were defending resolutely, although they were inviting Buckie on to them by being careless in possession at times. One such occasion allowed Barry to weave into the area, but MacLean held his effort from 14 yards.
Two minutes before the break a poor clearance from Fraser Dingwall gave Scott Adams a sight of goal but he lifted the shot over from 18 yards.
Game in the balance
Four minutes into the second half Nairn almost retook the lead with Dingwall meeting a Greig corner with a towering header, which was cleared off the line.
The next goal was always likely to be important and Buckie got it in the 57th minute.
Andrew MacAskill’s corner from the right was bulleted into the top right corner by McCabe.
The visitors quickly made it 3-1 bang on the hour mark. Adams flick on was missed by Dingwall and Peters raced through and skipped round MacLean before finishing.
There was still plenty of time for Nairn to mount a comeback but initially they struggled to penetrate the Buckie defence.
With 10 minutes left Stephen Rennie worked his way into a good position at the edge of the box only to scuff his shot straight at goalkeeper Lee Herbert.
On 87 minutes Nairn sub Ciaran Young almost set up a grandstand finish when he wriggled through on goal, but Herbert was out quickly to smother the shot.
