Two first half goals set Montrose on their way to a fourth successive league win and our fourth successive league defeat.

With the departure of Billy Brown in midweek John Ovenstone took charge of the side making several changes to the side which had lost at Berwick.

Out dropped McInally, Muirhead, Brad Smith and Swann with Ali Smith, Miller and Morris coming back into the starting XI.

The visitors made a bright opening to the game without creating any real chances before a Mullen shot went over the visitors bar.

However with six minutes gone they took the lead when a long throw in was flicked on by Templeman into the path of Terry MASSON who fired home from close range.

With 15 minutes gone a long low shot by Watson drifted wide of the post but five minutes later Montrose went 2-0 up when Campbell floated a free kick into the box and Templeman once again flicked the ball to MASSON to head home his second goal of the afternoon.

McGurn then pulled off two good saves to prevent the visitors going further ahead turning a Campbell free kick round the post in 34 minutes and four minutes later he parried a point blank header from Allan.

At the other end Fleming got on the end of an Ali Smith cross to deny Morris while on the stroke of half time he turned a 30 yard free kick from Rutherford around the post.

Seven minutes into the second half we got a lifeline when Fleming blocked a Morris shot and the ball broke to Robbie BUCHANAN who nodded home.

A minute later Morris was once again denied by the keeper and Mullen eventually shot over the bar from the edge of the box.

Then seconds’ later Garden sent a low ball across the face of the Montrose goal but Connelly was unable to connect for what would have been a certain equaliser.

It was the visitors who were to score again however with 59 minutes gone when Ballantyne sent over a cross from the right and Craig JOHNSTON headed home at the back post.

TEAM: McGurn, A Smith, Rutherford (Whitaker 82), Mullen, Rumsby, Syme, Buchanan, Miller, Morris, Garden (B Smith 73) & Connelly (Muirhead 59). Subs not used – Penman, Swann, Denton & Stirling.

Goal: Buchanan (52).
Booked: Rumsby (32).

MONTROSE: Fleming, Ballantyne, Steeves, Allan (Webster 54), Dillon, Campbell, Masson, Watson, Johnston (Fraser 73), Templeman & Callaghan (McLaren 62). Subs not used – Rose, Hay, Redman & Fotheringham.

Goals: Masson (15,20), Johnston (59).
Booked: Callaghan (55).