Midfielder Hugh Davidson scored after only two minutes, the fastest goal of the day in Scotland and it proved to be enough for three vital points, stretching the Montrose winning run to three games.
With Steven Thomson and David Craig both injur
ed, caretaker boss David Hannah was forced into changes from the side which won at Elgin. David Worrell and Gerry McLauchlan came into the starting line-up.
There was drama pre-match when Mark Peat injured a calf in the warm-up and 16-year-old Fraser Stark had to go in goal.
McLeod and McLauchlan were in central defence, with Worrell and Buchan in the full-back positions. Together they made up an experienced back four which would try to protect the young keeper.
Chris Hegarty was on the bench, together with three more young players, Paul Stewart, Kieran Adams and Mark Russell.
Montrose made a dream start when they scored in two minutes. Bradley crossed from the right and the ball fell nicely for Hugh Davidson to score from close range.
Montrose looked for more and in nine minutes, another Bradley cross was almost headed into his own net by Dunn.
Black took the resulting corner, Gibson headed back across goal and McLeod headed over.
Forfar had a chance in 15 minutes when Gordon shot into the sidenetting.
In 20 minutes, a Bradley cross fell to Gibson, but he blazed his shot out of the ground at the Union Row end.
Montrose had an escape in 23 minutes. Stark saved well from Winter and when Campbell played the ball back across goal, a netbound shot from Gordon was kept out by a tremendous block from Buchan.
Back came the home side and a Black corner was tipped over by keeper Brown, then from a Bradley corner, McLauchlan had a header saved.
Davidson shot wide from a Hunter lay-off, then Hunter got in a shot which was saved by Brown.
In 28 minutes, a driven free-kick from Campbell was well saved by Stark, then at the other end, McLauchlan headed wide from a Bradley free-kick.
As half-time approached, a long range snapshot from Bradley cleared the bar.
In 55 minutes, Campbell became the first booking of the match for an off-the-ball flare-up.
Forfar pressed forward and forced a string of corners. From one corner, Buchan cleared off the line at the post, then from another corner, a Tulloch shot was cleared off the line by Worrell.
Montrose relieved the pressure and a Gibson header was saved by Brown.
Lilley was booked for hacking down Bradley in 61 minutes, then five minutes later, Brady was booked for a foul on Davidson.
Montrose made their first change in 70 minutes when they sent on Stewart for Smith.
The Forfar crime count grew still further in 76 minutes when Tulloch fouled Bradley and was booked, possibly for his dissent.
In 78 minutes, McNally was denied by the excellent Stark, then a Lilley header looped into the roof of the net.
Montrose made a second switch in 80 minutes when Hegarty replaced Bradley.
Montrose might have added to their tally in the closing minutes.
Stewart crossed for Gibson to have a shot blocked, then Buchan made a break from defence and set up Stewart, but he poked the ball wide.
In stoppage-time, former Montrose captain Barry Donachie became the fifth Forfar booking when he pulled back Hunter on the halfway line.
There was still time for Hegarty to get booked for a challenge in which he actually came off worst, before the final whistle blew.
Montrose: Stark 7, Buchan 7, Worrell 6, Gibson 6, McLeod 7, McLauchlan 7, Bradley 7 (Hegarty), Davidson 7, Smith 6 (Stewart), Hunter 7, Black 7. Subs: Adams, Russell, Trialist.
