It was no more than the Gable Endies deserved in a tough battle which saw six bookings on a pitch that was heavy in places and got frosty as the evening progressed.
Highlight of the match was surely the solo goal from substitute Daryl Nicol whic
h saw him run from his own half, round the home keeper and net from a tight angle.
Hopefully Montrose can take heart from the victory and finally record their first win of the season in the league.
After the heartbreak of the 5 – 4 home defeat by Stranraer on Saturday manager Steven Tweed made four changes to his side. In came the manager himself, captain Hugh Davidson, Sean Fleming for his first match since September 12 and John Gemmell who had been absent since the start of December.
Out went trialist Stephen McNally, Marek Tomana, Sean Anderson and the cup tied Paul Tosh.
Montrose lined up with McNeil in goal, Milligan and Campbell in the full back roles and Tweed and Crighton in central defence. Fleming was on the left hand side of midfield with Maitland on the right. Hegarty partnered Davidson in the centre of midfield with Gemmell and Nicholas in attack.
Tomana, Nicol, Anderson, Leyden and goalkeeper Coutts were on the bench.
There was a healthy number of Montrose fans amongst the impressive crowd of over 1000 spectators.
The match was barely a minute old when Ian McFarland of Edinburgh City was yellow carded for a crude tackle from behind on Chris Hegarty.
Crighton took the free kick, Gemmell headed on and City managed to clear the danger.
In the fourth minute Campbell's cross from the left found Gemmell but his header was straight at keeper Monteith.
Edinburgh City had their first chance in the seventh minute when Gair sent in a free kick but Caddow's header went well over the crossbar.
Two minutes later Sean Fleming raced up the left flank and sent over a cross which Gemmell controlled before turning and firing straight at Monteith from 20 yards.
In the tenth minute Monteith pulled off a wonderful save to turn a netbound drive from Fleming round the post.
The Gable Endies kept up the pressure on the Edinburgh City goal with three corners in a row but the home defence stayed strong.
With fifteen minute gone Montrose won a free kick twenty yards out when Maitland was crudely chopped down. Hegarty took the kick but Monteith tipped his effort around the post.
Two minutes later Maitland played a slide rule pass through to Steven Nicholas but Monteith saved at the attacker's feet.
The Montrose pressure paid off when they opened the scoring in the 19th minute. McNeil launched a goal kick up the park, Gemmell headed on and Steven Nicholas latched on to the ball, turned his man and fired home from inside the area for his first goal in Montrose colours.
Sean Fleming became the first Montrose player to be booked in the 26th minute for an unknown offence.
Gemmell won a corner kick for Montrose two minutes later which Hegarty swung over only for Campbell to head over.
A Davidson run was ended when Harrison handled the ball on the ground and was rightly booked by referee Colin Brown.
Despite all the pressure it was Edinburgh City who grabbed an equaliser in the 36th minute. They broke quickly from defence and when Milligan failed to clear the ball Dougie Gair was able to play a one-two with Denholm inside the area and fire low past McNeil.
Left back Kenny Ross became the third booking of the match for Edinburgh City with five minutes of the half left for a push on Gemmell.
Two minutes into the second half Caddow got in a header which was saved by McNeil.
Steven Tweed was booked seconds later for a rash challenge in the centre circle as McFarland threatened to break clear.
Hegarty then had a low effort at goal which the keeper parried but no one was on hand for the rebound.
Michael Bruce became booking number four for Edinburgh City for a foul on Hegarty.
Montrose sent on Marek Tomana for Sean Fleming who had done well on his return to action. Tomana went to the centre of midfield with Davidson moving to the left. A minute later Nicholas shot over from twenty yards.
Montrose regained the lead in the 71st minute. A low cross from Maitland found Gemmell whose shot from 15 yards out hit the post and rebounded along the goaline.
When a cross came back in from Hugh Davidson, John Maitland rose the highest to loop a header over keeper Monteith and into the net for his second goal in two matches.
Five minutes later Montrose took off goalscoring hero Maitland and sent on Daryl Nicol.
Edinburgh City won a free kick in a dangerous position which was taken by Harrison but Steven Tweed cleared.
With ten minutes remaining Chris Hegarty was added to the bookings tally when he was yellow carded for a strong challenge.
With five minutes left, Montrose put the icing on the cake with a brilliant third goal. Daryl Nicol picked up the ball in his own half on the right wing and went on an exhilarating run which took him past four Edinburgh City players before he rounded keeper Monteith and stroked the ball home into the corner of the net.
Gemmell then went on a surging run as Montrose looked for a fourth goal. He found Nicholas inside the area but he couldn't get in a shot and the chance was gone.
With time running out Montrose made one final change with Jordan Leyden going on to replace a tiring Gemmell who had put in a good shift up front.
Montrose: McNeil 7, Milligan 6, Fleming 6 (Tomana), Campbell 7, Tweed 7, Crighton 7, Maitland 8 (Nicol), Davidson 8, Gemmell 7 (Leyden), Hegarty 7, Nicholas 7. Subs: Anderson, Coutts.
