After four league draws, having led in all four games, nothing less than a win was acceptable against Elgin and Jim Weir's men duly delivered.
The Mo deserved their victory and while they didn't show as much attacking flair as they did in the ho
me draws with Berwick and Annan, three points on the board was all that mattered.
Greg Kelly, signed for the remainder of the season after three successful games as a trialist, continued in goal and there were three changes from the eleven which started against Annan.
Gerry McLauchlan, signed from Queen of the South until the turn of the year, took over in central defence allowing Chris Hegarty to move to midfield and Steven Thomson returned after injury to left-back with David Worrell switching to the right. John Maitland came into midfield in place of the suspended Hugh Davidson.
Steven Doris started on the right flank with Kevin Bradley on the left and Anson and Baird were paired up front.
Stuart Cumming and Stephen Black dropped to the bench where they joined Hunter, Stewart and Butter.
New man McLauchlan showed up well in the opening minutes with a couple of timely clearances and at the other end, Buchan played the ball wide to Anson and almost collected a return pass inside the box.
In 16 minutes, Bradley cut in from the left and shot just wide. Three minutes later, Baird twisted and turned on the edge of the box and also shot wide.
In 20 minutes, Buchan shot towards goal. Doris dived and got his head to the ball and McNulty saved.
Montrose began to warm to their task and in 25 minutes an Anson pass put Doris in on the keeper, who saved with his legs.
Montrose reshuffled their attack in a bid force a goal. Bradley switched to the right, Doris went through the middle and Anson moved to the left.
The home side were out of luck in 40 minutes. Doris crossed from the left and Baird shot against the post.
Play switched immediately to the other end and Wright lobbed over the bar.
A minute from the break, Doris crossed from the byeline and Hegarty committed a foul as he tried to reach the ball.
Having completely dominated the first half, Montrose almost lost a goal a minute after the restart. Campbell played in Wright and Kelly made a great save at his feet.
The linesman then gave a free-kick for a trip on Baird right on the edge of the box, but Anson made a hash of the set-piece.
The deadlock was broken in 55 minutes. A Bradley corner was headed out by Elgin only as far as Jamie Buchan and the defender controlled the ball on his chest and coolly shot into the corner for his first goal for the club.
Baird had the ball in the net in 64 minutes, but play was pulled back for a foul in favour of Montrose. A goal wouldn't have stood however, as the linesman had his flag raised.
A minute later, the immaculate Buchan made a great tackle to halt Wright.
Montrose needed another goal to make themselves safe and they almost got it in 76 minutes. A Thomson free-kick was headed back across goal by Doris and Baird had a header saved.
In 78 minutes, Stephen Black replaced Bradley, then in 85 minutes, Paul Stewart went on for Doris.
Stewart was an immediate threat and McNulty had to come outside his box to thwart him. The ball broke to Black, but with the keeper scrambling about 30 yards from his goal, Black couldn't get a shot in.
Three minutes from time, a Nicolson header from a free-kick was well saved by Kelly, then with the 90 minutes up, Kelly saved another header, this time from Kazcan.
Elgin had one last chance three minutes into added time when a header from Crooks slipped just wide.
Montrose: Kelly 7, Worrell 6, Thomson 6, McLauchlan 7, Buchan 8, Hegarty 7, Doris 7 (Stewart), Maitland 7, Anson 6, Baird 7, Bradley 7 (Black). Subs: Hunter, Cumming, Butter.
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