The win took East Stirling joint top of Division Three along with Livingston, but in truth they were only slightly the better of two poor teams who struggled to cope with the driving rain.
Montrose boss Steven Tweed made three changes from the e
leven which started against Edinburgh City. He left himself out along with Sean Fleming and John Gemmell, who had made comebacks after injury in the cup-tie. Into the side came Marek Tomana, trialist Stephen McNally and Paul Tosh.
Campbell and Crighton were the central defensive pairing with McNally at left-back. Hegarty and Tomana were in the centre of midfield with Maitland right and Davidson left and Tosh renewed his partnership with Stevie Nicholas up front.
Montrose had their strongest-looking substitute bench for a long time, with Fleming and Gemmell joined by Nicol, Anderson and keeper Coutts.
After a three minute delay to the kick-off to carry out adjustments to the net at the Wellington Street End, Montrose made a quick start and after only ten seconds, Tosh shot over from a Nicholas pass.
Keeper Barclay kicked clear from Nicholas, then Tomana turned and shot wide of the target.
Montrose continued to make the running and Nicholas was halted by a last-ditch tackle.
East Stirling threatened for the first time when a half-volley from former Montrose man Andy Rodgers forced a brilliant save from McNeil.
Play continued and Montrose conceeded an unnecessary corner and from it East Stirling took the lead. Ure swung in the corner and the ball fell nicely for centre-half Bolochoweckyj to fire home.
The visitors attacked again and a header from McGuire was deflected for a corner.
In 29 minutes, Montrose appealed in vain for a penalty when Nicholas was bundled off the ball as he chased a kick from McNeil.
In 33 minutes, Bolochoweckyj headed over from a Stephenson cross, then four minutes later, Forrest became the first booking for a crude lunge at Tomana.
In 40 minutes a free-kick from McNally came back off the keeper and as Tosh closed in, one East Stirling defender booted the ball against another and it flew, rather fortunately, to safety.
Referee Scott MacDonald picked up an injury and limped his way to the break. At half-time, assistant Alan Frew took over the whistle and Mike Reid, who had been on duty as a steward, took over on the line.
Ten minutes into the second half, Rodgers shot wide on the run, then Stephenson drove a free-kick wide.
Montrose sent on Gemmell for Nicholas in 61 minutes.
Bolochoweckyj was proving a danger at set-pieces and in 70 minutes he headed wide from a long free-kick.
Three minutes later, Rodgers crossed for Lynch to head wide under pressure.
Chances were few, but those that did come along fell to the visitors and Lynch sent a chip wide of the target.
Nicol went on for Maitland but the sub couldn't produce the magic of his solo goal which clinched the game against Edinburgh City and the final whistle came as a relief to all concerned.
Montrose: McNeil 6, Milligan 6, Trialist 6, Maitland 6 (Nicol), Campbell 6, Crighton 7, Tomana 7, Davidson 7, Tosh 6, Hegarty 6, Nicholas 6 (Gemmell). Subs: Fleming, Anderson, Coutts.
