Montrose made one change from the side which lost 1-0 to East Stirling. John Gemmell was out with a back injury and Aaron Sinclair came in to the starting 11.
Fraser Milligan was fit enough to start after a hamstring scare and was in his usual r
ight-back role.
Stevie Nicholas played up front for the third time as a trialist as the paperwork hadn't been completed on his short-term deal with the club.
Manager Steven Tweed hoped to have striker Paul Tosh in his squad as a trialist, but the player's release from Cove Rangers was not complete in order to allow this to happen.
With the exception of Nicholas for Gemmell, Montrose went with the same starting side as played so well in the Scottish Cup against East Fife.
Maitland, Nicol and Tomana were joined on the bench by U17 striker Martin Boyle and keeper Steven Coutts.
The Annan side included three former Montrose players, Greg Kelly in goal and Scott Anson and David Cox in their attack.
Montrose started with a bang and in four minutes Paul Watson had a go from fully 40 yards and Kelly was a full stretch to turn the ball for a corner.
In eight minutes, Nicholas broke on the right and pulled the ball back to Hegarty who shot wide.
Montrose searched for a goal and in 16 minutes a Watson corner to the near post was headed against the bar by Campbell.
Annan had their first chance in 18 minutes when a Townsley header from a corner was blocked on the line by Milligan.
Back came Montrose and in 24 minutes an Anderson dummy let the ball run to Nicholas and his shot went just wide.
Nicholas shot wide from long range, then in 27 minutes a long ball from Tweed found Davidson and his volley was saved by Kelly.
In 37 minutes another Watson drive was tipped for a corner by Kelly. From the corner, Tweed headed over.
A minute later, Watson controlled a Hegarty pass and lobbed over the
bar.
Annan had not been in it as an attacking force in the first half but they almost grabbed the lead. Watson gave the ball away and a 20 yard shot from Cox was tipped over by McNeil.
Montrose made a change at the break. They decided to protect Milligan and sent on Daryl Nicol. Davidson dropped to right-back and Nicol took over on the right flank.
Three minutes into the second half a Bell header from a Cox cross forced a tremendous save from McNeil.
In 51 minutes, Townsley connected with a free-kick almost on the byeline and Campbell had to clear off the line.
Three minutes later, left-back Macbeth burst into the box and forced another good save from McNeil.
Bell shot over, then a Watson free-kick was saved by Kelly.
In 55 minutes, Jardine became the first booking for a foul on Sinclair, then a minute later, Davidson was booked for a foul.
Montrose just couldn't score and when Crighton played the ball into the danger area, Annan were happy to clear after a frantic scramble.
Gilfilan was booked for dissent in 63 minutes.
In 72 minutes Watson was booked for raising his elbow as he jumped with an opponent. The midfielder sustained a cut around the eye in the collision and it was ages before the officials would let him back on to the field.
John Maitland replaced Sinclair in 77 minutes.
A Cox corner somehow went right across the face of the Montrose goal, then in 84 minutes, Hegarty was booked for a foul near the touchline. From the free-kick, Gilfilan headed over.
Montrose had a glorious chance to win the game in 85 minutes. A lovely ball from Anderson sent Nicol in on goal, but the youngster blazed over.
In 87 minutes, Annan's Storey fired in a shot which hit the post and went behind.
A minute into stoppage-time a drive from Bell struck the other post as the teams settled for a share of the spoils.
Montrose: McNeil 7, Hegarty 6, Sinclair 6 (Maitland), Campbell 6, Tweed 6, Crighton 7, Milligan 6 (Nicol), Davidson 7, Trialist 6, Watson 7, Anderson 6. Subs: Tomana, Boyle, Coutts.
