On a day of dreadful weather and erratic refereeing, Montrose were twice pegged back by Forfar and in the end had to settle for a point.

Montrose made one change from the side which beat Stenhousemuir 2-1. Garry Wood dropped out through injury and Jay Stein came in to the starting eleven.

In a reshuffle, Steven Doris moved up front to partner John Baird. Stein took over on the left flank, with Stephen Black switching to the right.

John Maitland replaced Stein on the bench, where he was joined by Hunter, Gardiner, Stewart and McKenzie.

Forfar included four ex-Montrose players in their starting line-up, Sandy Wood, Elliot Smith, Neil Stephen and Barry Donachie and had three more on the bench, Steve Kerrigan, Martyn Fotheringham and keeper Andy Reid.

The game kicked-off in a hailstorm and Forfar almost scored in two minutes. Fraser sent in a free-kick and centre-half Ovenstone volleyed against the bar.

Montrose scored in six minutes. Stephen flattened Doris as they jumped for a high ball and John Baird made no mistake from the spot for his 20th goal of the season.

Montrose looked for more and in 15 minutes, Davidson headed the ball forward and Baird's point-blank range shot was somehow deflected over the bar by Wood.

In 23 minutes, Baird collected a Doris knockdown and laid the ball off to Stein and his drive was saved by Wood.

Forfar gave Montrose another scare in 33 minutes when a free-kick from Grehan was defelected into the sidenetting, with Peat struggling to get across. A cross from Lombardi was then hacked clear by Davidson.

Montrose were forced into a change in 39 minutes. Gibson went off with a hamstring injury and Maitland took over.

Forfar equalised in 42 minutes. Anton swung a corner high to the near post and Fraser headed home with Montrose claiming Peat had been fouled. Peat was booked for his protests before play resumed.

The home side tried to reply and with 45 minutes on the watch, Wood tipped over another point blank effort from Baird. When the corner came in, Doris drove just wide.

The second half began with a flurry of bookings. In 46 minutes, Stephen was booked for a remark after a foul was given against him, then a minute later, the referee let play continue, then waved a yellow at Chris Hegarty, presumably for a foul.

In 52 minutes, Lombardi was added to the crime count for kicking out at Forsyth with the ball nowhere in the vicinity.

Montrose regained the lead in 55 minutes. A Stein cross was knocked down by Doris to Baird. The striker planted a return pass on to the head of Doris and he made no mistake.

Baird was booked for dissent in 59 minutes, then in 67 minutes, McNally was also shown yellow for a late lunge at Davidson.

Montrose were up against it in 73 minutes when Hegarty chopped down Anton and picked up a second booking.

Jim Weir made an immediate switch when he sent on Ross Gardiner for Baird to reinforce his defence.

In 80 minutes, McLeod was booked for jumping elbow first as he contested a high ball.

A minute later, lone striker Doris shot over under pressure, with Montrose claiming he was being fouled.

With yellow cards being thrown around like confetti, the only surprise was Barry Donachie hadn't got one. The former Montrose captain managed to add his name to the crime count in 83 minutes for some prolonged dissent to the referee.

Montrose were holding on for what would have been a hard-fought victory, but in 84 minutes they switched off as Forfar took a quick corner and ex-Brechin striker Geddes cut in and sent a curling left-foot drive beyond the reach of the diving Peat.

Montrose: Peat 6, Buchan 7, Forsyth 6, McLeod 6, Hegarty 6, Gibson 6 (Maitland 39), Doris 7, Davidson 7, Stein 6, Baird 7 (Gardiner 75), Black 6. Subs: Hunter, Stewart, McKenzie.