Elgin went into the game still with a chance of catching Arbroath for fourth place, but Montrose did their Angus neighbours a huge favour by beating them and ending their play-off hopes.

With Chris McLeod banned and Keith Gibson and Garry Wood still unfit, a far from full-strength Montrose took the field.

Mark Peat was rested and Stuart McKenzie took over in goal. In the only other change to the starting eleven from the side which drew at Dumbarton, Chris Hegarty returned after suspension in place of Stephen Black.

McKenzie was behind a back four of Cumming, Buchan, Gardiner and Forsyth. Stewart, Hegarty, Davidson and Stein were in midfield with Doris and Baird up front.

Montrose only named four substitutes. Peat and Black were joined on the bench by youngsters John Maitland and Daryl Nicol.

Montrose made a lively start and in seven minutes Stewart found Doris and his shot went just wide.

Two minutes later, Doris left his marker for dead down the left, but he was stopped by another defender with Baird alongside him in support.

The home pressure continued and when Stein found Stewart, he shot over from the edge of the box.

Montrose took a deserved lead in 11 minutes. Stewart crossed from the right and John Baird supplied his usual deadly finish.

Montrose looked for more and when Doris survived a challenge with the goalkeeper, his shot from out on the left was saved.

In 29 minutes, a low cutback from Doris was met first-time on the near post by Stewart, but he couldn't keep the ball down.

Elgin threatened for the first time in 36 minutes. O'Donoghue played the ball through and a shot from Campbell clipped the bar on its way over.

Four minutes later, Campbell fired another good chance wide.

Montrose didn't heed the warning and they let Elgin equalise in 42 minutes when MacKay slammed an unstoppable free-kick past McKenzie.

Elgin attacked at the start of the second half and McKenzie saved a Crooks header and a Nicolson shot.

In 53 minutes, Hugh Davidson was harshly booked for a foul.

Two minutes later, Doris got his shot away and was clattered by Dempsie, but the referee said no foul.

In 61 minutes, a mistake by Stewart gave Sutherland a chance, but McKenzie blocked his shot.

Elgin were unlucky again in 63 minutes when Nicolson burst into the box and fired in a shot which came back off the post.

A minute later, Montrose made a double switch when Maitland and Black replaced Hegarty and Stewart.

Montrose regained the lead in 67 minutes. A Stein corner was handled by Nicolson and Baird scored from the spot for his 22nd goal of the season.

In 73 minutes a shot from Sutherland was pushed away by McKenzie.

Montrose made their final switch in 84 minutes when Daryl Nicol went on for his debut in place of Baird.

The youngster almost scored with his first touch, but didn't get enough power on his shot from a Stein cross and Ridgers saved.

As time ran out, substitute Black went on a solo run and his shot was saved.

With 89 minutes played, Elgin sub Kaczan made it 2-2 with a low shot into the corner.

Elgin threw everything forward in search of a winner, but with a minute of stoppage-time gone, it was Montrose who grabbed all three points.
Maitland crossed from the right and Jay Stein arrived to score with a first-time volley.

Montrose: McKenzie, Buchan 7, Forsyth 6, Gardiner 7, Cumming 6, Hegarty 7 (Maitland), Stewart 7 (Black), Davidson 6, Doris 7, Baird 7 (Nicol), Stein 7. Sub: Peat.