A first-half goal from William Martin gave Montrose victory over near neighbours Arbroath.
The vital goal came after 19 minutes when Martyn Fotheringham put Kevin Webster away on the right, and his low cross was forced over the line by Martin.
Arbroath hit back, and after 30 minutes an Alan Brazil header from a Greg Miller cross was well saved by goal keeper Andy Reid.
A minute later a Jay Stein cross was headed back across goal by Hugh Davidson and Miller had a header tipped over the bar by Reid
.
Five minutes from half-time Neil Stephen did well to clear a dangerous cross from Marc McCulloch. Then Brazil shot into the side netting, and a minute later Reid made a superb block from Brazil.
Montrose went close when Fotheringham free-kick just cleared the cross bar.
The home side were unlucky again after 67 minutes when a Kevin Webster free-kick struck the bar. Then just seconds later a drive from Fotheringham was tipped on to the bar by keeper Mark Cairns.
Montrose thought they had stretched their lead after72 minutes when Greig Henslee headed home, but the flag was up for offside.
Arbroath went close to earning a point a minute into stoppage time when a Jamie Bishop header from another free-kick came back off the post.