Stenhousemuir picked up three valuable points after a game which boiled over in the sesond half when one player was sent off and seven others were booked.
Stenhousemuir started the better, and after three minutes Paul McGrillen headed narrowly over.
Montrose settled down and Graeme Sharp flicked the goal wide of the goalkeeper but also wide of the post.
Two minutes later Sharp cut in from the left and fired a shot inches wide of the far post.
Montrose were unlucky again after 25 minutes when Kevin Webster went on a superb solo run and forced a fine save from the keeper.
Three minutes from half -time a superb volley from David McInally was tipped on to the post by Michael Hankinson.
The deadlock was broken after 65 minutes when Stenhousemuir sent on John-Paul McBride as a substitute and with his first touch he curled home a superbly-struck free-kick .
Montrose were reduced to 10 men after 68 minutes when Craig Smart was sent off for pushing Anthony Smith. Montrose were furious at what they saw as play acting by the defender.
Stenhousemuir made sure of the points after 71 minutes. Hankinson made a great save from Paul McGrillen, but the ball struck defender Neil Stephen and flew into the net for an own goal.
Ten-man Montrose battled right to the end but never seriously troubled Willy McCulloch in the Stenhousemuir goal.
It was Stenhousemuir who went closest to adding to their tally three minutes from time when a fierce drive from Steve Fallon forced a great save from Hankinson.
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