Montrose started brightly and Stenny keeper Hillcoat, making his first start since September, saw his crossbar struck in the opening minutes by Black who had fired in a powerful drive. However Stenhousemuir picked up the pace of the game and were unlucky in the th minute when Quitongo played through Dalziel who drove his shot just wide of the post. Stenhousemuir pushed for an opener and came close again from a free-kick, but the ball deflected off Hampshire and crept over the bar for a goal kick.
Montrose again started the half as the brighter team and in the 58th minute a Black free-kick found Dobbins in the area, who saw his header well saved by Hillcoat and Gary Wood couldn't get the ball across the line from the rebound. Again a free-kick from Montrose proved dangerous as Jay Stein setup Black but again Hillcoat was up to the chalenge and parried the ball away. Stenhousemuir came close to winning the game in the 79th minute when Hamilton, from a Willie Lyle cross, looped the ball over Mark Peat but saw his effort just skim the top of the bar.