The Montrose dream of the play-offs appears to be over after a defeat at home to Elgin City left them six points off fourth place with five games to play.
The Gable Endies dominated the first half and missed a host of chances and must be wondering how they managed to lose by a three-goal margin.
A Paul Watson drive was turned round the post by John Gibson on two minutes and that set the tone.
Alan Campbell, David Gray and Bryan Deasley all went close in the opening 10 minutes, then on 38 minutes another glorious chance was wasted.
Watson hit the post with a free-kick and Deasley hit Gibson with his follow-up effort from one yard.
A Terry Masson drive was turned round the post by the inspirational Gibson, then right on half-time the goal keeper denied Scott Johnston.
The pattern continued three minutes into the second half when a Deasley run put the ball on a plate for Masson and he shot wide. Elgin took the lead on 53 minutes when Shane Sutherland broke on the left and squeezed the ball home.
Ten minutes later, Gibson turned a Watson drive round the post.
On 74 minutes, substitute Adam McLeod broke on a long ball and supplied a cool finish, then four minutes from time the 20-year-old led another quick break and completed the scoring.
Montrose manager Stuart Garden said: “Our finishing was not great. We got into some good positions, but our final ball or final shot let us down.
“Terry Masson’s miss was the worst. I thought he was certain to score as he is one of the best finishers at the club. They then went up the park and scored.
“We chased the game and Elgin were able to hit us on the counter. The scoreline looks like a doing, but it was far from it.
“We still have a mathematical chance of the play-offs, but we have made it a lot harder for ourselves.”