It was a case of what might have been for Montrose as they beat League Two’s second-placed side Annan in their final home game and demonstrated that they might well have been in the promotion play-offs themselves.
Montrose looked lively from the start and Bryan Deasley and Terry Masson both had efforts saved by Kenny Arthur. Montrose took the lead on 28 minutes. A cross from Jon Crawford was headed down by Paul Watson and Deasley shot home.
On 73 minutes it might have been 2-0, but a shot from Deasley was cleared off the line by Steven Swinglehurst. A minute later, a flick from Blair Henderson played in David Hopkirk and he pulled Annan level.
Montrose went back in front on 76 minutes. A corner fell to Garry Wood and after his initial shot was blocked, he fired the ball home.
Home keeper Stuart McKenzie made an outstanding save from a deflected Kieran Brannen effort, then on 90 minutes a shot from Chris Jardine came off the crossbar and a follow-up from Scott Davidson was kept out by McKenzie.
Montrose caretaker manager George Shields, one of four candidates interviewed for the job last week, said: “That was one of our best performances of the season at home.
“We passed the ball really well and caused them problems at set-pieces.”
He added: “There was a fizz about our play and we showed what we could do against the second-placed team in the division.”