But, in all honesty, they are more than likely to just gloss over the deficiencies shown by Stenhousemuir in a game where a win was really what was needed.

The chances of getting into fourth spot now lie outwith Stenhousemuir's hands because, even if they beat nearest contenders Annan, the Borders side still needs to drop points elsewhere due to their far superior goal difference.

And if John Coughlin's men still manage to pull it off somehow then the Warriors' boss – on this evidence – is not too optimistic.

"There were two teams out there that couldn't defend but they scored more than we did," he said.

"Even if we make the play-offs, I don't think anyone will be fearing us due to the way we are defending right now."

Scott Dalziel and Alan Brazil replaced Iain Thomson and Iain Diack for the trip to Links Park – the latter making his first start since last September due to injury.

And he almost made an instant impact when he stole the ball away from Tony Bullock in the first minute as the keeper stood at the edge of the box. Support was slow to come, however, and the danger was eventually averted.

Instead, Montrose took the lead in the fourth minute from a rehearsed Stephen Black corner kick. He played it out to the 'D' where ex-Warrior Jamie McKenzie's strike took a couple of deflections before falling at the feet of Steven Tweed, who shot past Scott Bennett and into the net with the help of the post.

If that was not bad enough, the home side doubled their advantage seven minutes later when the Stenhousemuir defence was posted missing.

Craig O'Reilly gathered the ball on the edge of the box and, back to goal, played a bit of keepie-uppy before swivelling and striking a volley past Bennett.

The Warriors did have the ball in the back of the net when Kevin Motion placed a free-kick into the bottom right corner but, although referee Bobby Madden seemed happy to give it, assistant Robby Cobb insisted a couple of Stenhousemuir players had interfered with play and it was controversially dis-allowed.

The sense of injustice seemed to spur the Warriors on momentarily and Bullock denied Motion, Andy Brand headed Craig Molloy's corner over from four yards and Brazil was inches away from connecting with a Dalziel cross.

Stenhousemuir did reduce the lead in the 57th minute, though, when Robert Love took advantage of poor defending – following a Motion free-kick that bounced off two players and into his path – and blasted the ball into the net.

But, 10 minutes from time, Montrose scored their fourth after Kevin Bradley ran from his own half unchallenged and fed the ball to Roddy Hunter who, unmarked, picked his spot.

Then, just one minute later, Black scored his second – and Montrose's fifth – from a similar area with the keeper and defence once again in no man's land.

Stenhousemuir then got their two late consolation goals, the first in the 86th minute when John Ovenstone headed home a Motion free-kick.

However, the lack of celebration both on and off the field told the story and, even when Love scored his second with a tap in, the game was already beyond the Warriors' reach.

MONTROSE 5
Tweed 4, O'Reilly 13, 71, Hunter 80, 81

STENHOUSEMUIR 3
Love 57, 88, Ovenstone 86
(HT 2-0)
Attendance: 358

Stenhousemuir: Bennett 6, Reid 5, McGroarty 7, McLeod 5, Ovenstone 5, Motion 6, Love 7, Molloy 7, Dalziel 6, Brand 5 (Stirling 75, 2), Brazil 6 (Shirra 75, 5)
Not used: Renton, Morgan, Thomson
Booked: Molloy 30

Referee: Bobby Madden