Montrose manager George Shields was left regretting a “bad decision” by his goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie as the Gable Endies crashed to their first home league defeat at the hands of new League Two leaders Albion Rovers.
With just three minutes on the clock, McKenzie was sent-off for bringing down Albion striker Ross McNeil as Montrose appealed in vain for offside.
John McCafferty took over in goal with young winger Stephen Day sacrificed, but 10-man Montrose were left with a mountain to climb.
Shields said: “Three minutes into the match our gameplan was out of the window. We had to take young Stephen off and change our whole formation.”
Montrose dug in after the McKenzie dismissal and on 21 minutes Albion keeper Neil Parry dived full length to tip away Paul Watson’s free-kick.
McNeil headed in an Alan Reid cross to give Albion the lead on the half-hour mark.
Replacement keeper McCafferty made saves from Mark McGuigan, Mark McKenzie, Gary Philips and McNeil to keep Montrose in the hunt and as the home side went for broke, Watson shot over and had another free-kick saved.
Rovers hit on the break and McGuigan made it 2-0 nine minutes from time.
McCafferty made a great block to deny McGuigan a second goal on 83 minutes, then Montrose were denied a consolation goal a minute from time when a drive from Ross McCord flew narrowly wide.
Shields added: “The league is wide open and it is going to be very tight.”