Montrose completed the season by leapfrogging East Stirlingshire into sixth place with a 2-1 victory at Ochilview on Saturday.
Garry Wood set the ball rolling in the 16th minute after controlling a Ross McCord pass on his chest before firing a shot on the turn inside the right post.
Paul Watson doubled the visitors’ advantage with a peach of an angled free-kick from the right that whistled in at the back post after 32 minutes. Michael Bolochoweckyj pulled one back three minutes from the break with a powerful header but Montrose more than held out for a well deserved win.
Watson scored a brace at the same venue last season and he said: “I don’t do tap-ins.
“The two last term were from distance as well when we were chasing the play-offs, but it was just good to finish the season with a win today.
“I always just try to hit the goals from that area and thankfully it’s just hit the post and went in.”
“We battered them in the first half. They got a lift from the goal, but we knew if we kept a clean sheet from then on we would win the game. In the end we dug it out.”
New manager George Shields said: “I was only confirmed as manager on Tuesday, so it was good to get a win in my first game officially in the post.
“In the first half we passed the ball well although we fell out of it a bit in the second.
“We battled on in the second period and Stuart McKenzie made a couple of good saves and that’s why he has won seven player-of-the-year trophies this season.”
Shire manager John Coughlan, who was in charge of his last game, said: “We know where the team needs strengthened, but do not have the resources to improve the club.”