Arbroath manager Todd Lumsden urged his men not to get carried away after they climbed the league with a derby day victory over Montrose.
Arbroath eased their way to the three points thanks to a goal in each half from Bobby Linn and Mark Whatley.
A delighted Lumsden said: “I feel we controlled the game and they didn’t threaten us.
“The conditions were difficult for both teams, but we have good quality in our front four and should have had a couple more goals, particularly when Darren Ramsay had a chance right at the death.
“We were disappointed the last time we came to Montrose, but that was a great performance.”
He added: “We won our last two going into this game and we have to keep the run going. It is a good start to the new year, but we will not get carried away.”
Playing against the wind, Montrose looked the more likely to score in the opening period.
But it was Arbroath who grabbed the lead on 32 minutes. Jordan Millar saved with his feet from Ramsay and, when play continued, Linn cut inside from the right and shot into the top corner.
On 38 minutes Linn fired in a free-kick which was turned around the post by Millar.
Just seconds later Greg Rutherford was in on goal, but again Millar managed to save.
On 57 minutes a Montrose free-kick was tapped for Graham Webster and his drive was saved by Allan Fleming.
Arbroath made it 2-0 on 66 minutes. Rutherford was denied by Millar, but the ball broke for Whatley to score from the edge of the box.
There was no way back for Montrose, and Arbroath might have scored again on 90 minutes when Ramsay failed to get enough behind his shot and Millar dived to save.
Montrose boss Paul Hegarty said: “We started brightly and had them on the back foot.
“We had five or six corners from which we should have capitalised but we didn’t, then it was a lovely strike from Bobby Linn.”
He added: “We were quiet in the second half. We wanted to get the ball into feet but that didn’t happen, and our passes were too long or too high.
“At their second goal we failed defensively. Jordan Millar made a good save and none of our defenders were able to help him out.”
Hegarty concedes that the threat of finishing in bottom spot is a real one for his side.
He feels the league has now split into two groups of five, with the bottom five battling to avoid the dreaded 10th place.
“We have not won in eight games but we can get out of it. We must focus and prepare for our next game.”
The Montrose gaffer says he has inquired about four players as he looks to strengthen his squad in the January window.