Peterhead went top of Division Two with an explosive burst of second half goals in a game that had a draw written all over it for much of the 90 minutes.
Certainly the margin of victory was harsh on Montrose who could have scored before the Blue Toon eventually took the lead and brought themselves back into things in the second half but for the heroics of home keeper Graeme Smith.
Gable Endies manager Stuart Garden said: “At 0-0 we were very much still in the match and started the second half well.
“Their first goal was against the run of play but after that Peterhead were ruthless and took their chances well.”
A first half of few chances saw the home side go close with Jamie Redman and Rory McAllister shots both well saved by Stuart McKenzie but the best effort fell to the visitors after 26 minutes.
A Paul Watson free-kick 25 yards out looked goal-bound until Smith acrobatically dived to his left to turn the ball around the post.
Graham Webster earlier had an attempt from distance as the teams went in level at the break.
The second half started with Peterhead going close from an Andy Rodgers head flick narrowly past the far post and Montrose responded with a Terry Masson shot from the edge of the area that Smith saved with his legs by the post.
The home side took the lead after 65 minutes.
McAllister won then took a free kick 20 yards out before somehow sending a daisy cutter of a shot through the defensive wall.
Three minutes later it was game over with McAllister cutting the ball back from the byline for substitute Fraser McLaren to sidefoot home from 6 yards.
Masson had a shot saved in the 77th minute but the Blue Toon struck three minutes later with a volley from McAllister 12 yards out.