Montrose 1, Cowdenbeath 0.
SPFL League 2
Attendance-456

A SINGLE goal was the difference between the teams as Montrose moved into a menacing position in the top four of the division.
Cowden had a few opportunities but to be truthful found themselves being hemmed in by the home side for spells and it took some rock solid defensive work to keep them out.
For this trip to Links Park, on Saturday, the Blue Brazil brought Harvey Swann back into the side in place of Kyle Miller with Brad Smith moving inside to support Cammy Muirhead.
It certainly gave the team width and there were some good sorties down either flank without getting an all important goal.
Again defensively, Cowdenbeath were very good with Joe McGovern solid between the sticks and Jamie Pyper, Scott Rumsby, David Syme and Shaun Rutherford on top of their jobs, but they were caught out once and ultimately it proved costly.
The midfield was upset before the first quarter of the game was over when Fraser Mullen had to go off with Miller replacing him and it meant that the fluidity was missing for a spell.
Ali and Brad Smith had busy games as did Ben Stirling but a booking for the latter affected his  contribution and he gave way to Ryan Connelly.
Cowdenbeath had the first real chance of the match in four minutes when from a set piece Rumsby got in a shot from eight yards but the ball was blocked.
At the other end Montrose’s Conner McLaren saw a shot suffer the same result but in 19 minutes the hosts got the breakthrough after Jamie Pyper conceded a corner. The ball was shelled across the face of the Cowden goal and former Dundee United man, Sean DILLON, arrived to head home from seven yards out.
This gave the home side momentum and Chris Templeman saw a shot saved by McGovern then Miller replaced Mullen before Dillon saw another effort go over.
There was little really happening in terms of goalmouth action before the break but Cowden started the second period well and and Muirhead saw a fierce 19 yarder blocked by a stray Montrose leg then Rutherford saw his effort suffer the same fate.
Just after the hour mark later the Blue Brazil sent on Ryan Connelly and Robbie Buchanan for Swann and Stirling but a chance appeared at the Cowdenbeath end when McLaren got in a drive but the visiting defence kept it out.
Montrose had another two good attempts mopped up by McGovern but with 14 minutes left Brad Smith’s 20 yard drive came back off the Montrose bar.
Cowden kept working hard but they just could not fashion a goal.
Montrose: Fleming (7); Ballantyne (6), Steeves (6); Dillon (8), Campbell (7), Redman (7); McLaren (6) (Hay 74 (3)), Fotheringham (6) (Watson 67 (3)), Templeman (7), Webster (4) (Johnston 39 (5)), Callaghan (7). Subs not used, Allan, Thomson, Campbell and Millar.
Cowdenbeath: Joe McGovern (7); Jamie Pyper (7), Shaun Rutherford (7); Fraser Mullen (4) (Kyle Miller 23 (6)), Scott Rumsby (7), David Syme (7); Ali Smith (6), Ben Stirling (6) (Ryan Connelly 64 (3)), Cammy Muirhead (6), Bradley Smith (6), Harvey Swann (6) (Robbie Buchanan 64 (3)). Subs not used, Matt McInally, Josh Morris, Charlie Denton and Dave McGurn.
Referee-Gavin Ross (6).