Cowdenbeath maintained their promotion push by scoring early and late against struggling Montrose, but the Fifers had to play almost 50 minutes with only 10 men after midfielder Darren McGregor was red-carded .
McGregor's afternoon at least started well as his pass found Markus Paatelainen on the left and the Finn crossed for David McKenna to side-foot the ball home from six yards after just three minutes.
The visitors battled hard but Cowdenbeath looked comfortable until McGregor was sent off shortly before half- time when he lashed out at Hugh Davidson to pick up his second booking of the game just three minutes after the first for dissent.
Despite this Cowdenbeath continued to make chances, and Mikko Paatelainen wasted two terrific opportunities, heading over from close range and then shooting straight at goalkeeper Sandy Wood.
Full-back Chris Brash went closest for Montrose with an angled left-foot drive which flashed narrowly wide and an 18-yard volley which clipped the top of the home crossbar.
Striker Liam Buchanan had been disappointed to be left on the substitutes' bench but came on for the last 11 minutes. Within four minutes he had doubled Cowdenbeath's lead and secured the points when he latched on to a pass from Marcus Paatelainen and chipped the ball over the advancing Wood for his seventh goal of the season.