It was all one-way traffic in the first half, as the hosts, unbeaten over 90 minutes in their last seven home games, pushed for the lead. Harry Wilson was their main aggressor, whipping one cross in from the right wing that Wes Burns could not direct on target.
The midfielder then had an effort of his own, stinging the palms of Igor Nikić with a fierce strike that was tipped around the post, before feeding Liam Cullen, who lifted a through ball over the bar.
It was only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken, and after David Brooks had seen a 30-yard strike palmed to safety, the Dragons finally took the lead.
Unsurprisingly, Wilson was involved, as his feint and turn in the area fooled Vladimir Jovovic, who duly brought him down.
The Fulham man converted the spot kick himself, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, before coming close to adding a second minutes later with a low drive that skidded wide.
Although that first-half display should have settled supporters’ nerves, they would have been only too aware that the last six goals Craig Bellamy’s side had conceded had come after the break.
A seventh strike was almost added to that tally as the hour mark approached, only for Andrija Radulovic to rattle the bar with a superb strike after cutting in from the right, as Montenegro were largely kept at arm’s length.
Indeed, Wales had a handful of chances of their own, with Burns and substitute Sorba Thomas both striking off target. The slender manner or their lead left the hosts open to a sucker punch at the other end, which was almost delivered by Nikola Krstović when he nodded over from inside the box.
In the end, though, Bellamy’s side, for whom Neco Williams had a fierce late free-kick saved, registered an important victory that leaves them unbeaten in this UNL campaign and two points behind group leaders Turkey.
Whereas Montenegro, who chalked up a sixth successive defeat for the first time in their history, look destined for a return to League C.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Harry Wilson (Wales)