Scorers: Forfar – Ellis (29 og), Jack (76); Stranraer – Hilton (48), McLean (86 pen)
It was penalties galore at Station Park, as Forfar took a shootout bonus point after Scott McLean’s spot kick earned a draw for ten-man Stranraer.
Sam Ellis’ unfortunate headed own goal handed the home side the lead on the half-hour mark, only for James Hilton to level the scoring with a tidy turn and finish three minutes into the second half.
Blues defender Kyle Girvan saw red with quarter of an hour to play, and just one minute later, Josh Jack capitalised on the shortage of bodies in the Blues defence to sweep home a from a ball into the box.
There was further drama to follow, as with four minutes remaining, second half substitute McLean won – and scored – a decisive spot kick.
Forfar were handed the chance to win it in stoppage time after Blues keeper Luke Scullion was adjudged to have brought down Yusuf Hussain, but Stefan McCluskey’s penalty sailed over the bar.
McCluskey’s side made no mistake in the shootout however, scoring all five penalties to earn the bonus point after Marc McCallum had denied Hilton.
Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Abed, Nditi, Hussain, Brindley, Jack, Slater (Moore 44), Hutton, Hanratty (Thomson 58), McCluskey, Aitken (Armour 67).
Not used: Harkins, Sanderson, Irvine.
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: Scullion, Robertson, Ellis, Girvan, Ross, Hilton, Gallagher, Walker (McLean 81), Woods (Dunn 81), Forrest, Watt.
Not used: O’Connor, Brady, Duffy.
