Fabulous Forfar will take a three-goal lead with them on the long road down to Stranraer thanks to goals from Omar Kader, Gavin Swankie and sub Kerr Hay.
The Loons were thoroughly deserved winners of this SPFL Championship semi-final play-off first leg at Station Park and the score probably flattered the visitors.
Kader fired home just after the hour, Swankie netted with a beautiful chip with three minutes to go, then Hay finished things off by driving the ball home in stoppage time.
Given the number of chances they created, Dick Campbell’s men probably should be in a more comfortable position heading to Stair Park on Saturday but they will still be happy with the three.
As expected, Campbell handed 18-year-old Michael Kennedy his first-team debut at left-back.
With Michael Dunlop suspended after his red card in the heart-breaking home defeat to Ayr United on Saturday.
In came Kader after being a used as a substitute against the Honest Men, along with Derek Young. The men to miss out were the injured Dale Hilson and Gavin Malin, who dropped to the bench.
The Loons kicked off and within a minute threatened the visitors’ goal with a Stuart Malcolm header off a Martyn Fotheringham corner.
On 15 minutes, Forfar had a couple of rapid-fire chances when Danny Denholm’s cross was met at the near post by Kader but the shot was saved by keeper Derek Mitchell, then a goalbound strike from Swankie was deflected away for a corner.
On 21 minutes, the hosts had a claim for a penalty when Denholm went down in the box but referee Stephen Finnie waved play on.
Five minutes before the break, Forfar should have scored when Denholm broke clear. He had only Mitchell to beat but the goalie saved with his leg.
After passing up so many opportunities in the first half, the hosts almost fell behind on 50 minutes when a Willie Gibson corner was met by the head of Jamie Longworth. Loons keeper Rab Douglas did a great job to keep it out but the ball then fell perfectly for Frank McKeown, who shot wide.
Swankie then struck the bar for Forfar on 58 minutes and when the ball bounced down it was fired past by Kader. Swankie had another go just seconds later but his volley was saved.
Forfar eventually got the lead they deserved lead on 61 minutes.
A sweeping move should have been finished off by Chris Templeman but his header was brilliantly saved by Mitchell at point-blank range. Sadly for the visitors, the rebound fell for Kader, who slammed it into the net from just a couple of yards out.
Home sub Hay hit the post and then blasted the rebound over but they did, finally, increase their lead with a great goal from Swankie.
With just three minutes left on the clock, Swankie looked up from the edge of the box and chipped the ball over the head of Mitchell.
Hay then made it a perfect night for the Loons when he slammed home a low shot in stoppage time to make it 3-0.
Forfar: Douglas, (Missing text please take PA) Fotheringham, Templeman (Smith 74), Swankie, Denholm. Subs not used: King, Dale, Clark, Yates.
Stranraer: Mitchell, Pettigrew, Longridge, Rumsby, McKeown (McKeown 76), Bell, Winter, Robertson, Stirling (C. Malcolm 68), Longworth (Stoney 68), Gibson. Subs not used: Tobin, Russell.
Referee: Stephen Finnie.