Forfar gained a point, earned plenty of admiration for their performance but ultimately slipped to joint bottom of League One after the 1-1 draw with Cowdenbeath.
Only goal difference has them above Angus rivals Brechin City at the foot of the table with Cowden two points ahead and while every point is welcome at this stage of the season, Forfar manager Gary Bollan knows wins and points are what counts now.
It was one of Forfar’s best showings for a long time, as the Loons served up some slick, attractive football. But they will be bitterly disappointed they lost a sloppy goal just moments after enjoying a dream start.
“It was like the game against Airdrie on Tuesday again today we had loads of the ball and chances so to not score more than one in either game is disappointing.
“We have got to do better in front of goal but otherwise, the performance, retaining the ball, all the rest, we were great. It is just finding that final piece of the jigsaw, capitalising when we are on top in games and putting teams to bed.”
Bollan agreed that the lack of goals aside, it was as good a performance as Forfar have put in for a long time, saying: “The result is disappointing, but the positives are the performance and creating chances that we weren’t four or five weeks ago.”
Forfar enjoyed that dream start after just two minutes. The ball was worked wide to Danny Denholm and his low centre from the left was hammered home by Andy Ryan from eight yards out.
But two minutes later Cowdenbeath were level. Greig Spence pounced on a slack header on the edge of the Forfar box and rounded keeper Darren Hill before stroking the ball home.
The home side created a number of chances after that but found Beath keeper Grant Adam in fine form.
Cowden manager Colin Nish, who has signed Craig Sives on loan from Livingston until the end of the season, said: “We were disappointed to give away the early goal and it is something we have done a lot this season but to respond the way we did was great.
“Today we probably did the one thing we haven’t all season, defend well.
“Like Forfar, we are good going forward. We have struggled defensively but we have worked on it and it worked today.
“I am quite happy to be going down the road with a point.”