Forfar let slip a two-goal lead at Ochilview against 10-man Warriors and manager Dick Campbell is at a loss to explain his side’s plunge down the League One table.
Iain Campbell put the visitors ahead on the half-hour mark with a penalty after home keeper Jamie Barclay was sent off for bringing down Scot Martin in the box, and Danny Denholm rifled home a second six minutes into the second half.
Seemingly coasting to their first victory in 11 games, the Loons took their foot off the gas and the alarm bells sounded when Colin McMenamin pulled one back in the 78th minute with a terrific header from a cross from sub Carlos Manazana.
Unable to waken from that self-imposed siesta, Forfar were made to pay six minutes from time when Jason Scotland rammed home a penalty to level after Chris Templeman was harshly adjudged to have fouled Manzana in the area.
It was clearly an error by referee Euan Anderson as even the most devoted Warriors fan conceded that if a foul was committed, it was at least a yard outside the box.
Boss Campbell could have used the mistake as an excuse, but, to his credit, dwelt more on his own team’s failings.
The fuming gaffer said, “All the credit from today’s game must go to Stenhousemuir.
“They were reduced to 10 men and nobody could argue with the decision.
“We went two-up after the interval and were hammering them, but we stopped playing.
“There is something missing and I can’t put my finger on it.”
Recognising that the team’s current record is not typical of his management record, Campbell finished philosophically, adding: “Well, I suppose it’s the first point in four games and we didn’t get anybody sent off.”
Denholm didn’t deserve the fate that befell his team.
The top scorer brought his tally for the season to six here and was taken off when the Loons were two goals ahead.
“I don’t know what’s wrong, but we were comfortably ahead and didn’t look in any danger,” he said,
“I was off the pitch at the time and it appeared to me that we were very nervous.
“That’s what happens when you are going through a tough period I suppose.
“We will just get our heads down, try to sort things out and go to Stranraer next Saturday to turn things around.”