Half-time, halfway there.
Forfar did the job at Station Park last night in the first leg of the Championship play-off final to take a two-goal advantage into Sunday’s showdown.
Goals from Omar Kader and Chris Templeman had Forfar 2-0 up before Kyle Benedictus pulled one back to put a different complexion on the game.
However, an injury-time header from Michael Travis put a fairer reflection on the match and the effort and commitment the Loons put in, giving lie to the ‘Golden Oldies’ tag they are too often labelled with.
Forfar assistant manager Iain Campbell was delighted by the Loons’ efforts.
“I thought it was a good game with a lot of good football played by both sides,” Campbell said.
“Alloa had more territorial advantage in the second half without creating much.
“But I thought we looked dangerous dangerous from start to finish.
“Alloa are a good side but I thought we were tremendous.
“Obviously we are delighted scoring three goals although we are disappointed at not stopping the cross for their goal.
“I think the two-goal advantage reflects the game. It could easily have finished at 2-1 but it shows the team spirit we had everyone up the park trying to score a third.
“We know it is only half-time. It will be a really hard game down there. But we will be up for it and we will be organised.
“Our attitude is it is 0-0. And we will be going down there to win the game on Sunday.”
The bumper 1,212 crowd erupted in the ninth minute when Forfar forced their way ahead.
Gavin Swankie swung in a cross that was deflected clear. Martin Fotheringham was lurking, however, and his shot into the ground was powerfully headed goalwards by Danny Denholm. Keeper John Gibson could only bundle the ball out and Kader pounced to slam the ball home from inside the six-yard box.
Fotheringham then tried a shot from distance but it flew high and wide.
At the other end, Rab Douglas had to look sharp to push a powerful Kevin Cawley shot behind for a corner.
Douglas was twice more called into action, first to deny a point blank Liam Buchanan drive then Michael Chopra as the experienced striker bore down.
Forfar hearts were in mouths in the 26th minute when Chopra had the ball in the net with a neat chip over Douglas but the assistant’s flag was up for a push.
Alloa enjoyed plenty of possession either side of the interval but did nothing to seriously threaten the hosts.
Forfar were looking more dangerous on the attack and doubled their advantage in the 54th minute. Swankie sent over another dangerous cross and again Gibson failed to cut it out, allowing Templeman to rise high at the back post and head into the far corner of the net.
Alloa should have pulled one back seconds later when Chopra was through but Douglas spread his massive frame and collected the weak chip.
Darren Dods forced Gibson into a better stop with a header but in the 78th minute the keeper was found wanting as Swankie almost made it three.
He fumbled a Denholm effort and as the ball dropped to the Forfar skipper he back-heeled it beyond the goalie. Luckily for Alloa, Ben Gordon got back to clear.
That proved vital for Alloa as they hauled themselves back into the tie in the 82nd minute. Mark Docherty swung over a good cross and Benedictus powered a header past Douglas.
Two minutes into added time Forfar flung their big men up for a corner and Travis glanced in Gavin Malin’s centre to put the Angus side on the brink of a fairy-tale ending to a remarkable season.
Attendance: 1,212.
Forfar: Douglas, Travis, Malcolm, Dods, Kennedy, Kader, Young (Dale 84), Fotheringham (Malin 77), Denholm, Templeman (Smith 86), Swankie. Subs not used: Hay, Hilson, Dunlop, King.
Alloa: Gibson, Hetherington, Gordon, Benedictus, Docherty, Cawley, McCord, Flannigan, Holmes (Spence 80), Buchanan, Chopra. Subs not used: Meggatt, Asghar, McDowall, Hynd, Layne, Ferguson.
Referee: Kevin Graham.