There was no room for sentiment as Forfar edged closer to promotion with a ruthlessly efficient victory over struggling Dunfermline at East End Park on Saturday.
It was the Loons’ first league win there in more than three decades and saw them join Morton at the top of League One with just one match at home to Ayr still to play.
Boss Dick Campbell is a former Pars manager, while veteran striker Chris Templeman supported Dunfermline as a boy and began his senior career with them, but both are now fully committed to the Forfar cause.
Templeman was particularly influential as the visitors raced into a three-goal half-time lead, which they comfortably converted into a sixth win in seven games despite a late counter from Dunfermline’s only goal threat, Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
Forfar were helped by the back muscle spasm suffered by home keeper Ryan Scully during the warm-up, which meant a last-minute call-up for youngster Jamie Wilson who unsurprisingly made a jittery start.
He was caught cold by Martyn Fotheringham’s long-range free-kick in the ninth minute and was almost embarrassed again by the same player moments later.
His head had still not cleared by the time he failed to come out of his box to clear a through ball for Templeman in the 19th minute as the 34-year-old used all his experience to drag the ball past Wilson and a covering defender before sliding it into the empty net.
“The goalkeeper hesitated a wee bit and I was able to get past him and the defender as well,” said Templeman.
“We know Dunfermline are a good side, so we knew we needed to start well against them, especially after losing at Peterhead last week.”
As a veteran of successful promotion campaigns with Brechin and Morton, Templeman warned: “Looking ahead to next Saturday, you’ve just got to look after yourself and not go relying on other results to help you.
“It’s not going to be easy for us against Ayr because they’re still fighting for themselves.”
Templeman was also heavily involved in Forfar’s third goal when a push on him by Finn Graham resulted in a penalty kick which Dale Hilson slotted past Wilson.
Loons boss Campbell said: “I thought we looked a bit tired in the second half, but at this late stage of the season I couldn’t care less how we played because it’s all about results now.
“We didn’t start well against Peterhead, and that angered me, so we realised we had to start better today and get in their faces right away.”