Iain Campbell left Falkirk wondering what might have been as Forfar, the only part-time team left in the Scottish Cup, said farewell to the competition.
The 4-1 scoreline would seem to suggest that the Loons came unstuck in the mud at Falkirk Stadium, with Steven Pressley describing the pitch as a cowfield.
But Forfar more than matched their Division One opponents in the first half, with both teams locked at 1-1 before they paid the penalty for some weak defending.
Campbell, who coolly scored from the spot in the 20th minute for Forfar’s equaliser after frontman Chris Templeman had been fouled by Bairns defender Stephen Kingsley, admitted it was a missed opportunity.
“We came with a game plan and yet again individual errors have cost us,” he said. “I thought we were sticking to it quite well and limited them to a few chances and as soon as they got the second goal we sort of collapsed for that period of time and it killed us.
“We had Falkirk watched several times and were meticulous in our preparation. We knew what Falkirk are all about they are a good passing team.
“It was going well at half-time and we were confident. We had a great chance in the second half with Gav Malin and Gavin Swankie with the header.
“If we had gone 2-1 up I definitely believe we could have drawn or maybe won the game.”
Forfar went behind in the 19th minute, English star Lyle Taylor drilling home a Blair Alston delivery, but within 90 seconds they were right back in it thanks to Campbell’s penalty.
Malin and Swankie missed opportunities to put Forfar ahead in the second half and they lived to regret that, as second-half strikes from Stewart Murdoch, substitute David Weatherston and Taylor sent Falkirk into the quarter-finals.
Dick Campbell could not fault his players for effort he just wished they had not been so sloppy at the back.
He said: “The scoreline was a harsh assessment of the game. In the first half we did everything right and frustrated Falkirk. The second goal was a killer and I feel sorry for the 300 fans who made the trip to Falkirk.
“I also feel sorry for my players in lots of ways because this game can be cruel.”
The tie only got the go-ahead after a morning inspection, and Bairns boss Pressley admitted the playing surface was shocking.
“I thought my players were outstanding because if you go out on to that pitch it’s like a cowfield,” he said.
As for just missing out on the Dundee United job given to Jackie McNamara, Pressley added: “I’m sure Jackie will do a wonderful job for them.”