Dunfermline's season of woe shows no sign of easing after a defeat which leaves their first division survival hanging by a thread.
Forfar simply destroyed them in the first leg of this play-off semi-final at Station Park, where a late consolation goal gave the Fifers only a glimmer of hope for the return on Saturday.
Goals from Willie Robertson and a double from the former Dunfermline striker Chris Templeman were enough to ensure a confident trip to East End Park for the Angus men.
Forfar were first to show in eight minutes when Gavin Swankie picked up a through-ball from Gavin Malin and cut back for Dale Hilson, whose mis-struck effort crept onto the post, Willie Robertson firing the rebound into the side netting. Ryan Thomson scooped a shot into the arms of goalkeeper Darren Hill after Alan Smith set him up in the box, then Thomson went close six yards out, just failing to connect with a low centre.
At the other end, Michal Hrivnal pulled off a great close-range block to deny Swankie's shot on the turn. But his opposite number put that in the shade with a breathtaking reaction save from his team-mate Michael Bolochoweckyj, who sliced a clearance right at his goalkeeper.
Forfar made the breakthrough in the 33rd minute. Hilson waltzed around the penalty area after Templeman beat Hrivnal to the ball only for his shot to be knocked against a post and half cleared. However, Robertson pounced on the ball 20 yards out and smashed the ball into the net.
Four minutes later, Forfar doubled their lead. Malin curled in a corner from the left and Templeman rose highest to loop a header beyond Hrivnal.
The home side went three ahead just before half-time when Swankie skipped into the box and clipped a cross to the far post for Templeman to head strongly over the line.
Dunfermline pressed after the break but it was the second division side who went close to extending their lead, Malin's shot from 18 yards pushed away by the goalkeeper, then Hrivnal dropping Robertson's effort on the line.
Dunfermline had a huge let-off in the 78th minute when Andy Geggan clearly tripped Omar Kader as he sped past him into the box but referee Crawford Allan waved play on.
With six minutes to go, Dunfermline pulled a goal back, Stephen Husband drilling in a low free kick from 22 yards.
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