Every point is a prisoner for Elgin City from now on as their defeat against Forfar, coupled with Montrose’s draw against Berwick Rangers, meant the Black and Whites fell to the foot of the Third Division table.
Manager Ross Jack said: “Points have always been important to us and we always go out to try to collect as many as we possibly can.
“Things haven’t changed.
“Montrose are on a good run but we have still our eight games to put it right.”
Jack was left to read from the same script again in his post-match analysis as he felt wastefulness in front of goal again cost City.
He said: “I don’t think the scoreline was a true reflection of the game because 2-0 flattered Forfar.
“We played very well in the first half and created a number of chances but once again couldn’t capitalise and that has been the story of our season.”
The home side threatened first when Forfar goalkeeper Alistair Brown failed to deal with a long kick up the park from his opposite number John Gibson.
City attacker Shane Sutherland managed to nip in and steal possession but his touch took the ball wide and his effort from an acute angle was hacked clear by a covering defender.
Elgin continued to push forward and Paul Kaczan raced down the right before delivering an inviting low cross but there was no one in the middle who could apply the vital touch for City.
Forfar almost grabbed the opener against the run of play when Paul Watson jinked his way in from the right and past two defenders but his powerful shot was parried behind by Gibson at the goalkeeper’s near post.
This gave the Loons a lift and they were back on the attack moments later when Ross Campbell cut in from the right side to work a sight of goal for himself.
He blasted in his shot but it was superbly palmed over the crossbar by Gibson to keep the scores level at the break.
Forfar took only two second-half minutes to break the deadlock.
Attacker Campbell got the break of the ball in the middle of the park and that allowed him to advance in on goal.
He then showed a cool head to place his low shot under the body of the advancing Gibson and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
However, City were presented with a golden opportunity to level the score less than a minute later when they won a penalty after a clumsy foul in the box. On-loan midfielder Gavin Morrison took on the responsibility from 12 yards and placed his effort low to the goalkeeper’s left but Brown came out on top as he got down well to make the save.
The Loons made sure all three points would be heading back to Station Park with them six minutes from time.
Campbell turned provider this time when he advanced down the right and with the City defence all leaving his low cross for one another to deal with, substitute Graham Gibson was able to cash in on the uncertainly by knocking home from close range at the back post.