FORFAR Athletic, perennial dwellers of Scotland's lower echelons, are homing in on a return to the relatively illustrious second tier for the first time since 1991/92.

Last night's first-leg victory over Alloa Athletic left the ultra-experienced Station Park side in pole position to win the Championship play-off final and take themselves into the same division as at least one of Scottish football's traditional heavyweights, Rangers or Hibernian.

Alloa have already enjoyed that novelty this season, but Danny Lennon's side now require a two-goal victory in Sunday evening's second leg at Recreation Park to have any chance of remaining in the Championship for a third consecutive campaign.

Dick Campbell, the longest-serving manager in Scotland, sent out a Forfar starting XI containing seven players 31 or older, including fortysomething pair Rab Douglas and Darren Dods.

There was no hint of tired legs in the home ranks, however, as they started in sprightly fashion and took the lead with the first attempt of the match after nine minutes. Martyn Fotheringham's fluffed shot from the edge of the box was diverted goalwards by Danny Denholm and, after goalkeeper John Gibson could only parry, Omar Kader, the former Spartans player, followed up to prod in the rebound from six yards out.

The hosts' tails were up and three minutes later, Fotheringham volleyed over from 15 yards after Kader had helped a Gavin Swankie cross into his path. Swankie then tried his luck with a chipped effort from the edge of the box which was clutched by Gibson.

It was then the turn of Douglas to be called into action, with the former Celtic and Scotland goalkeeper having to dive to his right to keep out an angled shot from Kevin Cawley at his near post after quarter of an hour. At the other end, Chris Templeman's low shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Gibson five minutes later.

Douglas produced a brilliant save to deny Liam Buchanan from seven yards out in the 22nd minutes and seconds later the veteran goalkeeper was at it again when he raced from his goal to block at the feet of Michael Chopra after the former Newcastle United striker had got himself clear in the box.

Douglas was eventually beaten in the 27th minute when Buchanan lobbed the ball over him from outside the box and into the net, but the visitors' celebrations were cut short after the goal was disallowed for a push.

Buchanan, who had been visibly frustrated at seeing his side have a couple of decent penalty claims waved away, then drifted a chip from the edge of the box just beyond the far post.

Alloa made a strong start to the second half, but after failing to convert their pressure into any tangible reward, they fell further behind in the 58th minute. After Kader got in behind the away defence and miscued his lob from outside the box, Swankie eventually seized on the loose ball and delivered a perfect cross from the left for Templeman to power home a close-range header.

Alloa should have responded immediately but Chopra shot straight at Douglas after finding himself with a golden opportunity six yards out.

With seven minutes remaining, the visitors hauled themselves back into it when Kyle Benedictus headed in a Mark Docherty cross. But Michael Travis restored Forfar's two-goal advantage in stoppage time when he nodded in a corner from sub Gavin Malin.