Annan crashed out of the Scottish League One promotion play-offs after Forfar turned in a masterful first half which left Jim Chapman’s men with almost no way back.
Having gone into Saturday’s second-leg with a 2-2 aggregate – Annan having suffered a late fightback on Wednesday after leading 2-0 for most of the first leg – it was all to play for.
But the home team swept to a three-goal lead in the opening half that even a spirited second-half showing from the Galabankies - pulling two back - couldn’t overcome.
Forfar started the match on the front foot, forcing several early corner kicks which pinned Annan back.
Fotheringham’s low-raking shot in the fourth minute had goalkeeper Blair Currie at full stretch to turn the ball round the post.
Thomas O’Brien then came close when his shot crashed off the top of the cross bar in the eighth minute.
Annan’s first clear chance was in the 11th minute, falling to Aidan Smith, who latched on to Gavin Swankie’s short pass-back, but an important tackle denied the Annan striker.
Forfar opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Fotheringham split the Annan defence with a ball down the right into the path of Swankie who homed in on keeper Currie to finish with low shot from the corner of the six-yard box and into the net.
Annan had a good opportunity to square the match in the 26th minute when Jordan Stewart’s long ball forward was mistimed by O’Brien and it left Smith one-on-one with the keeper, only for the challenge to be cleared as it looked goal-bound.
Forfar doubled their lead on the half hour mark.
Once again, Annan were stretched down the right flank when Fotheringham played a telling ball into the path of Jamie Swain, who squared the ball into the path of Jim Lister who slotted the ball under the body of Currie and into the net off the base of the post.
Any chances Annan had of turning the game around were dealt a severe blow in the 36th minute when ex-Galabank favourite David Cox slipped in a low cross across the face of the Annan goal and Swankie showed good composure with a low shot past Currie from the corner of the six-yard box to give Forfar a very comfortable three-goal advantage.
Annan pushed forward in the second half and were dealt a lifeline in the 49th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick after Currie’s kick from the back was headed on by Peter Weatherson into the path of Smith who was stopped in his tracks on the edge of the box by keeper Grant Adam.
Smith dispatched the penalty to give Annan a lifeline.
Annan were enjoying their best spell in the match and Smith dispossessed Malone to thread the ball into the path of Nathan Flanagan who went one- on-one with keeper Grant Adam who smothered Flanagan’s shot.
It was a real opportunity but in the 65th minute Annan were right back in contention when they pulled another goal back.
This was created and scored by substitute Darren Ramsay who picked the ball up on the right, leading to a quick one-two with Weatherson before Ramsay’s run took him right through the centre of the Forfar defence, finishing with a low shot under the keeper.
Annan’s spirited fightback was then thwarted in the 73rd minute when Swankie was sent clear down the right and he made a beeline for the bye-line cutting the ball back into the path of Jamie Bain who picked his spot from 12 yards.
It was a real blow for Annan who had worked their way back into the match.
And, although there were chances created at both ends of the park, it was Forfar who won their way through to the final play-off match where they will face Peterhead who defeated Montrose with a 4-1 aggregate victory.
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