Defeat at Stenhousemuir on Saturday means that the best the Loons can do now is finish in second bottom spot, but a victory over Dumbarton at Station Park can keep them clear of East Stirling, who are a point adrift at present, and host Montrose for their finale.

Forfar Athletic manager Jim Moffat is looking for one final major effort from his players, before he turns his mind to rebuilding for a new campaign - and hopefully better fortunes for the Loons.

"I am certainly not proud of what has happened this season," he commented on Sunday, the day after the latest two-nil reverse at the hands of a Stenhousemuir side recording their first home win since just after the turn of the year.

"It has been a huge dent in my pride. It's not true that there is no one more disappointed than myself. Every supporter, every board member and every player is every bit as disappointed in terms of what we served up over the course of the season.

"Despite our position, the board has been very supportive my myself and my assistant Willie Gardner, and we know that next season we have not only got to show an improvement, but a massive improvement.

"To be fair, in terms of commitment, the way they have applied themselves in training and their work ethic in games, I cannot fault the players.

"However, we have to be looking to bridge the gap between being a bottom half side and a team competing in the top half of the league."

In a bid to take Forfar back to a higher level, the manager will firstly get Saturday's game out of the way - hopefully signing off 2007-2008 on a high - before getting down to assessing things for next season.

"I sat down with the board on Monday evening of last week, to talk about budgets and players," added Moffat.

"We all know we need to improve things but there is a degree of optimism with the budget I have been given."

The manager explained that a number of players are out of contract and he would be sitting down early next week to talk with each player before making any announcements in public.

Reflecting over Saturday's latest reverse at Stenhousemuir, Moffat felt his side were facing an uphill struggle when they lost yet another early goal.

The homesters netted after only six minutes when Graham Gibson combined with Jose Quitongo to fire home from close range.

Thereafter, with a strong wind in their favour, the Warriors pushed for the cushion of a second and created a clutch of good chances, Forfar's cause not helped when goalkeeper Sandy Wood collided with Ian Harty in the 17th minute and had to be replaced by Andy Reid.

However, despite Stenhousemuir's territorial advantage, the score remained one-nil at the break, giving Forfar cause for optimism.

Alas, they weren't able to make the most of the fact that the elements were in their favour, and it was the home side who sealed victory from the penalty spot six minutes from time, substitute keeper Reid fouling Gibson in the area and Harty slotting home the resulting penalty.

"We got off to a bad start and, with a gale-force wind blowing the length of the park, Stenhousemuir could have blown us out of sight by the interval," explained Moffat.

"They created four or five good chances and I considered us lucky to be going in at the break just the one goal down.

"In the second half, most of the pressure from us came from set-pieces, when we should have been trying to pepper their goal with good balls into the box, and from that angle, it was really disappointing.

"We tried to be a bit more adventurous, going to four-three-three, and I was about to change it again, and bring on another forward when, six minutes, from time we conceded the penalty. "

Moffat's cause at Ochilview wasn't helped by a depleted midfield, with Barry Donnachie suspended, Steve Kerrigan injured and John Fraser calling off with flu.

And, the manager will have his selection posers again this coming Saturday when Dumbarton come calling.

John Fraser should be fit to return, but Barry Donnachie remains suspended, and is joined by Elliot Smith on the sidelines, while Steve Kerrigan and Sean Kilgannon are rated only fifty-fity to make it.

However, it will be a final opportunity for some of the fringe players to rally to the cause and show they have a future in the Station Park rebuilding process.

The evidence of recent meetings between the sides would suggest that it will be another close encounter.

"There is hardly anything between the teams," commented Moffat. "On our last two visits to Dumbarton we have drawn nil-nil, and for the final game of the season I would like the players to give it one last big push.

"There is a determination in the camp not to finish in bottom spot, having worked so hard to get away from that position."