The Loons started their competitive season with victory over First Division Stirling Albion in the first round of the CIS Cup. It was a deserved victory with Forfar looking solid at the back, and limiting their opponents to few clear cut chances.
The first real attack came in the twelfth minute, despite Mark McCulloch's best efforts to stop Andy Gibson, the home forward managed to send over a threatening cross, but Michael Mullin failed to connect. Four minutes later an Iain Campbell free kick was blocked and Stirling hit on the break with Colquhoun releasing Mullin, and as Bishop stalled the shot, the ball was eventually fired in low and wide of Scott Gallacher's right hand post. A minute later and Forfar shocked the home side by taking the lead. A half cleared corner fell to Ross Campbell who passed to his brother, and with the home defence static Iain stepped into the penalty box before driving home. Stirling's response was immediate when Colquhoun collected a low pass from Taggart, turned and fired a good effort which sailed just wide of Gallacher's post. Although Stirling were enjoying more of the possession, they were struggling to break down the stubborn Loons defence. On the half hour mark, Stirling's best chance of the half arrived following good work from Taggart who got behind the Forfar defence before feeding Aitken with a great pass who fired wide of the target from twelve yards out.

The home fans showed their frustration as the teams left for the half time break, and within seven minutes of the second half things looked bleak for the home side as Forfar increased their lead. Chris Templeman, who was as ever displaying fine footwork with the ball, sent new boy Dale Hilson down the right wing, he did well to beat his marker, and feed Ross Campbell with a low pass, our top scorer pounced on his opportunity and the travelling Forfar support celebrated. With the Loons defence looking pretty solid it was going to be a long way back for the home side. Ten minutes later and they made some inroads when Ryan Borris out stripped two Loons defenders before cutting back a great pass for Nathan Taggart who side footed the ball beyond the grasp of Scott Gallacher.
This didn’t shake Forfar’s confidence or indeed spark new life into the Stirling side, and the remainder of the match was comfortable enough for the Loons. The only real moment of hope for the Binos came when Chris Aitken shot from distance and wasn’t far off target with Gallacher slightly unsighted. But alas, it was not to be and when the ref blew for time the Forfar players deservedly took the plaudits of the eighty-two travelling Forfar fans.