Unity is key for Stranraer in their bid to pull away from the bottom of League Two.
Scott Robertson is calling on everyone to get behind the Blues ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Bayview Stadium and East Fife.
Just three points separates Stranraer and Clyde at the bottom of the table but a win for Stranraer could pull them to within two points of sixth place.
Robertson said: “It is massive that we stick together.
“I think there have been really good crowds at the last couple of home games.
“The Dumbarton game at home, on the Tuesday night, was brilliant.
“You could really hear the fans pushing the boys on and we gave them something to celebrate with the goals we scored.
“One hundred per cent everybody needs to stick together.
“If we win on Saturday you could potentially be third bottom and three points ahead of Bonnyrigg Rose.
“It is that close and you could potentially be two points off of sixth.
“It is still really, really close and there is nothing in it between five or six teams.
“The boys are giving absolutely everything, I can assure everyone of that.
“There is no slacking off or anything like that at all.
“Every single one of them is giving 110 per cent to try to get us up the league and there are a lot of young boys in there that have possibly not been in this position before so they need all the help they can get, all the confidence they can get, all the fans to be behind them because they are giving everything they can.”
Stranraer’s hosts come into the game on the back of their joint longest unbeaten run of the campaign.
Three wins and three draws in their last six games have pushed the Fife side up the table and into the reckoning for a late play-off charge.
Meanwhile, Bayview Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground in recent years for Stranraer – with just two away wins in the last 10 outings.
Robertson stressed it was going to be a difficult game but pointed to results against other teams as proof they could go and get a result.
He said: “It is a tough place to go and it always has been.
“I’m not sure what our record is – I don’t imagine it is great – but there is no reason we cannot go there and get a result.
“I think on our day we are as good as anybody in the league.”
Last meeting
A Nathan Austin strike was all that separated Stranraer and East Fife earlier this year.
The hosts came close to opening the scoring when Craig Ross put a header onto the post from a corner but it would be East Fife who got the game’s only goal.
A ball over the top caught out the Stranraer defence and Austin rounded Lewis Budinauckas before squeezing the ball home from a tight angle.
Former Blue Kieran Millar, who set up the goal, volleyed wide as the visitors threatened to put the game to bed.
Stranraer’s best chance fell to Tom Orr at the start of the second half after Dylan Forrest played him through. He tried to put a shot beyond the reach of Allan Fleming but put it past the post.
Stranraer: Budinauckas, Girvan, Ross, McQueen, Ecrepont (Gilmartin 73), Robertson, Dolan, Forrest, Johnston (Hawkshaw 62), Grant, Orr.
Not used: Williamson, Fleming and Downie.
East Fife: Fleming, Murdoch, Newton, Easton, Millar (Docherty 74), McManus, Trouten, Healy, Walls (Murray 89), Shepherd (Schiavone 81), Austin.
Not used: Page, Nicol, Cunningham and Beveridge.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 0 East Fife 1 (Austin) at Stair Park on January 27, 2024
- East Fife 4 Stranraer 0 (Millar, Austin, McManus and Newton) at Bayview Stadium on October 21, 2023
- Stranraer 1 East Fife 1 (Orr; Page) at Stair Park on August 9, 2023
- East Fife 8 Stranraer 0 (Own goal x2, Ferguson, Schiavone, Shepherd x2, Denham and Young) at Bayview Stadium on April 15, 2023
- Stranraer 2 East Fife 0 (Grant and Hilton) at Stair Park on February 23, 2023
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Elgin City (H): 1-2 (Own goal)
- LOSS v Peterhead (A): 2-0
- WIN v Dumbarton (H): 5-0 (Own goal, Grant, Forrest, Armour and Lang)
- DRAW v Forfar Athletic (H): 0-0
- LOSS v Dumbarton (A): 2-1 (Ross)
East Fife
- DRAW v Peterhead (A): 1-1 (Trouten)
- WIN v Dumbarton (H): 3-2 (Austin x2 and Easton)
- WIN v Spartans (A): 1-3 (Trouten x2 and Austin)
- DRAW v Forfar Athletic (H): 1-1 (Trouten (Pen))
- WIN v Bonnyrigg Rose (A): 0-2 (Easton and Trouten (Pen))
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Elgin City: Budinauckas, Girvan, Ross, McQueen, Ecrepont (Orr 70), Robertson, Dolan (Gilmartin 70), Forrest, Fleming (Gallagher 63), Johnston (Lang 54), Armour (Grant 54).
Not used: Williamson, McIntosh, Miller and Downie.
East Fife
Lineup v Peterhead: Fleming, Murdoch, Newton, Blaney, Easton, McManus, Trouten, Hamilton (Healy 46), Walls (Millar 43), Shepherd (Lyon 70), Austin (Schiavone 83).
Not used: Slattery, Docherty, Nicol and Beveridge.
Five facts
1. Stranraer have conceded 18 goals over their last five visits to Bayview Stadium. The last time they kept a clean sheet was a 0-0 draw in January 2017 – Stevie Farrell’s first game as Stranraer boss.
2. Former Stranraer midfielder Mark Crilly celebrates his 44th birthday tomorrow (Saturday). Beginning his career at Ayr United, he went on to play for Dumbarton, Stirling Albion, St Mirren and Raith Rovers before joining Stranraer. He spent the 2006/07 season with the Blues and scored two goals to go alongside three red cards.
3. Perhaps one of the most memorable Stranraer visits to Bayview Stadium came in December 2018. Aaron Dunsmore and Daryll Meggatt had the host 2-0 up at half time and Craig Watson added to the score nine minutes after the break. However, the visitors launched an impressive fightback. Adam Cummins scored from the penalty spot before Innes Cameron narrowed the advantage further with 10 minutes to play. Meggatt was then sent off before Chris McGowan equalised. Rounding off an eventful day, Cummins was sent off immediately after McGowan’s leveller. The visiting team was: Currie, McDonald (McGowan 65), Brownlie, Hamill, Cummins, McManus, Turner, Donnelly, I Smith (Anderson 46), Lamont, Crossan (Cameron 60). Not used: Higgins, D Smith, Diver and Avci.
4. Despite his sending off last weekend, Dylan Forrest became the first member of the Stranraer squad to pass 3,000 minutes this season. The next closest is Craig Ross, who is more than 140 minutes from the milestone.
5. Stranraer are unbeaten in their last three games played on March 23. The last team to beat them on that date? East Fife, in a 2-1 victory back in 1996.
Admission
Admission at Bayview Stadium is via ticket only – these are available from the East Fife website.
There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview and East Fife strongly encourage supporters to purchase their tickets online. Online sales are available right up until kick off.
Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling 01333 426323 or directly from the club office for those unable to purchase online.
Parent and child tickets cannot be purchased online and should be bought directly from the club office.
Admission prices are as follows:
- Adults – £18
- Concessions* – £14
- Under 16s** – £5
- Parent & Child** – £21
- Parent & 2 Children** – £24
* Over 65s/Full-Time Students/Disabled – proof of age/eligibility may be requested
** Proof of age may be requested.
Coverage
Full coverage is available of Saturday’s trip to East Fife.
As ever, you can follow live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter) for the latest news throughout the afternoon.
As this match takes places outside UK blocked hours, a live stream is available to viewers worldwide via the excellent East Fife TV.
The manager’s interview will be available on YouTube during the evening, and Club 1870 subscribers can watch the goals before midnight and an exclusive reaction from a player post-match.
Extended highlights will follow as soon as possible on Sunday, with full match footage available via Club 1870 later on.
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Photos: Bill McCandlish
