A passionate plea has been issued ahead of one of Stranraer’s most important games in the club’s 150-plus-year history.
The Blues host League Two champions Stenhousemuir tomorrow (Saturday) knowing they will need a win to have any chance of avoiding bottom spot.
Scott Agnew said both the fans and the players had a role to play in ensuring they did what they could to leapfrog Clyde on what could be a dramatic and eventful last day of the season.
The manager said: “The fans are massive, absolutely massive.
“There is no coincidence that we are better at home.
“I think the boys are comfortable in their surroundings and any time we have had a decent crowd there and the supporters get right behind the boys we have done well.
“It is a young group and I have been saying it all week but they need the support.
“They need the support, they need the help, to get us out of this situation.
“It is over to the players as well and myself.
“It is over to us to produce a big performance because, to be fair to the ones that do come to Stair Park, they have been right behind us for the full game any time we have been there.
“If everyone can come out and support that would be unbelievable but the players need to produce to get that backing.”
Defeat at Forfar Athletic, combined with Clyde picking up three points against East Fife, saw Stranraer slip to the bottom of the table.
The manager was not happy with his side’s performance at Station Park, where the hosts were well worth their win.
Agnew said: “It was very disappointing.
“I think there are, obviously, going to be games where we are not going to win but I think the performance was nowhere near good enough and nowhere near where we have been as of late.
“It was really disappointing and it caught me by surprise; I did not see it coming.”
Attention now turns to taking on a Stenhousemuir team who will be playing League One football next season.
The Warriors have lost just three league games all season and only one away from home.
Stranraer must double that number of away league defeats to have any chance of avoiding a play-off with East Kilbride.
Clyde travel to Elgin while Bonnyrigg Rose, who are all but mathematically safe after drawing with Stenhousemuir last weekend, host Forfar Athletic.
Regardless of what happens at Borough Briggs or New Dundas Park, Agnew was keen for his side to do their bit.
He said: “There will be no doom and gloom coming from me.
“Everything will remain upbeat until we get out of this mess.
“That is my message to them.
“We have got ourselves in it and we need to find a way to get ourselves out of it.
“Feeling sorry for ourselves is not how we will do it.”
Last meeting
Runaway league leaders Stenhousemuir made it nine points out of nine against Stranraer in January.
Former Warriors frontman Tom Orr came close twice to breaking the deadlock on his return to Ochilview.
The hosts had created little but found the breakthrough in fortunate circumstances. A cross from the right was driven across goal and Kyle Girvan could only deflect it into his own net.
Stranraer had a chance to equalise but Craig Ross could only loop his header over the bar from Chris Johnston’s cross.
Gregor Buchanan could have doubled the home side’s lead after the break but his spectacular volley was dealt with by Lewis Budinauckas.
Scott Robertson sent a header over the bar but the Blues could not find a leveller.
Stenhousemuir: D Jamieson, Meechan, Buchanan, N Jamieson (Lynch 70), Bilham, Wedderburn, Brown (Jacobs 75), O’Reilly (Taylor 89), Anderson, Aitken, Yates (Rodden 75).
Not used: Berry and Lyle.
Stranraer: Budinauckas, Robertson, Girvan (Fleming 46), Ross, McQueen, Ecrepont, Dolan, Forrest, Johnston (Hawkshaw 76), Grant, Orr (Gilmartin 81).
Not used: Williamson, Lang, McDonald and Downie.
Last five meetings
- Stenhousemuir 1 Stranraer 0 (Own goal) at Ochilview Park on January 20, 2024
- Stranraer 0 Stenhousemuir 3 (Aitken, Yates and O’Reilly) at Stair Park on November 18, 2023
- Stenhousemuir 5 Stranraer 0 (Aitken (Pen), Buchanan x2 and Brown x2) at Ochilview Park on September 16, 2023
- Stranraer 2 Stenhousemuir 0 (Grant and Ecrepont) at Stair Park on April 29, 2023
- Stenhousemuir 2 Stranraer 1 (Yates x2; Walker) at Ochilview Park on January 7, 2023
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-2
- DRAW v Dumbarton (H): 0-0
- DRAW v The Spartans (A): 0-0
- LOSS v Clyde (A): 1-0
- DRAW v Bonnyrigg Rose (H): 1-1 (Lang)
Stenhousemuir
- DRAW v Bonnyrigg Rose (H): 1-1 (Buchanan)
- DRAW v Clyde (A): 2-2 (Lynch and Kirkpatrick)
- DRAW v Elgin City (H): 1-1 (Taylor)
- DRAW v East Fife (H): 0-0
- DRAW v Dumbarton (A): 0-0
Last time out
Forfar Athletic v Stranraer: Budinauckas, Williamson, Ross, McQueen, McIntosh (Gilmartin 85), Gallagher, Hawkshaw (Dolan 46), Miller (Fleming 46), Grant, Lang (Edgar 68), Armour (Orr 25).
Not used: Ecrepont and Downie.
Stenhousemuir v Bonnyrigg Rose: D Jamieson, Meechan (Lynch 74), Buchanan, Bilham, Berry, Brown, O’Reilly (Kirkpatrick 69), Anderson (Rodden 84), Jacobs (Stirling 46), Aitken, Yates (Taylor 69).
Not used: N Jamieson, Wedderburn and Lyle.
Five facts
1. Stranraer-born Ernie Yard was born on May 3, 1961. The winger made more than 30 appearances for his hometown club before going on to play for Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle. His career would take him south of the border and he played for Bury, Crystal Palace and Reading before moving to South Africa. Sadly, he died in South Africa in November 2004.
2. The last time Stranraer went through a season without taking at least three points off of Stenhousemuir was the 1990/91 season. The Warriors won 2-0 and 3-2 at Ochilview and 2-1 at Stair Park.
3. Stenhousemuir were 5-0 winners against Stranraer at Ochilview earlier this season. Stranraer have scored five in Larbert on occasion but their best showing at Stair Park saw them hit their opponents for six. That was in October 2001 when, remarkably, the score was only 1-0 to the Blues at half time. Ian Harty got that goal and the striker would wrap up his hat-trick in the second half. Kevin Finlayson, Stevie Aitken and Alex Grace were also on target for the hosts while Michael Stone scored a consolation for the visitors.
4. Over the last decade, Stranraer have won their last home game on five occasions. The most recent of those was a 2-0 win over Stenhousemuir when Matty Grant and Finn Ecrepont scored.
5. Stranraer fans only need to cast their minds back to 2021 for the last time their team won on May 4. In the end, goals from Andy Stirling and Tom Orr, either side of a Scott Robertson own goal, gave them victory over Edinburgh City. The Stranraer team was: Fleming, Robertson, Burns, Sonkur, Hamill, McManus, Stirling, Millar, Duffy (Hilton 78), Elliott (Paton 84), Orr (Victoria 89). Not used: McIntyre, Devitt, Gallagher, Taylor, Josh Walker and Jamie Walker.
Admission
Your support is truly appreciated as the season draws to a close.
Admission at Stair Park is on a ‘pay at the gate’ basis, with pricing as follows:
- Adult – £15
- Concession – £10
- 5 to 16 Years Old – £5
- Under 5 – FREE
As ever, a range of Stranraer FC merchandise is available at the back of the main McLeans Taxis stand, and the Pavilion Bar at the ground provides a warm welcome for both home and away supporters from 1pm.
50/50 draw tickets are available along with your matchday teamsheet at the turnstile.
We thank fans of both clubs for their attendance.
Coverage
Follow coverage from Stair Park this weekend across our media channels.
You can follow live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter) for the latest news throughout the afternoon.
The manager’s interview will be available on YouTube during the evening, and Club 1870 subscribers can watch the goals before midnight.
Extended highlights will follow on Sunday morning, with full match footage available via Club 1870 on Sunday afternoon.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, James Verity
