Summer signing Tom Brindley believes Stranraer will start climbing the table once they click.
There have been positives to take from the opening weeks of the new season but the Blues find themselves nearer the bottom of the League Two table than they would want.
The first league win has also proved elusive with Stranraer travelling tomorrow to face a Bonnyrigg Rose side they defeated in the SPFL Trust Trophy.
Brindley said: “I think we are not far off it.
“When it clicks we will be a team that is really hard to beat in this league.
“I think we will start climbing the table very soon.
“I think the pressure would be more there if the performances were bad and we were not getting the results.
“The performances are there and it is a matter of time before the results start coming.”
Stranraer’s 2-1 win over tomorrow’s opposition saw Mark Russell and Craig Ross score either side of the half time whistle.
An own goal saw the advantage halved and it took a miraculous clearance from Ross to keep the lead in tact.
Brindley, who joined from Forfar Athletic in the summer, felt the game summed up Stranraer’s season so far.
He said: “It could have been there or four by the time they got their goal.
“We just need to put away chances that we create and stop conceding goals as well.”
The midfielder was forced off by injury during during last weekend’s draw with Elgin City.
However, he is hoping to hand Scott Agnew a boost and be back ready and available for tomorrow’s trip to Midlothian.
He said: “I came off and my hip was giving me a bit of bother.
“I did not train on Tuesday, did a bit of rehab and recovery stuff, and then on Thursday I trained and was fine.
“I’m ready to take part tomorrow.
“I’m not really sure what happened last weekend.
“I cannot remember any movement that made it come on but it just out of the blue about 10 minutes before I came off.”
Previous meeting
Fans only need to cast their minds back a couple of weeks for the last time Stranraer and Bonnyrigg Rose faced each other.
The cup contest at Stair Park saw Ben Scarborough test Jacob Pazikas with a fierce drive before Stranraer found the breakthrough. The visitors failed to clear the ball on the edge of their own box and it broke kindly to Mark Russell, who took a touch before firing across Tom Ritchie and into the bottom corner of the net.
The lead was doubled in the second half when Elliot Dunlop’s corner was perfect for Craig Ross to nod home from inside the six yard box.
Bonnyrigg’s efforts to get back into the game were not helped when Kerr Young was sent off for pulling down Ryan Edgar. Dunlop then hit the crossbar with the resultant free kick, but the visitors pulled one back when Ross could only divert Bradley Barrett’s cross into his own net.
The defender then redeemed himself with a stunning goal line clearance from a Barrett header before Edgar was denied by the post.
Stranraer: Pazikas, Cummins, Craig Ross, McQueen, Brindley (McKnight 71), Dunlop, Russell (Ecrepont 82), Hawkshaw (McIntosh 82), Grant (Hughes 82), Lang (Gallagher 71), Edgar.
Not used: Robertson, Woods, Adam and Broun.
Bonnyrigg Rose: Ritchie, Mailer, Martyniuk, Somerville, Wardell (Currie 46), Arnott, Connolly, Scarborough (Young 46), Watson (Barrett 46), McGachie (Higginbotham 46), Cammie Ross.
Not used: Andrews.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 2 Bonnyrigg Rose 1 (Russell and Ross; Own goal) at Stair Park on August 13, 2024
- Stranraer 1 Bonnyrigg Rose 1 (Lang; Martyniuk (Pen)) at Stair Park on March 30, 2023
- Bonnyrigg Rose 0 Stranraer 0 at New Dundas Park on February 3, 2023
- Stranraer 3 Bonnyrigg Rose 1 (Own goal, Grant and Ross; Barrett) at Stair Park on December 16, 2023
- Bonnyrigg Rose 1 Stranraer 1 (Martyniuk (Pen); Lang) at New Dundas Park on August 19, 2023
Last five games
Stranraer
- DRAW v Elgin City (H): 1-1 (Robertson)
- LOSS v Peterhead (A): 0-1
- WIN v Bonnyrigg Rose (H): 2-1 (Russell and Ross)
- LOSS v Clyde (A): 0-1
- DRAW v Spartans (H): 2-2 (Lang and Dunlop)
Bonnyrigg Rose
- WIN v Clyde (H): 2-1 (Barrett and Mailer)
- DRAW v Edinburgh City (A): 2-2 (Young and Martyniuk)
- LOSS v Stranraer (A): 2-1 (Own goal)
- LOSS v Spartans (A): 2-0
- LOSS v Peterhead (H): 0-1
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Elgin City: Broun, Ecrepont, Cummins, Ross, McIntosh, Brindley (McKnight 34), Gallagher, Russell, Hawkshaw (Grant 79), Dunlop (Robertson 79), Edgar (Lang 69).
Not used: Adam, Hughes, Woods and Pazikas.
Bonnyrigg Rose
Lineup v Clyde: Ritchie, Mailer, Martyniuk, Young, Somerville, Currie, Barrett, Arnott, Connolly, Higginbotham, Ross (Watson 77).
Not used: Lorimer, Wardell, Scarborough and Andrews.
Ins and outs
Stranraer
Arrivals: Mo Adam (Gala Fairydean Rovers), Tomas Brindley (Forfar Athletic), Harry Broun (Dumbarton), Adam Cummins (Stirling Albion), Robbie Foster (Huntly), Kirk McKnight (Broomhill), Mark Russell (Portadown), Paul Woods (unattached), Elliot Dunlop (Airdrieonians, loan) and Jacob Pazikas (Rangers, loan)
Departures: Ben Armour (Peterhead), Andy Downie (Creetown), Kyle Fleming (Annan Athletic), Kyle Girvan (Elgin City), George O’Connor (Hurlford United), Tom Orr (Cumnock Juniors), Josh Walker (Queen of the South), Cammy Williamson (Darvel), Lewis Budinauckas (Rangers, end of loan), Aidan Gilmartin (St Mirren, end of loan), Murray Miller (Stirling Albion, end of loan), James Dolan and Chris Johnston.
Bonnyrigg Rose
Arrivals: Aaron Arnott (Raith Rovers), Kallum Higginbotham (Tranent), Sean Murphy (Tranent), Bradley Rodden (Stenhousemuir), Cameron Ross (Tranent), Ben Scarborough (Luncarty), Kieran Somerville (Tranent), Lewis Lorimer (Dundee, loan) and Tom Ritchie (Aberdeen, loan).
Departures: Conor Doan (Tranent), Sam Gormley (Edinburgh City), Ross Gray (Tranent), Josh Grigor (Edinburgh City), Jason Jarvis (Edinburgh City), Robbie McGale (Cumbernauld Colts), Scott Mercer (Kelty Hearts), Smart Osadolor (Bo’ness United), Reis Peggie (East Fife), Jonny Stewart (Tranent), Cameron Forbes (Dunbar United, loan), Aaron Dunsmore (Stirling Albion, end of loan), Declan Byrne and Bradley Rodden.
Five facts
1. Tomas Brindley’s first half withdrawal last week against Elgin City means Mark Russell has now played more minutes than any Stranraer player this season. The summer signing is on 738, which put him just five ahead of Brindley.
2. Scott Robertson’s 19th Stranraer goal pulled him level with Kyle Turner in terms of goals for the club.
3. Stranraer fans’ favourite Sean Winter celebrates his 37th birthday on Saturday. The midfielder was a key part of Stranraer squads from 2010 through to 2015. His final goal for the club came in a 3-2 win over Stenhousemuir. Strikes from Willie Gibson, Winter and Craig Pettigrew had Stranraer 3-0 up before Martin Grehan and Ciaran Summers ensured a nervy finish. The home team that day was: Mitchell, Pettigrew, Longridge, Rumsby, McKeown, Bell, Gibson, Stirling (Robertson 73), Winter, Malcolm (McShane 86), Longworth (Stoney 77). Not used: Russell, Aitken and Tobin.
4. Saturday also marks the 64th birthday of former Stranraer manager Campbell Money. He guided Stranraer to both the League Challenge Cup and also the Second Division title.
5. The last time Stranraer played on August 31 was back in 2021. A Liam Buchanan goal looked to have Cowdenbeath on their way to victory but goals in the last 10 minutes from Josh Rennie and Grant Gallagher turned the game on its head.
Merchandise
Our stunning new 2024/25 Mizuno home jersey is now available online, along with away strips, training tops and more.
Inspired by the shores of Loch Ryan, the new tops are priced as follows:
- Adult £55
- Youth £45
We have a range of sizes in stock, with back orders also available if your size is out of stock.
Admission
Admission at New Dundas Park is ‘pay at the gate’, pricing as follows:
- Adult – £15
- Concession – £10
- Youth – £5
- Under 12 – FREE with a paying adult
There is also a social club on site, open to all fans pre and post-match.
Coverage
Highlights from Saturday’s trip to Bonnyrigg may be available, depending on provision for away media at New Dundas Park.
As usual, the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube following the game.
If coverage goes ahead, Club 1870 subscribers can catch the goals from 10pm on Saturday evening, along with full match footage later on Sunday.
We’ll have limited live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter) for those further afield.
Photos: Bill McCandlsh
