Keiran McGachie’s stoppage time header broke Stranraer hearts as Bonnyrigg Rose picked up all three points.
The hosts, who were down to 10 men, looked to be heading for a valuable point before the substitute scored on 93 minutes.
It was the unchanged home side who had the first real opportunity of the afternoon.
A long ball down the middle was collected by Max Guthrie but his shot from the edge of the box lacked the necessary power or direction to overly test Tom Ritchie in the Bonnyrigg goal.
Six minutes later and it was the visitors who broke the deadlock.
The home defence failed to deal with Kerr Young’s long ball out of defence and Cameron Ross managed to get in between the defenders and then poke beyond Robbie Mutch.
It was an open first half and there would be chances for both teams in the lead up to the interval.
First, Deryn Lang and Mark Russell worked a clever-one two before the frontman tried to curl his shot round Ritchie.
The goalkeeper was equal to it and there were no Stranraer players close enough to get on the end of the rebound.
Then, on 37 minutes, Bonnyrigg should have been toasting their second of the afternoon.
Bradley Barrett’s cross into the box looked perfect for Mark Ferrie but he somehow put his header over the bar from just outside the six-yard box.
Stranraer would make them pay for that miss just before the half time break.
Finn Ecrepont looked favourite to get on the end of a ball into the box but was taken out by Sean Murphy.
Mark Russell sent Ritchie the wrong way from the penalty spot but his low shot hit the base of the post.
Fortunately, Scott Robertson was following up and he steered his effort into the empty net.
It was a bit cagier after the break but Stranraer could have been in front just before the hour mark.
Russell’s free-kick seemed to catch out Ritchie and the goalkeeper was a relieved man to see it come back off the crossbar.
Bonnyrigg were enjoying more of the ball in the final 25 minutes – without ever truly testing Mutch.
However, they were given a boost when substitute Ryan Edgar was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Lee Currie.
Stranraer had seven minutes, plus stoppage time, to hold out but they could not quite manage it.
Instead, with 93 minutes on the clock, McGachie got on the end of Aaron Arnott’s cross to nod home just his second goal of the year.
A hard one to take for Stranraer, who will need to pick themselves up when they head to Spartans next weekend.
Stranraer: Mutch, Robertson (Grant 65), Craig Ross, McQueen, Ecrepont (Brindley 88), Reid, Gallagher, Russell, Hawkshaw (Dunlop 74), Guthrie (Edgar 74), Lang (Cummins 88).
Not used: McKnight, Adam and Pazikas.
Bonnyrigg Rose: Ritchie, Mailer, Martyniuk, Young (Arnott 12), Somerville, Murphy, Ferrie (Lorimer 66), Higginbotham (McGachie 66), Barrett (Scarborough 56), Connolly (Currie 56), Cameron Ross.
Not used: Allen and Andrews.
Referee: Duncan Williams
Attendance: 644
HT: 1-1
Photos: MadMac Photography
