Sean McIntosh has urged his team-mates to take the positives from a draw at Stirling Albion as they get ready to welcome Clyde this weekend.
Stranraer’s fine away form under Chris Aitken continued as they battled to a point at Forthbank Stadium.
Now, the Blues are back on home soil as they attempt to finish 2024 with a victory.
McIntosh, who watched the last game from the sidelines as he works back to full fitness, said: “It was just annoying because it was two points dropped.
“I think the positives were the performance and the chances we were creating, which we probably were not creating weeks or months ago.
“I think there are positive signs there and we just need to take the positives from it and try to do the same, if not better, on Saturday.”
The visitors had created chance after chance before Mark Russell looked to have won it late on.
Credit to Stirling, they found a leveller in stoppage time to ensure the spoils were shared.
It marks the progress Stranraer are making that a point in Stirling was deemed a disappointment as the Blues could have had the points wrapped up long before either goal.
McIntosh said: “It is frustration more than anything.
“It is easy to get caught up in certain things but, for us, after the game, it was frustration.
“Loads of boys were angry, some harsh words spoke, and that is just what happens in the heat of the moment.
“There was a lot said and I think the game should have been well out of sight.
“That was the most annoying thing.”
Clyde visit Stair Park for the first time this season having enjoyed victory at New Douglas Park in the first meeting of the campaign.
McIntosh was hopeful Stranraer would be celebrating come the full time whistle and said: “We just need to do our best to make that happen and finish the year strong.”
The full-back has not featured since the beginning of last month when he was forced off injured against Elgin City.
He told the club website it had been “pretty frustrating” being on the sidelines but he was hopeful of returning to training this week and being back involved again soon.
He said: “I was out doing some runs prior to the Stirling game and did that the last week as well.
“I broke a toe away to Elgin.
“It actually happened in the first 15 minutes and I knew something was wrong at the time but I played through, as you do.
“The adrenaline and what not means you don’t know what it is.
“It was later confirmed that it was a broken toe so I have been on the road to recovery and I think that is just past six, maybe seven, weeks now.”
Last meeting
The first meeting of the season between Stranraer and Clyde ended the same way as the final meeting of last season finished.
Craig Ross had a header cleared off the line and another tipped over the bar for the visitors to New Douglas Park, while Marley Redfern headed straight at Jacob Pazikas for the hosts.
Clyde made a triple change at the half time interval to try to get on top of things and substitute Kyle Connell should have broken the deadlock but he failed to lob Pazikas when clean through on goal.
Despite the substitutions, the only goal would come from one of those who started the game for the hosts. Stranraer failed to deal with the free-kick and it fell kindly for Ray Grant to send home a looping header.
Clyde: Kinnear, Houston, Robson (Howie 83), Hamilton, McKay, Scullion (Rennie 73), Grant, Leitch (Dunachie 46), Murdoch, Allan (Connell 46), Redfern (Connelly 46).
Not used: Lyon, Docherty, Hynes and Kennedy.
Stranraer: Pazikas, Brindley, Cummins, Ross, McQueen, McIntosh (Grant 78), Dunlop, Hawkshaw, McKnight (Edgar 64), Foster (Lang 24), Russell.
Not used: Robertson, Ecrepont, Gallagher, Hughes, Adam and Broun.
Last five meetings
- Clyde 1 Stranraer 0 (R Grant) at New Douglas Park on August 10, 2024
- Clyde 1 Stranraer 0 (Allan) at New Douglas Park on April 6, 2024
- Stranraer 2 Clyde 0 (Fleming and Ecrepont) at Stair Park on February 10, 2024
- Clyde 2 Stranraer 2 (Rennie and Scullion; Ross and Dolan) at New Douglas Park on December 9, 2023
- Stranraer 1 Clyde 0 (McDonald) at Stair Park on August 26, 2023
Last five games
Stranraer
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (A): 1-1 (Russell)
- DRAW v Edinburgh City (H): 0-0
- WIN v The Spartans (A): 1-3 (Dunlop and Russell x2)
- LOSS v Broxburn Athletic (H): 1-2 (Dunlop)
- LOSS v Bonnyrigg Rose (H): 1-2 (Robertson)
Clyde
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (H): 2-0 (Allan and Rennie)
- LOSS v Elgin City (A): 4-2 (Rennie and Leitch)
- LOSS v The Spartans (A): 3-2 (Hamilton and Allan)
- WIN v Peterhead (H): 3-2 (Leitch and Scullion x2)
- WIN v East Fife (H): 3-1 (Allan x2 and Scullion)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Stirling Albion: Mutch, Robertson, Brindley (Ecrepont 77), Ross, McQueen (Reid 77), Gallagher, Dunlop, McKnight (Foster 68), M Grant, Russell, Lang (Guthrie 36).
Not used: Adam, Edgar and Pazikas.
Clyde
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: Hemfrey, Houston, Robson, Hamilton, Dunachie, Scullion, R Grant, Leitch (Cuddihy 58), Murdoch (Docherty 89), Allan (Redfern 72), Rennie.
Not used: Kennedy.
Five facts
1. Friday marks the 33rd birthday of former Stranraer full-back Scott Taggart. Joining on loan from Hibernian in 2011, Taggart made 24 appearances for the Blues. He has since gone on to play for Greenock Morton and Dumbarton. However, the bulk of his career has come at Alloa Athletic where he has clocked up more than 350 appearances. Taggart scored twice for Stranraer – in a 6-0 win over East Stirlingshire (Sean Winter, Stuart McColm and Michael Moore also found the net, alongside a double from Stephen Stirling) and a 5-2 win over Elgin City (Craig Malcolm, Stirling and a double from Michael Moore on that occasion).
2. The last goalless draw between Stranraer and Clyde at any ground came all the way back in October 2011 – with Taggart among those playing.
3. In contrast, you need to go back to March of that year for the last time both Stranraer and Clyde scored in a league contest at Stair Park. On that occasion, the home side won 3-1 thanks to a double from Armand One and a Craig Malcolm effort (highlights available on YouTube, including Oné’s screamer of a second goal). John Stewart scored for the visitors. The home team that day was: Marshall, Kurakins, Sharp, D Gallagher, G Gallagher, Agnew, Danny Mitchell (Cochrane 46), Nicoll, McColm (Winter 47), One (Moore 83), Malcolm. Not used: David Mitchell and Glen Mitchell.
4. Mark Russell’s goal last weekend takes him onto seven for the season. That is more than any Stranraer player scored in the entirety of last season.
5. Clyde last reached a cup final in 2006-07 when they faced Ross County in the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup. Roddy Hunter would score for the Bully Wee before former Stranraer defender Andy Dowie netted. That is how the game finished before Ross County won on penalties. The victors also featured another former Blue in Alex Keddie.
Admission
Admission in the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park is ‘pay at the gate’ only. Season tickets are valid for Saturday’s game.
Away fans can enter the ground from the away turnstile opposite the main stand. This turnstile is cash only.
The following pricing applies:
- Adult – £15
- Concession (over 65) – £10
- Youth (5 to 16) – £5
- Under 5 – FREE
Pavilion Bar
Pop into the Pavilion Bar outside the away turnstile from 1pm for a pre-match refreshment with fellow fans.
Home, away and neutral supporters are warmly welcomed, and the bar accepts both cash and card.
Or, stop off and see the lovely people at the Stranraer FC Fitba’ Bar on North Strand Street in the town centre, which is also open to all.
Coverage
Gary Redhead brings you our live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter), and the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube following the game.
Club 1870 subscribers get a first look at the goals at 10pm on Saturday night, along with full match footage later on Sunday.
Our usual highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with commentary from Dunragit’s world-famous Brian Martin and the Park Ji-Sung of Stranraer FC LIVE, Cameron Ritchie.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
