Summer signing Scot Rough has vowed to keep his place in the Stranraer team after being brought in on Saturday.
The defender was named on the bench for the contest with Spartans earlier this month.
However, following the first half sending off of Sean Docherty, Rough was called into the team and kept his place for the weekend’s draw with Elgin City.
He said: “I was fit [for the Spartans game] but I think the gaffer just wanted to make a wee change up and see if we could get the win, which was fair enough.
“Obviously, I was back in the squad against Elgin, so I was buzzing with that.
“I just want to keep my place in the team.
“I think that is the way everyone feels – if you are out of the team, then the next time you get in you want to make sure you keep your place.
“I understand that and take it in my stride.
“We have not been winning games and the gaffer has to change something so it is fair enough.”
The Blues had taken the lead against Elgin City through Mark Russell’s penalty before Kane Hester levelled things up.
Understandably, Rough was disappointed at seeing the three points slip away again.
Despite that, the former Beith man was keen to look at the positives and use the point gained as a springboard going forward.
He said: “A win on Tuesday and we get that feeling back of winning games.
“We can then take that into Saturday against Dumbarton, which is another tough game but we want to win every single game we play.
“I feel we are more than capable of doing that as well.”
Now, attention turns to Tuesday night’s contest with Motherwell B, who are looking for their first win in this season’s KDM Evolution Trophy.
The visitors to Stair Park drew with Hamilton Academical before losing to both East Kilbride and Clyde.
Rough said: “I’ve not seen much of them, to be fair.
“We want to win every single game we play.
“We have been doing well in that cup so another win is what we expect of ourselves.”
Last meeting
Stranraer’s only other previous meeting with Motherwell B was wiped out by the coronavirus so we take a look back at the last meeting between the first teams.
There, the visitors took a first half lead thanks to Peter Hartley’s header. Stranraer had chances throughout the afternoon and they deservedly pulled level thanks to Isaac Layne’s strike after the break.
In the end, it came down to a penalty shootout, with the Blues coming out on top. Adam Cummins scored against his former club while Chris McGowan and Andy McDonald also found the net.
Stranraer: Currie, McGowan, McDonald, Brownlie, D Smith, Cummins, McManus, Turner, Anderson (I Smith 76), Layne, Luke Donnelly (Lamont 73).
Not used: Lidington, Hamill, Ashmore, Elliott and Avci.
Motherwell: Carson, Tait, Taylor-Sinclair, McHugh (Frear 63), Kipre, Hartley, Grimshaw, Dunne (Rose 3), Cadden, Main, Sammon (Bowman 68).
Not used: Liam Donnelly, Gorrin, Johnson and Gillespie.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 3 Motherwell B 0 (awarded to Stranraer due to COVID-19 outbreak) at Stair Park on August 10, 2021
- Stranraer 1 Motherwell 1 (Stranraer win 3-2 on penalties) (Layne; Hartley) at Stair Park on July 21, 2018
- Stranraer 0 Motherwell 3 (Cadden, Johnson and McDonald) at Stair Park on July 30, 2016
- Stranraer 0 Motherwell 2 (Jones and Sutton) at Stair Park on February 5, 2011
- Stranraer 0 Motherwell 4 (Own goal, McFadden, Adams and Lehmann) at Stair Park on March 22, 2003
Last five games
Stranraer
- DRAW v Elgin City (H): 1-1 (Russell (Pen))
- LOSS v Spartans (H): 0-2
- LOSS v Kelty Hearts (A): 3-0
- LOSS v Stirling Albion (A): 1-0
- WIN v Rangers B (H): 4-1 (Sharp, Stuart, O’Donnell (Pen) and Rough)
Motherwell B
- LOSS v Clyde (A): 4-0
- LOSS v East Kilbride (A): 3-1 (Lowndes)
- DRAW v Hamilton Academical (A): 0-0
- DRAW v East Stirlingshire (H): 0-0 (East Stirlingshire win 8-7 on penalties)
- DRAW v Tranent (A): 0-0 (Tranent win 3-1 on penalties)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Elgin City: Lane, Reid, Rough, Gillies, Coll (Ecrepont 78), Stuart (Hunter 67), Dolan, Quigg, Russell (Plank 85), O’Donnell (Lang 78), Edgar (McManus 85).
Not used: McKnight, Turay, Sharp and Henderson.
Motherwell B
Lineup v Clyde: McQuarrie, Tearney, Arnott, Gillies, Friel (Watson 61), Forrest, Hunter (Samuel 61), McColm, Clark (Buchanan 73), McAllister, McLean (Wieczorek 73).
Not used: None.
Ins and outs
Stranraer
Ins: Beejay Coll (St Cadoc’s), James Dolan (Unattached), Evan Dunne (Beith Juniors), Matthew Gillies (Heart of Midlothian, loan), Ewan Henderson (Whitletts Victoria), Ronan Hughes (St Cadoc’s), Lewis Hunter (The Spartans), Josh Lane (Hamilton Academicals, loan), Daniel McManus (St Cadoc’s), Corey O’Donnell (Stenhousemuir), Dom Plank (Heart of Midlothian, loan), Lewis Reid (Queen’s Park, loan made permanent), Scot Rough (Beith Juniors), Tommy Sharp (Livingston), Jordan Stuart (Beith Juniors) and Sallu Turay (Partick Thistle).
Outs: Tomas Brindley (Cumnock Juniors), Adam Cummins (Irvine Meadow), Grant Gallagher (Cumnock Juniors), Matty Grant (Johnstone Burgh), Dean Hawkshaw (Hurlford United), Craig Ross (Airdrieonians), Max Guthrie (Ayr United, end of loan), Sam Kane (Queen’s Park, end of loan), Josh Lane (Hamilton Academical, end of loan) and Scott Robertson (retired).
Five facts
1. Mark Russell’s penalty on Saturday against Elgin City was scored in the 56th minute. That was Stranraer’s first goal in that minute since Kyle Girvan scored for the Blues in the Scottish Cup against Civil Service Strollers and Russell now has the most recent goal in the 56th, 57th and 58th minutes for Stranraer.
2. Defender Lewis Reid has the most appearances of the current Stranraer squad without finding the net for the club. The former Queen’s Park man has made 38 appearances.
3. Isaac Layne was the last Stranraer player to find the net against a Motherwell side. That goal, on his home debut, would prove to be his only one in a Stranraer shirt. He made a total of 10 appearances for the Blues during the 2018/19 season.
4. Man of many clubs Robert Reilly celebrates his 66th birthday on Tuesday. The midfielder, who enjoyed spells at clubs including Ayr United, Clyde and Kilmarnock, joined Stranraer in 1994 and would clock up more than 40 appearances before moving on to Albion Rovers.
5. It was just two years ago that Stranraer last played on September 23. Then, under the management of Scott Agnew, they went down 2-0 at home to Forfar Athletic. A spectacular opener from Ryan Paterson, where he lobbed Martin McDonald from distance, was followed by Josh Skelly’s low drive from outside of the box. The home team that day was: M McDonald, Robertson, Williamson, Ross, McIntosh, Dolan, Forrest, Fleming (Strachan 78), Armour (O McDonald 82), Orr (Walker 61), Lang. Not used: Hughes and Budinauckas.
Admission
Admission in the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park is ‘pay at the gate’ only. Season tickets are not valid for Tuesday evening’s game.
Away fans can enter the ground from the away turnstile opposite the main stand. This turnstile is cash only.
Reduced pricing applies:
- Adult – £12
- Concession (over 65) – £6
- Youth (5 to 16) – £3
- Under 5 – FREE
Merchandise
Stranraer FC merchandise is available from the hut outside the main McLeans Taxis Stand, including all three of this season’s brand new Adidas kits and much more.
Cash and card payments are accepted.
You can also purchase a range of merchandise online.
Pavilion Bar
Pop into our popular Pavilion Bar outside the away turnstile 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 at the Stranraer FC Fitba’ Bar on North Strand Street in the town centre, which is also open to all.
Coverage
If you’re further afield, follow our live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter).
The manager’s post-match reaction will be available on YouTube following the game.
Club 1870 subscribers get a first look at the goals and full match footage by Wednesday morning, and extended highlights will be available via YouTube during the afternoon.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)
