A stunning league win over Spartans will give Stranraer confidence going into Saturday’s Scottish Cup clash with Clydebank.
The Blues got back to winning ways with a 4-0 triumph in the capital but league business takes a break this weekend.
Clydebank make the trip down the A77 and Stranraer will be keen to avoid an upset against the Scottish Lowland Football League leaders.
Aaron Quigg was among those who found the net at Ainslie Park and he was hopeful they could build on the impressive result.
Speaking at full time, he said: “It is a result that can only give us confidence.
“It is a massive game against Clydebank in the Scottish Cup.
“It would be massive for the whole club to get through that.
“They will come down and they will fancy themselves but I know that if we play the way we did today and the way we have been playing then we will be really good.”
Stranraer come into the Scottish Cup clash on a decent run of form, including last weekend’s victory.
Understandably, the midfielder was delighted with how the team had performed in Edinburgh.
He said: “I just thought in the first half that we were brilliant.
“The first 10 or 15 minutes, we had to suffer a bit with lots of balls into the box but we defended it brilliantly.
“The back four, the goalkeeper, everybody, we all defended it really well.
“Obviously, we get our four goals and it was a great time to score the goals before half time.
“It kind of spooked them, I think.”
The former Annan Athletic midfielder was the third Stranraer player to find the net at Ainslie Park.
Deryn Lang had opened the scoring with a clever turn and finish before Mark Russell netted from the penalty spot for the second week in a row.
Then, when Spartans were unable to clear a free-kick into the box, Quigg swept home.
He said: “I think it actually came off Scot Rough’s back!
“It’s a great delivery by Finn Ecrepont, it has hit Scot’s back and it has just dropped and I have put it away.
“It’s a great feeling.”
Last meeting
Fans need to cast their minds back more than 20 years for the last time Stranraer and Clydebank met each other.
The two clubs were in what was then Division Two.
It was the visitors who took the lead when Ally Graham scored four minutes after the restart. They were in front for 15 minutes as Ian Harty netted from the penalty spot.
That was how it stayed as neither team could find a winner.
Stranraer: McGeown, Wingate, Wright, Dempster (Blair 55), Jenkins (Farrell 61), Grace, Aitken, MacDonald, Shaw, Stirling, Harty.
Not used: Gallagher, Glancy and O’Neil.
Clydebank: Robertson, McKinnon, McGowan, Whiteford, O’Neill, Ferguson (Nicholls 20 (Paton 46)), McColligan, McGrillen, Shields (Jackson 81), Vella, Graham.
Not used: Hamilton and Smith.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 Clydebank 1 (Harty; Graham) at Stair Park on April 6, 2002
- Clydebank 1 Stranraer 2 (Jackson; Finlayson x2) at Cappielow on February 2, 2002
- Stranraer 0 Clydebank 1 (O’Neill) at Stair Park on December 15, 2001
- Clydebank 0 Stranraer 1 (Harty) at Cappielow on December 8, 2001
- Clydebank 1 Stranraer 3 (Paton; Wright, MacDonald and Aitken) at Cappielow on September 29, 2001
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Spartans (A): 0-4 (Lang, Russell (Pen), Quigg and Dunne)
- LOSS v East Kilbride (H): 1-3 (Russell (Pen))
- WIN v St Mirren B (H): 2-0 (Lang x2)
- DRAW v Clyde (A): 0-0
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (H): 3-1 (Dolan (Pen), Edgar and Lang)
Clydebank
- DRAW v Linlithgow Rose (H): 1-1 (McLaughlin)
- WIN v Gala Fairydean Rovers (H): 2-1 (Low and McLaughlin)
- LOSS v Broxburn Athletic (A): 2-1 (Little)
- WIN v Celtic B (H): 4-0 (Gallacher x2, Samson and McLaughlin)
- WIN v East Stirlingshire (H): 3-1 (Grant, Samson and Hickey-Fugaccia)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Spartans: Lane, Ecrepont, Rough, Reid (Docherty 75), Dunne (Coll 75), Quigg, Gillies (Stuart 75), Dolan, Russell, Lang (McManus 81), Plank (Hughes 82).
Not used: Edgar, Hunter, McKnight and Henderson.
Clydebank
Lineup v Linlithgow Rose: Stott, Grant, McHugh, McGowan, Syme, Low, Gallacher, Cairns, Little (Hodge 81), Hickey-Fugaccia (Collins 67), McLaughlin (Preston 83).
Not used: Carey, Monaghan, Pollard and Leishman.
Five facts
1. The last meeting between Stranraer and Clydebank featured two future Stranraer bosses. Stevie Aitken, who, of course, is now back at the club as assistant manager, was manager between October 2012 and May 2015. Meanwhile, Derek Ferguson, who was in the Clydebank line-up for the last meeting would manage both clubs. His time in the Stair Park dugout came from February 2008 to January the following year.
2. If selected on Saturday, Lewis Reid will make his 50th appearance for Stranraer. The defender, who originally joined the club on loan from Queen’s Park, has made 46 starts and three substitute appearances so far for the Blues.
3. Stranraer have not been at least four goals up at half time away from home since October 2011 when they won 9-0 at Wigtown and Bladnoch. Goals from Sean Winter, Chris Aitken, Martin Grehan and two from Craig Malcolm had the Blues with one foot in the next round. Winter wrapped up his hat-trick after the break while Grehan got another and Stuart McColm found the net. The visiting team was: David Mitchell, Taggart, McKeown, Gallagher, Kane, Stirling, Aitken, Noble, Winter (Shepherd 78), Malcolm (Moore 63), Grehan (McColm 72). Not used: Danny Mitchell and Marshall.
4. One man who will be keen to enjoy a victory on Saturday is Dominic Plank, who turns 20 the following day. The on-loan Hearts man was handed his first start last weekend after making eight substitute appearances.
5. There are a handful of familiar faces in the Clydebank squad but perhaps the most recognisable are Keir Samson and Chris McGowan. Both were part of the Stranraer under-20s for a spell. Samson moved on without making a first team appearance but did score for East Kilbride in the play-off final at Stair Park in May last year. McGowan, meanwhile, made 32 appearances before leaving the club in 2019. He also found the net on two occasions, scoring the club’s first goal of the 2018 campaign before grabbing an unlikely equaliser at East Fife after Stranraer had trailed 3-0 with half an hour to go.
Admission
Admission in the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park is ‘pay at the gate’ only. Season tickets are not valid for Saturday’s cup tie.
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
Merchandise
Stranraer FC merchandise is available from the hut outside the main McLeans Taxis Stand for all your Christmas shopping and stocking fillers.
We’re stocked with brand new Stranraer FC 2026 calendars, pin badges, key rings, all three of this season’s new Adidas kits, hats, scarves, new leisurewear, and some great bargains on last season’s items.
Cash and card payments are accepted and we open from 1.30pm.
You can also purchase a range of merchandise online.
Pavilion Bar
Pop into our popular 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.
In the town centre, stop off at the Stranraer FC Fitba’ Bar on North Strand Street which is also open to all.
Podcast
Watch this week’s episode of club podcast Look Blues Talking for an in-depth preview of Saturday’s game, along with all the talking points from the Blues’ scoring spree at Spartans.
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 from 10pm on Saturday night, along with full match footage.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin back together on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Mark Brown (Spartans FC), Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)
