Defender Finn Ecrepont believes new-look Stranraer can move up the League Two table after victory over Spartans.
Max Currie was the only player in the home line-up last weekend that was over the age of 25.
Mark McLuckie scored the only goal of the game with a second half header, which came from an Ecrepont corner.
Twenty-four-year-old Ecrepont – the oldest outfield player in the Stranraer line-up – felt the team had shown what they could do.
Speaking after the full-time whistle last Saturday, he said: “I think you saw the energy, especially the younger ones that are in loan, showed.
“Then, later on in the game, you bring on the likes of Ronan Hughes, Jordan Stuart and stuff like that.
“Even Seb Mason coming in is a young boy as well.
“Experience is nothing if you can go in, do the things right, do the basics, keep the ball out your net and score in the other one.
“Experience does play a big part but I think the young ones stood up and were counted for today.
“Every game, they will learn.
“Sometimes, it does take time and it is quite a new squad, there are a lot of new players.
“It does take time to gel but I think today showed signs of us being a really good team.”
The full-back described the victory over Spartans as “a massive result”.
The win was Stranraer’s first of the season and eased any fears of repeating last season’s slow start to the campaign.
Now, attention turns to a trip to Stirling Albion as Stranraer look for back-to-back wins.
Ecrepont said: “You look at last season and I don’t know how many games it was we did not win but if we had lost today that maybe starts to set in again.
“You start thinking ‘when are we going to get that first win?’ but we have got it.
“All we can do now is press start, go again, Tuesday and Thursday work hard, and prepare for next Saturday and try to do the same again.”
The defender, who is closing in on 100 starts for Stranraer, made his fifth start of the season last weekend.
Ecrepont’s delivery for McLuckie’s goal was his second assist of the season.
However, he stressed he was at least equally interested in what happened at the other end of the pitch.
He said: “Of course, individually, you want to try to get as many assists and goals but, first and foremost, I am a defender.
“The clean sheet is the most important thing.”
Last meeting
Stranraer’s final home game of the season ended in a draw as the Blues saw their play-off chances slip away.
It was a nightmare start for Stranraer as Austin Laird danced his way into the box and fired across Lyndon Tas for an early opener.
Stranraer had chances to get level but it was not until early in the second half that they found an equaliser. Deryn Lang headed home his 14th of the season.
Daniel McManus and Ronan Hughes both came close to turning the game round but the contest would end in a draw – despite some late drama.
First, Robbie Foster, playing his first game of the season after a lengthy injury, hit the post. Then, goalkeeper Tas went up for a late corner but it was caught by opposite number Derek Gaston, who smashed it long up the park. Jordan Stuart was forced to bring down JJ McIntyre in the home penalty box.
A red card followed but Tas then denied former Blue Mark Russell from the spot.
Stranraer: Tas, Reid, McGrath, Dunne, Gillies (Ecrepont 77), Coll (Stuart 77), Dolan (Foster 77), Quigg, Hughes (Cleland 65), McManus, Lang (Edgar 70).
Not used: Lynch, McKnight, Hunter and Currie.
Stirling Albion: Gaston, Denham (Cannon 68), Campbell, Kerr, Banner, Thomson (Knox 56), Carse, Russell, Wells (Raine 88), Laird (McIntyre 88), Hilson (Breslin 57).
Not used: Dobbs, Moffat, Nelson and Duffy.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 Stirling Albion 1 (Lang; Laird) at The LIME Stadium at Stair Park on April 25, 2026
- Stirling Albion 1 Stranraer 1 (Shanley; Lang) at Forthbank Stadium on January 31, 2026
- Stranraer 3 Stirling Albion 2 (Lang x2 and Rough; McLean and Brown) at The LIME Stadium at Stair Park on December 6, 2025
- Stirling Albion 1 Stranraer 0 (Shanley) at Forthbank Stadium on August 30, 2025
- Stirling Albion 3 Stranraer 1 (McGeachie and Shanley x2; Dunlop) at Forthbank Stadium on April 12, 2025
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Spartans (H): 1-0 (McLuckie)
- LOSS v Alloa Athletic (A): 2-1 (Trialist)
- LOSS v Annan Athletic (H): 0-1
- LOSS v Clyde (A): 3-1 (Hughes)
- LOSS v Falkirk (A): 3-0
Stirling Albion
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (A): 3-0
- WIN v Cove Rangers (H): 4-2 (Raine, McLean x2 (Pen x1) and Crane)
- LOSS v Kelty Hearts (A): 3-2 (Allan (Pen) and McLean)
- WIN v Dumbarton (H): 2-0 (Allan x2 (Pen x1))
- LOSS v Arbroath (A): 1-0
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Spartans: Currie, Dunne, Ecrepont, McLuckie, Gillie, Quigg, Traynor (Healy 66), Bruce (Stuart 59), McManus (Hughes 59), L Dobbie, Cleland (Mason 66).
Not used: Nair, Lynch, Trialist and Henderson.
Stirling Albion
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: McNeil, Thomas (McNab 81), Waugh, Gould, Crane, Banner, Wright (Hepburn 58), D Dobbie (Raine 82), Cameron (Laird 58), McLean, Allan (Fyfe 46).
Not used: Denham, Russell, Hutchinson and Duffy.
Transfers
Stranraer
Ins: Murray Binnie (St Johnstone), Zach Bruce (Hibernian, loan), Connor Cameron (Renfrew), Dean Cleland (Hibernian), Lewis Dobbie (East Kilbride), Lewis Gillie (Hibernian, loan), Aaron Healy (Arthurlie), Seb Mason (Carlisle United, loan), Mark McLuckie (Bo’ness United), Kenzi Nair (Heart of Midlothian), Dominic Plank (Heart of Midlothian) and Archie Traynor (Kilmarnock, loan).
Outs: Murray Binnie (Bo’ness United, loan), Ryan Edgar (Cumnock Juniors), Matthew Gillies (Heart of Midlothian, end of loan), Lewis Hunter (Caledonian Braves), Deryn Lang (Dumbarton), Joseph McGrath (Hibernian, end of loan), Kirk McKnight (Annan Athletic), Corey O’Donnell (Annan Athletic), Lewis Reid (Ross County), Tommy Sharp (Cumnock Juniors), Lyndon Tas (Heart of Midlothian, end of loan), Sallu Turay (Linlithgow Rose), Sean Docherty and Robbie Foster.
Stirling Albion
Ins: Jordan Allan (Queen of the South), Craig Brown (Montrose), Zeke Cameron (Dunfermline Athletic, loan), Daniel Dobbie (Dunfermline Athletic, loan), Ali Gould (Ballymena United), Lucas Fyfe (Dunfermline Athletic, loan), Barry Hepburn (Manningham United), Billy Hutchison (St Mirren, loan), Andrew McNeil (Brechin City), Josh Mullin (Raith Rovers), Murray Thomas (Kelty Hearts) and Kevin Waugh (Spartans).
Outs: Scott Boyle (Pollok, loan), Adam Brown (Forfar Athletic), Connor Campbell (Rangers, end of loan), Mackenzie Carse (Greenock Morton), Harley Ewen (East Stirlingshire), Derek Gaston (East Fife), Caleb Goldie (Peterhead, end of loan), Dale Hilson (Brechin City), Harrison Howe (Cumbernauld Colts), Arran Kerr (Rangers, end of loan), Ryan Shanley (Kelty Hearts), Corey Thomson (Tranent), Aaron Weir (Dalbeattie Star), Dylan Wells (Motherwell, end of loan), Harry Welsh (Dundee United, end of loan), Aidan Cannon and Cooper Knox.
Five facts
- Mark McLuckie’s goal last weekend was the first time in almost five years that Stranraer had scored in the 69th minute. Darryl Duffy’s goal on August 28, 2021, against Forfar Athletic was the last prior to that.
- The average age of the Stranraer starting line-up against Spartans last weekend was just 21.3 years old. That was the youngest of any of the League One or League Two fixtures.
- Happy birthday on Saturday to former Stranraer striker Innes Cameron. He joined on loan from Kilmarnock in September 2018 and took just five minutes to score his first goal at Stair Park. Kyle Turner’s first half goal already had the home side 1-0 up against Stenhousemuir before Cameron found the net on 65 minutes. The Stranraer line-up was: Currie, McGowan, Brownlie, D Smith, Hamill, Cummins, McManus, Turner, Anderson (Diver 85), Layne (Cameron 60), Donnelly (Higgins 74). Not used: I Smith, Lamont, Elliott and Avci. Twenty-six-year-old Cameron is now with Barrow.
- Last weekend’s victory over the Spartans was Stranraer’s fourth win in a row against the opposition. That is Stranraer’s current longest winning streak against any of the other 41 Scottish Professional Football League sides.
- Ronan Hughes featured in 34 games for Stirling Albion earlier in his career. He scored one goal – a late consolation in a 4-1 defeat to Peterhead. In comparison, the midfielder has made 37 appearances for Stranraer and found the net three times.
Admission
Stirling Albion ask supporters to buy an e-ticket in advance, to ease entry into the ground.
In the East Stand (for away fans), cash and e-tickets only are accepted. The closest cash machine can be found at Morrisons supermarket, a five minute walk away.
Admission prices are as follows:
- Adults – £18
- 65 and over – £13
- Disabled – £13 (includes carer)
- Students (with valid ID) – £8
- 17 and under – £8
- 12 and under – FREE (when accompanied by a paying adult)
Please note that if you are under 16, you must be accompanied by a paying adult to gain admission.
You can visit the Stirling Albion website for full ticket details.
Merchandise
Our brand new Argentina-inspired replica away shirts are available for purchase via the online Club Shop. You can order yours online now, along with a range of Blues merchandise.
Podcast
Check out the latest edition of club podcast Look Blues Talking for a full preview of Saturday’s trip to Stirling, along with a review of last weekend’s win at home to Spartans.
Coverage
If you can’t make it to Forthbank, you can 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, along with full match footage.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday morning, with Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)