Josh Walker has promised there is plenty more to come from him as he gets back to full fitness.
The midfielder was forced off on the opening day of the season against Ross County but has come off the bench in the last two league games.
That comes after an impressive end to last season, which included a vital goal and assist against Elgin City, before he extended his stay with the club to a fourth season.
He said: “At the back end of last season, I really enjoyed it.
“The last three games under the new manager were great but for the last few months it was the best time I have had with Stranraer.
“I was starting to regularly score goals as well.
“I have really enjoyed it this season but it has been frustrating with the injury.
“You cannot regret injuries because you cannot do much about it.
“You just need to be patient and wait for the time to come back again.
“Hopefully, I can pick up from where I left off and continue to push on.”
Stranraer make the trip to Midlothian on the back of a win and a draw from their opening two fixtures.
An opening day victory at Borough Briggs was followed by a battling showing against East Fife, which saw them play more than 80 minutes with 10 men following Craig Ross’ early sending off.
Stranraer were within just a few minutes of making it six points out six only for a Jonathan Page effort to rescue a point for the visitors to Stair Park.
Walker, who came on in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw, was full of praise for his team-mates.
He said: “I think maybe last season with the squad we had we would not have got something from that game.
“We conceded in the 87th minute to stop us getting all three points after playing with 10 men for 80-plus minutes.
“It was still a great result on Saturday and it was a game we could have lost last season.”
Stranraer travel to Bonnyrigg tomorrow (Saturday) looking to make a little piece of history.
The Blues are yet to beat their hosts since they were promoted to the SPFL.
Twenty-two-year-old Walker was involved in all four clashes with the Midlothian side last season, which saw Stranraer take just a single point from a possible 12.
He said: “It is something we need to rectify for this season.”
Last meeting
The Midlothian side should have opened the scoring in the first half through Kieran McGachie but the striker fired wide from just a couple of yards with only Luke Scullion to beat.
Stranraer had a quickfire double chance early in the second half as Matty Grant drove straight at Paddy Martin and the goalkeeper was quick to deny Josh Walker. Aaron Brown also came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock but curled his shot the wrong side of the upright.
Finally, the only goal of the game came in bizarre fashion. Kyle Girvan and Scullion got in a tangle with Grant Gallagher’s backpass and McGachie strolled through unchallenged before rolling the ball home.
Bonnyrigg Rose: Martin, Brett, Young, Horne, Grigor, Rodden (Martyniuk 77), Currie (Stewart 82), Connelly, McGachie (Faye 77), R Gray (Arnott 68), Mitchell (Murray 68).
Not used: Kane, McGale, S Gray and Andrews.
Stranraer: Scullion, Robertson, Girvan, Ecrepont, Watt, Gallagher, Ngandu (Hilton 79), McIntosh, Grant (Malcolm 79), Walker, Brown (Duffy 88).
Not used: Ross, Brady, Forrest and Downie.
Previous meetings
- Bonnyrigg Rose 1 Stranraer 0 (McGachie) at New Dundas Park on April 1, 2023
- Stranraer 0 Bonnyrigg Rose 1 (Faye) at Stair Park on February 11, 2023
- Bonnyrigg Rose 3 Stranraer 2 (R Gray, Mitchell and Martyniuk (Pen); Walker and Watt) at New Dundas Park on December 23, 2022
- Stranraer 2 Bonnyrigg Rose 2 (Own goal and Walker; Smith and Currie (Pen)) at Stair Park on August 13, 2022
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Annan Athletic (A): 3-1 (O McDonald)
- DRAW v East Fife (H): 1-1 (Orr)
- WIN v Elgin City (A): 0-1 (Dolan)
- LOSS v Kelty Hearts (A): 2-0
- WIN v Edinburgh City (H): 2-1 (Armour and Orr)
Bonnyrigg Rose
- WIN v Clyde (A): 0-2 (Jarvis and Barrett)
- DRAW v Dumbarton (H): 1-1 (Mahady)
- LOSS v Kilmarnock (A): 3-1 (Faye)
- LOSS v Airdrieonians (H): 0-1
- DRAW* v Dumbarton (A): 0-0 (Dumbarton won 4-3 on penalties)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Annan Athletic: M McDonald, Robertson (Forrest 53), Williamson, Girvan, Ross, Dolan, O McDonald (Orr 53), Fleming, McIntosh, Armour, Walker (Hughes 67).
Not used: O’Connor.
Bonnyrigg Rose
Lineup v Clyde: Martin, Martyniuk, Young, Grigor, Mailer, Currie, McGale, Peggie, Gray (Jarvis 33), Watson (Barrett 79), Osadolor (Faye 74).
Not used: Doan, Forbes, Murray, McGachie, Mahady and Andrews.
Five facts
1. Happy 28th birthday tomorrow (Saturday) to former Stranraer full-back Liam Dick. Initially joining on loan from Falkirk, Dick went on to make 94 appearances for the Blues and found the net on two occasions. His second goal came against Queen’s Park at Hampden Park and his first? That came in the memorable play-off victory over Livingston with the now Raith Rovers man scoring a vital effort in extra time.
2. Bonnyrigg Rose were the team Stranraer took fewest points from last season. The Blues drew the opening encounter at Stair Park but then lost each of the other three meetings.
3. Stranraer also had an away trip on the same date last year. That saw the Blues make the long trip north to Borough Briggs. Anton Brady and Craig Malcolm found the net in a 2-2 draw.
4. Fans need to cast their mind back to 2010/11 for the last time Stranraer avoided defeat in the opening three games of the league season. After drawing with Clyde and victory over Albion Rovers, the Blues drew 2-2 at Galabank. Craig Malcolm and Romuald Bouadji found the net in the opening 10 minutes before Ian Harty and Jordan Halsman levelled things up.
5. It is coming up for the sixth anniversary since Stranraer last scored a hat-trick away from home. The man to do it was a certain Scott Agnew, who scored two penalties in a 4-0 win over Albion Rovers. Paul Woods was the man who scored the other goal in September 2017. The visiting side that day was: Belford, Dick, Barron, Neill, Bell, Hamill, Woods (Turner 84), Agnew (Stoney 85), Anderson (Okoh 76), Thomson, R Wallace. Unused substitutes: Lang, McGowan, T Wallace and Currie.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
