One moment of magic can change everything.
Stranraer’s wait for a league win appeared to be stretching on for another week, despite a promising showing away to Dumbarton.
Then, with 90 minutes already played, James Dolan fires home an unstoppable winner.
The goal sparked celebrations both on and off the pitch for all those connected with Stranraer.
Now, Aaron Quigg is hoping that goal can help kickstart the season.
He said: “On the park, it all just happens so fast!
“I think Lewis Reid has done brilliant to win the ball back and Dominic Plank has put in a great ball for Deryn Lang.
“I thought Deryn was brilliant when he came on.
“He kept it in, gave it to James and he has shown a bit of excellence.
“It was right into the top corner, brilliant.
“In the changing room, it was not relief but almost we know we have got that in us.
“The last minute winner just gives us that boost going into this weekend and hopefully we can build on it going forward and look up the table and not what is behind us.
“It just shows the fight we have got for each other.
“We are playing for each other and hopefully the last minute winner can be the start of a good run.
“It has been a good week for us – three unbeaten this week, with two wins and a draw.
“We would have taken that at the start of the week.
“We need to build on it now.”
Quigg has been an important member of Chris Aitken’s squad since making the move from Annan Athletic in January this year.
Until the midweek victory over Motherwell B, he had featured in each of the Stair Park side’s games this campaign.
And the 19-year-old said he was loving life at Stair Park having clocked up 33 games.
He said: “The gaffer has been brilliant with me since I came in.
“He has shown faith in me.
“Obviously, the results have not been going our way but, individually, I have been really enjoying it.
“It has been a great changing room and I feel that we can do well.”
Quigg’s former club are the visitors on Saturday – buoyed by their own impressive win as they defeated East Kilbride at Galabank.
Of course, this weekend’s encounter will bring Quigg and some familiar faces back together.
It is not just the midfielder that will recognise a few people connected to the Galabankies, with Willie Gibson, Steven Bell and Greg Fleming all involved with the coaching staff.
And Bell played a part in Quigg’s arrival at Stair Park.
The current Stair Park midfielder said: “Steven knows Chris and they had a conversation.
“The next week I was in at Stranraer so it has been brilliant.
“I have really enjoyed it since the minute I came in.”
Last meeting
Former Stranraer favourite Willie Gibson helped Annan Athletic to victory at Stair Park just over a year ago.
Gibson provided the cross for Aidan Smith to open the scoring with a flicked header over Jacob Pazikas.
The home side would pull level though when Elliot Dunlop scored after fine play out wide by Matty Grant. A penalty from Gibson put Annan back in front and they never looked back after that.
Gibson turned provider again when he sent Harrison Wood clean through to score past an exposed Pazikas. Josh Dixon made it four as the Stranraer defence was again cut open and the best was left for last, as Aidan Smith was given far too much room to stride forward and blast into the top corner from outside the box.
Stranraer: Pazikas, Cummins, Ross, Ecrepont, McIntosh (McKnight 66), Gallagher, Dunlop (Adam 84), Russell (Woods 74), Hawkshaw (Lang 74), Grant, Guthrie (Edgar 74).
Not used: Broun.
Annan Athletic: J Smith, Kilsby, Barnes, Dixon (K Fleming 66), McGowan (Stevenson 67), Todd, A Smith, R Muir (Maxwell 75), Wood, Gibson, T Muir (Quigg 75).
Not used: Bell and G Fleming.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 Annan Athletic 5 (Dunlop; A Smith x2, Gibson (Pen), Wood and Dixon) at Stair Park on September 7, 2024
- Annan Athletic 3 Stranraer 1 (Kilsby, Docherty and A Smith; McDonald) at Galabank on August 15, 2023
- Annan Athletic 0 Stranraer 0 at Galabank on March 25, 2023
- Stranraer 1 Annan Athletic 1 (Hawkshaw; A Smith) at Stair Park on November 26, 2022
- Annan Athletic 1 Stranraer 1 (Galloway; Hilton) at Galabank on October 15, 2022
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Dumbarton (A): 1-2 (Russell and Dolan)
- WIN v Motherwell B (H): 3-0 (Lang, McManus and Turay)
- DRAW v Elgin City (H): 1-1 (Russell (Pen))
- LOSS v Spartans (H): 0-2
- LOSS v Kelty Hearts (A): 3-0
Annan Athletic
- WIN v East Kilbride (H): 3-1 (Craik, P Smith and T Muir)
- WIN v Rangers B (H): 4-3 (P Smith, Craik, A Smith and Gaffney)
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (A): 1-0
- LOSS v Clyde (H): 0-6
- DRAW v St Mirren B (H): 2-2 (A Smith (Pen) and Maxwell)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Dumbarton: Lane, Coll, Reid, Rough, Gillies (Docherty 60), McKnight (Lang 73), Russell (Plank 88), Hunter (O’Donnell 60), McManus, Dolan, Edgar (Quigg 60).
Not used: Ecrepont, Sharp, Turay and Henderson.
Annan Athletic
Lineup v East Kilbride: Clarke, Hooper, Kilsby (Todd 78), Watson, McGowan (Maxwell 25), A Smith, R Muir, P Smith, Gibson, T Muir, Craik (Gaffney 59).
Not used: Gilmour, Dixon, Kalala and Balfour.
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).
Annan Athletic
Ins: Jack Allan (Kilmarnock, loan), Zach Balfour (Queen’s Park), Duncan Barlow (Kilmarnock, loan), Cammy Bryson (Dalbeattie Star), Gio Clarke (Cheadle Town), Zander Craik (Kilmarnock, loan), Euan Deveney (Stirling Albion), Myles Gaffney (Cove Rangers), Josh Gilmour (Kilmarnock), Gravine Kalala (Hamilton Academical), Joel Mumbongo (Dumbarton) and Keith Watson (Arbroath).
Outs: Kyle Fleming (Clyde), Ji Stevenson (Cumbernauld Colts, loan made permanent), Mackenzie Strachan (Cove Rangers), Cammy Bryson (Dalbeattie Star, loan), Dan Carmichael (Gretna 2008, loan), Tommy Goss (East Fife, loan), Layton Bisland (Arbroath, end of loan), Rhys Breen (Dunfermline Athletic, end of loan), Aaron Brown (Kilmarnock, end of loan), Luca Ross (Motherwell, end of loan), Jamie Smith (Hamilton Academical, end of loan), Peter Watson (retired) and Rico Quitongo.
Five facts
1. James Dolan’s stoppage time winner at Dumbarton last weekend was Stranraer’s first 90th minute goal since Robbie Foster scored against Stirling Albion earlier this year.
2. Former Stranraer players Willie Gibson, Steven Bell, Greg Fleming and Tommy Muir are all now involved at Annan Athletic. Together, they played more than 310 games for the Blues. As a comparison, that’s more than Dominic Plank, Matthew Gillies, Josh Lane, Corey O’Donnell, Sallu Turay, Tommy Sharp, Ronan Hughes, Evan Dunne, Beejay Coll, Ewan Henderson, Daniel McManus, Lewis Hunter, Jordan Stuart, Robbie Foster, Scot Rough, Sean Docherty, Kirk McKnight, Aaron Quigg and Lewis Reid combined.
3. Mark Russell’s goal last weekend puts him on 12 for Stranraer. That is one behind current top scorer in the squad, Deryn Lang. Saturday would also mark Russell’s 50th start for Stranraer, if selected.
4. Annan Athletic are on a five-game unbeaten run against Stranraer stretching back to July 2022. Stranraer’s best run against Annan is also five games. That started in April 2011 with a 1-1 draw at Galabank (Sean Winter found the net) and was followed the next season by a 4-2 win at Stair Park (Chris Aitken and Stuart McColm doubles), a 3-0 win at Galabank (McColm, Martin Grehan and Stephen Stirling scoring), a 4-2 win back at Stair Park (a Winter double alongside goals from Stirling and Craig Malcolm) and, finally, a 3-1 win at Galabank (Aitken, Frank McKeown and Malcolm found the net).
5. Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of Chris Aitken as Stranraer manager. His first game in charge came away to Edinburgh City on March 5, with Mark Russell and Max Guthrie finding the net in a 2-1 win. The away team that day was: Pazikas, Cummins, Ross, McIntosh (Woods 85), Reid, Brindley, Gallagher, Dunlop (Grant 74), Russell, Hawkshaw (Robertson 66), Guthrie. Not used: Ecrepont, McKnight, Adam, Edgar and Broun.
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
Merchandise
Stranraer FC merchandise is available from the hut outside the main McLeans Taxis Stand, including brand new pin badges and key rings, all three of this season’s kits, hats, a range of 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.
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 from 10pm on Saturday night, along with full match footage.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with Brian Martin returning from a one match ban to join Laurence Nelson on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)
