Debutant Josh Lane has urged his new team to keep focused on the task at hand after three points at Forfar Athletic.
Stranraer’s first victory at Station Park in almost a decade allowed them to open up a six-point advantage over their hosts.
That could be extended further if Lane and his team-mates can make it back-to-back wins when they travel to Bonnyrigg Rose on Tuesday night (7.45pm).
The on-loan Hamilton goalkeeper said: “We just need to rest up now and then get our head on for Tuesday’s game because it is massive as well.
“We’ve got a good few games coming up in a short amount of time so we just need to think about the next game all the time.
“The next few games are massive for us; they are really important.
“We are all close together so all we can focus on is getting points on the board and hopefully climbing the table.”
The teenager was an early January signing by Chris Aitken, who also brought in Sam Kane on loan from Queen’s Park.
And while former Stranraer number one Michael McGovern played a role in Kane making the move down the A77, there was another former Blue playing a part in Lane’s loan deal.
He said: “My goalkeeping coach back at Hamilton, Ryan Marshall, played for Stranraer back in the day.
“He keeps in contact with Jim Low, the goalkeeping coach, and he recommended me.
“He came down to one of my reserve games and took me in on trial.
“Then, I signed a few weeks later.
“I didn’t know anyone at the club, which is good because it is fresh faces and a change of scenery.”
Eighteen-year-old Lane, from Oban, has had to wait for his debut as Kane was given the nod against Peterhead and East Fife.
However, it was a debut to remember for Lane as he became the second Stranraer goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet this season after Robbie Mutch.
He said: “It could not have gone any better – clean sheet on my debut and a win.
“I feel like I was a bit shaky for the first five minutes – just a bit of nerves – but I took a cross early on, which settled the nerves, and all the boys were brilliant with me throughout the whole game.”
Last meeting
Max Guthrie had called Tom Ritchie into early action in the final meeting of the sides in 2024.
However, it would be the visitors who took the lead. A long ball over the top was not dealt with by the home defence and Cameron Ross bundled the ball home from inside the box.
Mark Ferrie headed over from about six yards and Stranraer then found their leveller from the penalty spot. Finn Ecrepont was taken out by Sean Murphy and Scott Robertson was on hand to tuck the ball home after Mark Russell’s spot kick came back off the post.
It looked as if the game could be heading for a draw before substitute Ryan Edgar was shown a straight red card in the centre circle for a challenge on Lee Currie.
Bonnyrigg pushed for a winner and it came in stoppage time when Keiran McGachie headed home.
Stranraer: Mutch, Craig Ross, McQueen, Ecrepont (Brindley 89), Reid, Robertson (Grant 65), Gallagher, Russell, Hawkshaw (Dunlop 74), Guthrie (Edgar 74), Lang (Cummins 88).
Not used: McKnight, Adam and Pazikas.
Bonnyrigg Rose: Ritchie, Mailer, Martyniuk, Young (Arnott 12), Somerville, Murphy, Higginbotham (McGachie 66), Barrett (Currie 56), Connolly (Scarborough 56), Ferrie (Lorimer 66), Cameron Ross.
Not used: Allen and Andrews.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 Bonnyrigg Rose 2 (Robertson; Cameron Ross and McGachie) at Stair Park on November 16, 2024
- Bonnyrigg Rose 2 Stranraer 0 (Young and Connolly) at New Dundas Park on August 31, 2024
- Stranraer 2 Bonnyrigg Rose 1 (Russell and Craig Ross; Own goal) at Stair Park on August 13, 2024
- Stranraer 1 Bonnyrigg Rose 1 (Lang; Martyniuk (Pen)) at Stair Park on March 30, 2024
- Bonnyrigg Rose 0 Stranraer 0 at New Dundas Park on February 3, 2024
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-1 (Gallagher)
- LOSS v East Fife (H): 0-2
- LOSS v Peterhead (A): 1-0
- DRAW v Clyde (H): 1-1 (Russell (Pen))
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (A): 1-1 (Russell)
Bonnyrigg Rose
- LOSS v Stirling Albion (A): 3-0
- DRAW v The Spartans (H): 2-2 (Martyniuk (Pen) and Barrett)
- LOSS v Edinburgh City (A): 2-0
- LOSS v Peterhead (A): 2-0
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (A): 5-1 (Cameron Ross)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: Lane, Cummins (McIntosh 59), Craig Ross, Ecrepont, Reid, Robertson, Brindley, Gallagher, Russell, Foster (A Trialist 77), Edgar (Quigg 88).
Not used: McKnight, Guthrie and Kane.
Bonnyrigg Rose
Lineup v Stirling Albion: Martin, Martyniuk, Young (Lennon 64), Smutek, Somerville (Stenhouse 18), Murphy, Arnott, McGachie (Porteous 64), Barrett (Currie 64), Connolly (Ferrie 64), Cameron Ross.
Not used: Scarborough and Andrews.
Five facts
- Victory at Station Park on Saturday means Stranraer have the chance to win back-to-back league games. The last time they managed that was in August/September 2023 when they defeated Clyde 1-0 (Olly McDonald scored) and Peterhead 2-1 (Tom Orr and Kyle Fleming scored).
- Grant Gallagher’s 51st minute goal was the first time in almost a decade that Stranraer have scored in the 51st minute. The last time the Blues were celebrating in minute 51 was when Craig Malcolm scored away to Stenhousemuir on Boxing Day 2015. Brian Reid’s side won 5-1 as Malcolm scored a treble while Jamie Longworth netted alongside Sam McCloskey.
- Stranraer are yet to win away at New Dundas Park, which means their last win in Midlothian came all the way back in 2002. That saw the Blues win a Scottish Cup replay against Whitehill Welfare after the first tie had finished 1-1. Stranraer were 3-2 winners thanks to a double from Paul Kerr and a goal from Kevin Gaughan. The visiting team was: Hillcoat, Wingate, Wright, Hodge (Fallon 78), Sharp, Gaughan, Jenkins, Aitken (Curran 68), Finlayson, Moore, Kerr (Harty 68). Not used: Marshall.
- Josh Lane made his debut for Stranraer at Station Park over the weekend. The last goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet away to Forfar in a Stranraer win was Andy McCondichie when John Fraser scored the only goal in a 1-0 win. That was in September 2004 – more than 18 months before Lane was born.
- The appearance of a trialist in the second half at Station Park means that 29 players have taken to the pitch for Stranraer this campaign. In comparison, last season, 30 pulled on a Stranraer shirt.
Admission
Admission at New Dundas Park is ‘pay at the gate’, pricing as follows:
- Adult – £15
- Concession – £10
- Youth – £5
- Under 12 – FREE with a paying adult
There is also a social club on site, open to all fans pre and post-match.
Coverage
Our usual extended highlights will be available on Wednesday afternoon, with commentary from Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin.
As usual, the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube following the game.
Club 1870 subscribers can catch the goals late on Tuesday evening, along with full match footage later on Wednesday.
We’ll have limited live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter) for those further afield.
Photos: Bill McCandlsh
