Sean Docherty has urged Stranraer fans to keep believing as they wait for the first three points of the campaign.
The Blues are yet to get off the mark in the league following defeats to Forfar Athletic, Edinburgh City and East Kilbride.
Saturday presents the next chance to get that elusive league victory with Clyde visiting the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park.
Docherty felt there was plenty of quality in the home squad and was keen for them to get the campaign up and running.
He said: “I think it will come good.
“There is plenty of quality in the squad so it is only a matter of time.
“There is great spirit and the spirit right now in training is still the same as it was at the start of the season.
“It has not affected the boys one bit.
“I think once we get the first result we will just kick on.
“Every game is big and you go in to win every game.
“Clyde are on one point and in the same boat as us but it is only the start of the season.”
Docherty made his return to the Stranraer squad last weekend when he was named on the bench for the trip to East Kilbride.
The full-back has not been involved since the Queen of the South game last month and has not taken to the pitch since Edinburgh City seven days earlier.
He said: “It is just about getting back in the team now.
“I am pretty much delighted to be back.
“It was just, according to the physio, a tear in my left hamstring, which sounds a lot worse than it is.
“It was just a little strain and I wanted to make sure I was right before coming back.”
Seven days ago, it was East Kilbride who were celebrating victory after two goals in the last 10 minutes.
The 3-1 win came after Stranraer had a goal disallowed and passed up a number of chances.
Many of the travelling fans at K Park felt that they did not get the rub of the green last weekend, with a number of decisions not going their way.
It was a similar feeling for 21-year-old Docherty, who felt his side deserved to take something from the game.
He said: “I felt we were robbed through that game, to be honest.
“I thought that the referee made some poor decisions and I thought for the majority of the game we were the better team.”
Last meeting
All the action in the sides’ last meeting would come in the second half, with Stranraer thinking they had broken the deadlock through Robbie Foster.
The striker was quickest to react when Elliot Dunlop’s shot came back off the post but the offside flag went up.
Instead, supporters would have to wait until the final 10 minutes at Stair Park as Sean Docherty’s cross into the box was blocked by Andy Murdoch. Referee Alastair Grieve decided it was handball and pointed to the spot, with Mark Russell scoring.
Just seconds later and momentum would swing in Clyde’s favour. Russell was shown a second yellow card and Martin Rennie blasted home the resultant free-kick.
Then, with time running out, Rennie was on hand to scramble the ball over the line from close range.
Stranraer: Kane, Ross, S Docherty (Brindley 81), Ecrepont, Reid, Dunlop, Russell, Hawkshaw, McKnight (Quigg 72), Grant (Lang 72), Foster (Edgar 81).
Not used: Robertson, Guthrie and Lane.
Clyde: Kennedy, Robson (Hannah 88), Howie, Dunachie, R Lyon, Sutherland, D Lyon, D Docherty, (Connell 81), Murdoch, Rennie, Williamson (Leitch 73)
Not used: Hamilton, Hynes, Redfern, Bradley, Scullion and Hemfrey.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 Clyde 2 (Russell (Pen); Rennie x2) at Stair Park on March 29, 2025
- Clyde 2 Stranraer 0 (Rennie and Williamson) at New Douglas Park on February 8, 2025
- Stranraer 1 Clyde 1 (Russell (Pen); Allan) at Stair Park on December 28, 2024
- Clyde 1 Stranraer 0 (Grant) at New Douglas Park on August 10, 2024
- Clyde 1 Stranraer 0 (Allan) at New Douglas Park on April 6, 2024
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v East Kilbride (A): 3-1 (Turay)
- WIN v Alloa Athletic (H): 2-1 (Dolan and Turay)
- LOSS v Edinburgh City (H): 1-2 (Russell (Pen))
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (A): 1-0
- WIN v Queen of the South (H): 1-0 (Quigg)
Clyde
- LOSS v The Spartans (H): 1-3 (Sutherland)
- LOSS v Celtic B (H): 1-3 (Leitch)
- DRAW v Forfar Athletic (H): 0-0
- LOSS v Dumbarton (A): 2-1 (Redfern)
- LOSS v Greenock Morton (A): 3-0
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v East Kilbride: Lane, Ecrepont, Reid, Rough, Dunne, Quigg (Edgar 84), Dolan, McManus (Hunter 39), Russell, Turay (Stuart 71), O’Donnell.
Not used: Coll, Docherty, McKnight, Sharp and Henderson.
Clyde
Lineup v The Spartans: Hogarth, Robson, Dunachie, Campbell, R Lyon (Leitch 77), Niang (Cuddihy 77), Murdoch, Redfern, D Lyon (Connell 63), Sutherland (Williamson 63), Hilton (Fleming 77).
Not used: Howie, Hynes, Nevans and Kinnear.
Ins and outs
Stranraer
Ins: Beejay Coll (St Cadoc’s), James Dolan (Unattached), Evan Dunne (Beith Juniors), 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), Lewis Reid (Queen’s Park, loan made permanent), Scot Rough (Beith Juniors), Tommy Sharp (Livingston), Jordan Stuart (Beith Juniors) and Sallu Turray (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).
Clyde
Ins: Sam Campbell (East Stirlingshire), Kyle Fleming (Annan Athletic), James Hilton (Dumbarton), Jay Hogarth (Rangers), Mouhamed Niang (East Kilbride), Taylor Sutherland (Dunfermline Athletic, loan).
Outs: Dom Docherty (Dumbarton), Lee Hamilton (Stirling Albion), Martin Rennie (Forfar Athletic), Conor Scullion (Bo’ness United), Jamie Bradley (Queen’s Park, end of loan), Callum Hannah (Raith Rovers, end of loan), Robbie Hemfrey (Arbroath, end of loan), Lee Connelly, Ray Grant, Jay Kennedy and Dylan Watt.
Five facts
1. Stranraer and Clyde’s last game before the turn of the millennium was against each other on December 27, 1999. The scores would finish level, with three goals in seven first half minutes. Jamie Smith opened the scoring for Stranraer on 29 minutes before Tom Woods and Alan Grant had Clyde in front at Stair Park. That was how it stayed until nine minutes from time when Billy MacDonald found the net. The home side was: McGeown, Black, Wright, Smith, Roddie, Jenkins, Ramsay, MacDonald, Harty, Blaikie (Watson 66), Walker. Not used: Abbott and Cahoon.
2. Friday marks the 25th birthday of former Stranraer loan signing Innes Cameron. The striker, who joined from Kilmarnock, scored 10 goals in 30 games for the Blues during the 2018/19 season. He left Rugby Park in the summer and is now playing for Barrow in England’s League Two.
3. Sal Turay’s goals against East Kilbride and Alloa Athletic means he is the first Stranraer player to score in consecutive games since Mark Russell at the very end of last year. The club captain netted in a 1-1 draw at Stirling Albion on December 21 before getting on the scoresheet against Clyde seven days later.
4. Stranraer last played a game on August 23 in 2014. On that day, Brechin City were the visitors to Stair Park. They looked well on course for three points thanks to goals from Colin Hamilton and Craig Molloy in the opening 24 minutes. However, two substitutes proved the difference for the Blues as Adam Forde pulled one back before Stephen Stirling scored direct from a corner in stoppage time.
5. Scott Edgar scored just one goal in a Stranraer shirt but that came against Saturday’s opposition. The frontman moved to Stair Park in 2000 and was on target in the final game of the season. He netted on 21 minutes before Paul Ronald doubled the home side’s advantage. Brian Carrigan pulled one back but Stranraer held on for the win. He would go on to play for Walton & Hersham in England.
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 this season’s kits, hats, a range of leisurewear, and sale items from last season.
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 Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)
