Cutting out individual mistakes has been key in Stranraer’s recent upturn in form.
The Blues were being written off by many after the first quarter of the campaign.
However, consecutive league wins mean things are looking better for everyone connected with the Stair Park side.
Beejay Coll is among those enjoying his football and he was looking forward to this weekend’s trip to Clyde.
He said: “We are on a good run just now.
“I think we know the system now and it was going to take a bit of time.
“The results at the start of the season were not great but I think if you watched the games we were not outplayed or outfought – it was just individual errors killing us at times.
“Now, the strikers are scoring, confident, and the boys are playing well.”
One defeat in their last eight encounters means Stranraer have closed the gap on the teams above them.
This weekend, they travel to face a team with an even better recent record.
Clyde have one defeat in their last 11 games, with the last league loss coming back in August.
Coll said: “When you are winning, you want to be playing straight away.
“This weekend against Clyde will be hard, to be fair.
“They have got good players, especially in the forward areas, but, hopefully, we can get three points.
“You look back on the first quarter and if you cut out the mistakes, I think any team would struggle to say that they came and battered us.
“That’s good but we now look as if we have turned the corner.
“We are now taking advantage of other teams’ mistakes.”
The impressive form has allowed manager Chris Aitken to name a relatively settled side in recent weeks.
For Coll, that has meant fewer minutes and he was an unused substitute in Stranraer’s victory over Forfar Athletic last weekend.
The form of Finn Ecrepont has meant Coll has been a spectator in recent weeks, with his last start coming in the 1-0 loss to Annan Athletic at the beginning of last month.
He said: “With the performances, you cannot really moan about not playing if the team is winning.
“You want to be part of a winning team so you just need to keep fit because you never know what can happen with injuries or performances.
“You need to make sure you are ready for when the gaffer needs you.
“When you do get in, you want to make an impact.”
Last meeting
It was the visitors who had the first chance when the sides met earlier this season in Wigtownshire.
Taylor Sutherland rounded Josh Lane but failed to really connect with his shot and Scot Rough was on hand to make the clearance. Lewis Reid then had the ball in the net but the referee had already spotted an infringement.
The Stranraer fans would soon be celebrating though as Corey O’Donnell netted from James Dolan’s ball into the box.
Unfortunately, the home side could not hold the lead into the break. Former Stair Park favourite James Hilton was the man on the scoresheet as he danced through the home defence.
Both sides had chances to win it, with Finn Ecrepont coming close at one end and Hilton sending a free-kick over the bar at the other.
Stranraer: Lane, Ecrepont, Reid, Rough, Dunne (Docherty 61), Quigg, Russell, McManus (Hunter 61), O’Donnell, Dolan, Turay (Stuart 75).
Not used: McKnight, Coll, Sharp, Edgar and Henderson.
Clyde: Hogarth, Robson, Campbell, Howie, Cuddihy (Hynes 78), Hilton, Niang, Sutherland (Leitch 88), Murdoch, Redfern (D Lyon 46), Connell (Williamson 78).
Not used: R Lyon, Dunachie, Fleming, Nevans and Kinnear.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 Clyde 1 (O’Donnell; Hilton) at Stair Park on August 23, 2025
- 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
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (H): 3-1 (Dolan (Pen), Edgar and Lang)
- WIN v Glenafton Athletic (H): 4-0 (Dolan, Own goal, Hunter and Edgar)
- WIN v Edinburgh City (A): 1-3 (Ecrepont x2 and McManus)
- DRAW v Queen of the South (H): 1-1 (Turay)
- LOSS v Annan Athletic (H): 0-1
Clyde
- WIN v Dumbarton (H): 3-1 (Own goal, Hilton and Williamson)
- LOSS v Annan Athletic (H): 2-3 (Sutherland and Connell)
- DRAW v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-0
- WIN v Kilmarnock B (H): 2-1 (Williamson and Niang)
- DRAW v East Kilbride (H): 2-2 (Robson and Leitch)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: Lane, Ecrepont, Reid, Rough, McKnight, Stuart, Quigg, McManus (Lang 63), Gillies (Russell 88), Dolan (Hunter 88), Edgar (Plank 84).
Not used: Coll, Hughes, Sharp and Henderson.
Clyde
Lineup v Dumbarton: Hogarth, Robson (Fleming 46), Campbell, Howie, Hynes, Hilton (D Lyon 76), Bradley (Dunachie 84), Niang, Sutherland (Leitch 76), Murdoch, Connell (Williamson 68).
Not used: R Lyon, Nevans and Kinnear.
Five facts
1. James Dolan became Stranraer’s third scorer from the penalty spot this season when he found the net last weekend against Forfar Athletic. Corey O’Donnell and Mark Russell have already scored a penalty. The last time three Stranraer players scored a penalty in a season was 2019/20 when Mark Stewart, James Hilton and Ryan Stevenson all scored.
2. The midfielder’s penalty was also the first time in almost four years that Stranraer had scored in the 19th minute. The last time they did was when Matty Yates found the net against Cowdenbeath in December 2021. The Blues won 2-0 that day with Tommy Muir also finding the net.
3. Friday marks the 37th birthday of former Stranraer frontman Mark McGuigan. The striker joined the Blues in the summer of 2015 from Albion Rovers and would make almost 80 appearances for Stranraer. He also found the net on 16 occasions, with the first coming against Forfar Athletic in a 2-1 win. A certain Chris Aitken scored the winner. The Stranraer team was: McGurn, Pettigrew, Bell, Mair, Rumsby (Aitken 44), Keenan, Cairney (Turner 81), McGill, Thomson, Stirling, McGuigan (Longworth 87). Not used: McCloskey, Malcolm, Samson and Currie.
4. Just four members of the Stranraer squad were born the last time the Blues won away at Clyde in the league. Alan Lansdowne scored the only goal in a 1-0 win in May 1998.
5. Victories at Edinburgh City and Dumbarton mean Stranraer have won back-to-back away league games. The last time the Blues won three away league contests in a row was in April 2021. Andy Stirling scored the only goal of the game away to Stirling Albion before James Hilton and Joao Victoria scored in a 2-0 win at Cliftonhill. Finally, Matty Yates scored the only goal of the game at The Falkirk Stadium as Stranraer defeated Queen’s Park.
Admission
You can buy tickets online via the Clyde website:
- Adults: £17
- Concessions (Over 65s and Students): £14
- Under 18s: £10
- Under 12s: £5
Podcast
Check out the latest episode of club podcast Look Blues Talking for an in-depth look at this weekend’s game, along with a review of last Saturday’s win at home to Forfar Athletic.
Coverage
If you’re further afield, follow our live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter).
The manager’s post-match reaction will be available via YouTube on Saturday evening.
Club 1870 subscribers will get a first look at the goals later in the evening, along with full match footage.
Our extended YouTube highlights will be available on Sunday morning, with Laurence Nelson returning from his holidays to join Brian Martin in the gantry at New Douglas Park.
Photos: MadMac Photography, Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)
