Craig Ross has called on his team mates to produce a confidence boosting win in a bid to motor up the table.
Stranraer sit ninth in the League Two table, but just five points adrift of fifth place.
A win tomorrow (Saturday) will likely move the Blues up the standings and would close the gap on Bonnyrigg Rose in the top half of the table.
Ross, who has missed just two of the club’s 29 games this season, said: “The gaffer has been at us all season to be consistent over a long period of time.
“It is probably something we have not been.
“We do have a young squad and that is going to happen but if we start picking up points then it breeds confidence.”
Tomorrow’s visitors Clyde sit eight points adrift of Stranraer at the foot of the table.
Ross stressed there was still plenty to play for with 16 games yet to be played.
He said: “Clyde are bottom but they are not exactly out of it.
“There is still so much to play for and so many teams round about it, including us.”
A call for consistency comes on the back of a promising point against Bonnyrigg Rose seven days ago.
Only a wonder save from Paddy Martin denied Finn Ecrepont his first goal since returning to the club as the two sides battled out a goalless draw.
From having lost each of their four encounters with Bonnyrigg last season, the Blues are now unbeaten in the three meetings this term.
Ross has been involved in two of those contests, scoring at Stair Park in December.
He said: “We knew it was not going to be the prettiest of games or the easiest of games.
“The conditions, the kind of team they are as well, they will just get everything on top of you.
“I thought everyone stood up to it well and, at the end of the day, you go there and you take a point and you are happy with that.
“I don’t think it is the worst result in the world.”
The result at New Dundas Park came as Stranraer were missing both Chris Johnston and Dean Hawkshaw.
On very few occasions this term, manager Scott Agnew has been able to name the same starting XI from the previous week.
Ross outlined how absences had played a role in Stranraer’s season so far.
He said: “It is hard and it is frustrating as well.
“Somebody could be doing really well and then they are injured and it does impact the whole team because you miss them when you are on the park.
“It has just been the story of the season, right from the start.
“I think we have got a good enough squad with people coming in.”
Last meeting
The spoils were shared at New Douglas Park before Christmas as Clyde and Stranraer battled out a 2-2 draw.
Martin Rennie headed the home side in front before the interval and the Stranraer equaliser would come about in bizarre fashion. Matty Grant found his path down the wing blocked by the assistant referee and a Clyde player smashed the ball behind for a corner.
Craig Ross then nodded home from close range to level things up.
The home side were back in front before the half time whistle though when Stranraer surrendered possession when on the attack. Clyde countered and Kian Leslie played it through to Liam Scullion, who rolled the ball home.
Rennie could have put the game to bed but headed at the feet of Lewis Budinauckas and Stranraer would find a second equaliser. Dean Hawkshaw and Scott Robertson combined for James Dolan to tap home from close range.
Clyde: Leighfield, Lyon (Craig 78), Carswell (Grant 67), Dunachie, Sula, Scullion, Rennie, Stevenson (Forbes 46), Hynes, King (Mulvanny 78), Lesley (Young 70).
Not used: McCulloch, Gunn, Malcolm and Parry.
Stranraer: Budinauckas, Williamson, Girvan, Ross, Robertson, Hawkshaw (Walker 86), Forrest, Fleming, Grant, McDonald (Dolan 62), Lang (Sneddon 89).
Not used: Strachan and Downie.
Last five meetings
- Clyde 2 Stranraer 2 (Rennie and Scullion; Ross and Dolan) at New Douglas Park on December 9, 2023
- Stranraer 1 Clyde 0 (McDonald) at Stair Park on August 26, 2023
- Clyde 1 Stranraer 0 (Goodwillie (Pen)) at Broadwood Stadium on July 13, 2021
- Clyde 3 Stranraer 3 (Goodwillie x3 (Pen x1); Elliott x2 and Allan) at Broadwood Stadium on January 4, 2020
- Stranraer 3 Clyde 0 (Cummins, Robertson and Stewart (Pen)) at Stair Park on November 2, 2019
Last five games
Stranraer
- DRAW v Bonnyrigg Rose (A): 0-0
- LOSS v East Fife (H): 0-1
- LOSS v Stenhousemuir (A): 1-0
- WIN v Peterhead (H): 2-0 (Johnston and Orr)
- LOSS v Elgin City (A): 1-2 (Lang)
Clyde
- DRAW v Peterhead (H): 1-1 (Cuddihy)
- LOSS v Elgin City (A): 2-1 (Scullion)
- DRAW v The Spartans (A): 1-1 (Allan)
- LOSS v Aberdeen (H): 0-2
- DRAW v East Fife (A): 1-1 (Rennie)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Bonnyrigg Rose: Budinauckas, Ross, McQueen, Girvan, Ecrepont, Robertson (Orr 76), Forrest, Grant, Fleming, Dolan, Gilmartin (Lang 64).
Not used: Williamson, McIntosh and Downie.
Clyde
Lineup v Peterhead: Parry, Dunachie, Howie, Hamilton, McGinn (Lyon 86), Cuddihy, Grant, King, Scullion, Kabia (Leitch 61), Allan (Rennie 68).
Not used: Young, Cameron, Hynes, Leslie, Sula and Leighfield.
Five facts
1. Starting his career at Manchester City, Steve Evans would have a spell at Stranraer in the early 1990s. Evans played more than 150 games for Clyde in the 1980s before moving to Ayr United. He joined Stranraer in 1991 and celebrates his 50th birthday tomorrow (Saturday).
2. It has been more than a decade since Stranraer and Clyde battled out a goalless draw. That came in October 2011 at Stair Park. The home side that day was: David Mitchell, Kane, Noble, Taggart, McKeown, Shepherd (McColm 63), Stirling, Gallagher (Winter 73), Danny Mitchell, Moore (Grehan 73), Malcolm. Not used: Aitken and Marshall.
3. James Dolan is the only member of Scott Agnew’s side to feature in every game this season.
4. Former Stranraer player and manager Neil Watt also had a spell as director of football at Clyde.
5. Stranraer’s final game of the 1990s came against Clyde. December 27, 1999, saw the Blues welcome Clyde to Stair Park. Jamie Smith had opened the scoring for the hosts before Tom Woods and Alan Grant scored a quickfire double before the break. However, Stranraer would secure a share of the points when Billy MacDonald scored nine minutes from time.
Admission
Admission at Stair Park is on a ‘pay at the gate’ basis, with pricing as follows:
- Adult – £15
- Concession – £10
- 5 to 16 Years Old – £5
- Under 5 – FREE
Stranraer FC merchandise is available, and the Pavilion Bar at the ground is open from 1pm for pre and post-match refreshments.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
