644 days have passed since Paul Woods was last named in a Stranraer squad.
It seemed as if the popular midfielder’s career was over when he was stretchered off against Forfar Athletic in October 2022.
A ruptured MCL and ACL, a grade one tear in his PCL and LCL and a torn lateral meniscus seemed to spell the end of his second term at the club.
Plenty has changed since Woods was last in the matchday squad: there’s a different management team, only five of the starting XI remain and not a single one of the substitutes is still with the club.
On Saturday, he was named on the bench for the season’s opener with Spartans after taking on a player/coach role at Stair Park.
He said: “It is great to be back.
“Coming down to Stranraer and, obviously, being involved this time, it felt brilliant to be back.
“It felt really quick – as if I have not been away – but it was great!
“It has been a long road to get back to fitness.
“Coming in for pre-season made it easier and made it feel like a fresh start.
“Even though I was coming back and I knew the gaffer and some of the players, it felt like a fresh start.”
The winger turns 38 next month and has linked up with Scott Agnew and Scott Robertson as part of the new look coaching team.
However, despite being a key part of the backroom staff, Woods is determined to continue doing his talking on the pitch as well.
Speaking minutes after the full time whistle following the 2-2 draw with Spartans last Saturday, he said: “I missed some games during pre-season so it will probably take me a while to get my fitness, match fitness, up to the same level as the boys.
“I definitely want to contribute to the team and help the team.
“I would love to be on the park helping out.”
A point on the opening day of the campaign was the least Stranraer deserved after taking the game to Spartans, who finished in the promotion play-offs last term.
Strikes from Deryn Lang and Elliot Dunlop had the Blues 2-0 up while Robbie Foster was only denied by the crossbar.
However, the capital club fought back after the break and a Paul Watson double ensured the game finished 2-2.
Now, attention turns to a trip to New Douglas Park and a contest with a Clyde side who also drew on the first weekend of league football.
Woods said: “Clyde have got a good squad.
“They have built a good squad, with some good players and good experienced players coming in as well.
“It will be another hard game.”
Previous meeting
A late winner from Jordan Allan gave Clyde three vital points in their bid to avoid bottom spot in League Two.
The Bully Wee had created plenty of chances in the first half, with Craig Howie nodding straight at Lewis Budinauckas while Deryn Lang’s pass was swept over the crossbar by Scott Robertson at the other end. James Dolan was denied by the Clyde number one Brian Kinnear after the break while Craig Ross cleared a certain goal from an Allan effort. It looked like the game would finish goalless but Allan rose highest late on to secure three important points.
Clyde: Kinnear, Lyon (Dunachie 72), Hamilton, Howie, Cuddihy (Leitch 72), Scullion, R Grant, Ballantyne, King, Rennie (McGinn 81), Allan.
Not used: P Grant, Sula, Cameron, Hynes, Young and Kennedy.
Stranraer: Budinauckas, Robertson (Fleming 59), Williamson, Ross, McQueen, McIntosh, Gallagher (Hawkshaw 71), Dolan, Forrest, M Grant (Ecrepont 71), Lang (Armour 81).
Not used: Miller, Orr, Gilmartin and Downie.
Last five meetings
- Clyde 1 Stranraer 0 (Allan) at New Douglas Park on April 6, 2024
- Stranraer 2 Clyde 0 (Fleming and Ecrepont) at Stair Park on February 10, 2024
- 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
Last five games
Stranraer
- DRAW v Spartans (H): 2-2 (Lang and Dunlop)
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (A): 2-2 (Edgar and Lang) (Stirling Albion won 4-2 on penalties)
- LOSS v Hamilton Academical (H): 0-3
- LOSS v Raith Rovers (A) 3-1 (Dunlop)
- LOSS v Ross County (H): 1-3 (Lang)
Clyde
- DRAW v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-0
- LOSS v Montrose (H): 0-1
- WIN v Partick Thistle (A): 2-3 (Own goal and Dunachie x2)
- LOSS v Motherwell (H): 1-3 (Hamilton)
- WIN v Edinburgh City (A): 0-5 (Connell, Rennie, Redfern, Connelly and Dunachie)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Spartans: Pazikas, Cummins, Ross, Ecrepont, McIntosh, Brindley, Dunlop, Russell, McKnight, Lang (Grant 79), Foster (Edgar 69).
Not used: Robertson, McQueen, Hawkshaw, Hughes, Adam, Woods and Broun.
Clyde
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: Kinnear, Robson (Houston 77), Hamilton, Howie, McKay, Scullion, Grant, Murdoch (Leitch 77), Allan (Connelly 65), Rennie (Connell 84), Redfern (Dunachie 65).
Not used: Lyon, Docherty, Hynes and Kennedy.
Ins and outs
Stranraer
Arrivals: Mo Adam (Gala Fairydean Rovers), Tomas Brindley (Forfar Athletic), Harry Broun (Dumbarton), Adam Cummins (Stirling Albion), Robbie Foster (Huntly), Kirk McKnight (Broomhill), Mark Russell (Portadown), Paul Woods (unattached), Elliot Dunlop (Airdrieonians, loan) and Jacob Pazikas (Rangers, loan)
Departures: Ben Armour (Peterhead), Andy Downie (Creetown), Kyle Fleming (Annan Athletic), Kyle Girvan (Elgin City), George O’Connor (Hurlford United), Tom Orr (Cumnock Juniors), Josh Walker (Queen of the South), Cammy Williamson (Darvel), Lewis Budinauckas (Rangers, end of loan), Aidan Gilmartin (St Mirren, end of loan), Murray Miller (Stirling Albion, end of loan) and Chris Johnston.
Clyde
Arrivals: Kyle Connell (Cove Rangers), Lee Connelly (Queen of the South), Dominic Docherty (Annan Athletic), Jordan Houston (Queen of the South), Darren Lyon (Arbroath), Paul McKay (Queen of the South), Marley Redfern (Hamilton Academical), Tommy Robson (Queen’s Park) and Jordan Allan (Falkirk, loan).
Departures: Josh McCulloch (Civil Service Strollers), Neil Parry (Alloa Athletic), Erik Sula (Stirling Albion), Connor Young (Edinburgh City), Cammy Ballantyne (St Johnstone, end of loan), Alex King (Greenock Morton, end of loan), Kian Leslie (Kilmarnock, end of loan), Chris McGinn (Hamilton Academical, end of loan), Euan Cameron, Peter Grant, Jaze Kabia and Conor Scullion.
Five facts
1. One player who the majority of Stranraer fans missed out on seeing in person was Ruari Paton. The striker spent a single season at Stair Park and that came at the height of the coronavirus restrictions. Signed from East Kilbride, he scored nine goals during the 2020/21 season. Spells at Queen of the South and Queen’s Park followed before a summer move to Port Vale. He turns 24 on Friday.
2. Twelve months ago, Stranraer opened their league campaign with a win at Elgin City. Fast forward to last weekend and only two of the starting XI at Borough Briggs were involved in the 2-2 draw with Spartans. Martin McDonald, Cammy Williamson, Kyle Girvan, James Dolan, Dylan Forrest, Kyle Fleming, Tom Orr and Ben Armour have all left the club while Grant Gallagher missed the game last weekend through injury. That just leaves Craig Ross and Sean McIntosh.
3. Alan Landsdowne was the last player to help Stranraer to three points against Clyde away from home. That came in May 1998 when he scored with 10 minutes left to play. The Stranraer team that day was: Matthews, Black, Campbell, Knox, Watson, Johnstone, Landsdowne, McAulay, English (Friels 78), Kinnaird, Young (Crawford 81). Not used: Duffy.
4. Clyde defensive duo Lee Hamilton and Ross Lyon both enjoyed spells at Stair Park. Hamilton was signed by Stevie Farrell for the 2019/20 season and made 19 appearances in a campaign that was disrupted by injury. Meanwhile, Lyon played 13 games on loan from Rangers and scored twice. Those goals – against Alloa and Forfar – got Stranraer six points.
5. Paul Woods’ appearance on the bench against Spartans was his first in a Stranraer shirt since October 29, 2022, when he was stretchered off against Forfar Athletic.
Admission
The home club require all supporters to purchase tickets online prior to kickoff.
Blues supporters should enter via turnstile 7, and our hosts ask that you have your ticket ready for scanning before entering the turnstile.
Following discussions with travelling Blues fans, Supporter Liaison Officer advises that a group of Stranraer supporters will be meeting at the Peacock and Ivy pre-match, which can be found at 1 Burnbank Road.
Clyde’s ‘Fanzone’ area at the ground, which offers refreshments and entertainment, is also open to supporters of both clubs.
Pricing is as follows:
- Adult – £19
- Over 65 – £15
- Under 18 – £5
Coverage
If you can’t make it on Saturday, follow our live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter).
Following the match, the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube during the evening, and Club 1870 subscribers can watch the goals before midnight.
Our extended highlights package will follow on Sunday morning, with full match footage available via Club 1870 on Sunday afternoon.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
