Frustration would be a fair word to describe the first few months of Robbie Foster’s time at Stranraer.
August 10 and a trip to Clyde was the last time the frontman pulled on a Stranraer strip.
He had shown promising signs against Spartans on the opening day of the league season but a groin issue saw him forced off just after the midway point of the first away trip.
Foster acknowledged fans were desperate to see him back on the pitch and he too was keen to show what he could do.
He said: “I’m listening to my body and listening to the physio.
“I’m trying to find a middle ground where I know I am not doing too much or hurting myself but also following protocol.
“I feel like I need to put my mind at ease and I believe the week coming I’m going to get an MRI so I can finally know if the rehab I am doing is the right thing for my injury.”
The 23-year-old was running down the wing at Clyde when he suffered the injury and immediately knew something was not right.
The road to recovery has not been as quick as anyone would like and Foster was tentatively pencilling a return in time for the festive season.
He added: “I want to get back.
“I know the boys have been doing well, it was not a great result last weekend, but besides that we have had a good turnaround in the cup game and the game before that.”
In the meantime, Foster, who joined the club from Huntly, has been trying to stay positive and keep his head up.
It is a quality that Chris and Stevie Aitken are trying to put into the squad as well as they attempt to move up the League Two table.
A defeat at undefeated Elgin City last weekend saw the new manager’s unbeaten run come to an end.
Tomorrow brings a trip to league leaders East Fife and another challenging prospect if the Blues are to climb up the standings.
Foster said: “There are no easy games in this league.
“Whether you are playing top or bottom, it is not going to be easy.
“All we can do is go there, keep working hard on the training pitch and, hopefully, the result takes care of itself.”
Previous meeting
A Mark Russell double helped Stranraer to three points under the interim charge of Scott Robertson.
The first goal was a sumptuous finish as Russell curled home from the edge of the box after being teed up by Elliot Dunlop. The on-loan Airdrie man then came within a whisker of immediately doubling the advantage with a drive from outside the box but it flew the wrong side of the post.
Nathan Austin’s free-kick flew past the same upright in the second half before Max Guthrie spurned a chance to double the home side’s lead.
East Fife’s leveller came from Alan Trouten after the visitors were denied by Jacob Pazikas and the crossbar in quick succession. However, the scores were only level for a matter of minutes as Dunlop again teed up Russell at the end of a fine team move.
The final talking point came at the end of the game when goalkeeper Liam McFarlane was sent off and Andy Munro had to pull on the goalkeeper gloves.
Stranraer: Pazikas, Cummins, Ross, Brindley, Gallagher, Dunlop, Russell, Hawkshaw (McKnight 87), Ecrepont, Grant (Woods 69), Guthrie (Edgar 89).
Not used: Adam, Lang and Broun.
East Fife: McFarlane, Newton (Laaref 64), Easton, Peggie, Munro, Millar, McManus, Trouten, Healy (Shepherd 64), Walker (Docherty 73), Austin (Slattery 83).
Not used: Fleming.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 2 East Fife 1 (Russell x2; Trouten) at Stair Park on September 14, 2024
- East Fife 2 Stranraer 1 (Lyon and Healy; Grant) at Bayview Stadium on March 23, 2024
- Stranraer 0 East Fife 1 (Austin) at Stair Park on January 27, 2024
- East Fife 4 Stranraer 0 (Millar, Austin, McManus and Newton) at Bayview Stadium on October 21, 2023
- Stranraer 1 East Fife 1 (Orr; Page) at Stair Park on August 12, 2023
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Elgin City (A): 1-0
- WIN v Threave Rovers (A): 2-3 (Edgar x2 and Lang)
- DRAW v Peterhead (H): 0-0
- WIN v Edinburgh City (A): 1-2 (Russell and Guthrie)
- LOSS v Stirling Albion (H): 0-2
East Fife
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (H): 1-1 (Munro)
- LOSS v Banks O’Dee (H): 0-1
- DRAW v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-0
- WIN v Bonnyrigg Rose (H): 5-0 (Trouten x3 (Pen x1), Own goal and Tod)
- WIN v The Spartans (A): 0-1 (Austin)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Elgin City: Mutch, Cummins, Ross, Reid, Gallagher (Robertson 84), Russell, Hawkshaw (Dunlop 77), Ecrepont, McIntosh (Grant 58), Lang (Adam 84), Edgar (Guthrie 58).
Not used: McQueen, McKnight, Brindley and Pazikas.
East Fife
Lineup v Stirling Albion: McFarlane, Murdoch, Easton, Peggie (Healy 83), Munro, Millar, McManus, Tod (Norey 79), Walker (Docherty 82), Shepherd (Laaref 86), Austin.
Not used: Briggs, Slattery, Winn and Fleming.
Five facts
1. Despite being regular foes in recent years, Stranraer and East Fife have not played each other in November since 2013. On that occasion, Jamie Longworth scored in the first minute and Steven Bell scored in the last minute, with Liam Buchanan scoring in between. Stranraer enjoyed a 2-1 win in Methil on that occasion.
2. Stranraer have had four players sent off in meetings between the two clubs since the last time East Fife were reduced to 10 men in a clash with Stranraer. Craig Ross was shown a straight red card in the first meeting last season, which finished 1-1. Scott Robertson was sent off in what proved to be Jamie Hamill’s last match as manager when the Blues lost 8-0 in April 2023. Luke Watt was sent off in a 2-2 draw at Stair Park at the beginning of that season. Finally, Adam Cummins was sent off in a ridiculous game at Bayview Stadium where Stranraer were 3-0 down with half an hour to go. Cummins scored from the penalty spot before Innes Cameron pulled another back. Daryll Meggatt was sent off for the hosts before Chris McGowan scored and then Cummins had his afternoon finished four minutes early.
3. The Fifers currently sit top of the League Two table and they have twice won Scottish football’s fourth tier. In 2007/08, Stranraer were also promoted, despite losing in the play-offs, as Gretna were relegated to the Third Division. Then, in 2015/16, they were promoted to League One, where Stranraer lost out in the play-offs for promotion to the Championship.
4. Stranraer goalkeeper Robbie Mutch played under Blues assistant manager Stevie Aitken at Dumbarton but he has also played under Dick Campbell. That came in 2016/17 when Mutch made 14 appearances for Arbroath.
5. The last time Stranraer won an away game in November was during the COVID-19 hit season of 2019/20. The victory came at Brechin City with Ruari Paton, Tom Orr, Darryl Duffy and James Hilton on target in a 4-1 win. Luc Bollan scored for the home side. The Stranraer team that day was: Fleming, Cummins, Sonkur, Robertson, McManus, Gallagher, Millar, Duffy (Yates 78), Victoria (Hilton 73), Paton (Josh Walker 83), Orr. Not used: McIntyre, Devitt, Hamill and Jamie Walker.
Admission
Admission at Bayview is priced as follows:
- Adults – £18
- Concessions – £14
- Under 16s – £5
- Parent and Child – £21
- Parent and Two Children – £24
Proof of age may be requested for concessions and under 16s.
There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview and supporters are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets online.
Online sales are available right up until kick off. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling 01333 426323 or directly from the club office for those unable to purchase online.
Parent and child tickets must be purchased directly from the club office.
Coverage
We’ll have live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter) for those not heading to Methil this weekend, and the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube following the game.
Supporters outside the UK and Ireland can also watch live via East Fife TV with a monthly or annual subscription. There is no live stream option for viewers within the UK or Ireland.
Stranraer FC LIVE highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with commentary from Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin.
Club 1870 subscribers can catch the goals after 10pm on Saturday night, along with full match footage later on Sunday.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
