Two defeats in the last 14 games means it would be fair to say that Stranraer have been on an impressive run of form.
The string of results looks even better when you consider that the Blues had lost seven of the previous 13 encounters.
Goalkeeper Josh Lane, like all of the Stranraer squad, is keen to see that fine form continue in the coming weeks.
Tuesday brings a trip to East Kilbride in the KDM Evolution Trophy and the chance to get another positive result.
He said: “Once you get those first two or three wins, you are on a run.
“You are hard to stop when you are on a run.
“If there is a setback, we are just told that it is done.
“There is nothing we can do about it and it is onto the next game.
“You want to win that one and start another run because a win is important.”
Stranraer and East Kilbride will face off against each other for the third time this campaign when they meet in midweek.
The Scottish Lowland Football League champions have won both games 3-1 and Stranraer will be hoping to bring that run to an end.
Lane said: “We do owe them and, hopefully, we can get something there.
“Then that will, hopefully, give us a boost for Saturday.”
If Chris Aitken’s side are to get a positive result at K-Park Stadium, they will likely need to be more clinical in front of goal.
A Deryn Lang double, alongside Scot Rough’s header, gave Stranraer all three points against Stirling Albion at the weekend.
However, Lang, as well as Dominic Plank and Aaron Quigg, also hit the woodwork while visiting goalkeeper Robert Duffy made a string of important saves to keep his side in the contest.
In the end, Stranraer held on for a 3-2 win.
Lane added: “We were definitely on top for most of the game.
“We need to just be more ruthless in situations though because goals win you games.
“Scoring more goals puts the game to bed but overall I thought we were on top for the majority of the game.”
Last meeting
A nightmare few minutes saw Stranraer throw away a lead against East Kilbride last month.
The Blues took the lead when Mark Russell netted from the penalty spot in the second half. However, John Robertson scored directly from a corner before former Stranraer man Cameron Elliott scored a quickfire second.
Robertson then scored a wonderful solo goal to give East Kilbride a first-ever win at Stair Park.
Stranraer: Lane, Ecrepont, Reid, Rough, Stuart (Hughes 75), Dolan, Quigg (Dunne 83), McKnight (Coll 83), Russell (Hunter 75), Lang, Edgar (Plank 68).
Not used: Sharp and Henderson.
East Kilbride: Owens, MacKenzie, Fagan, Breen, McGregor, Balde (Leitch 55), Spence, Elliott, Robertson (Mimnaugh 78), Foster (See 55), Young.
Not used: Ferguson, Flanagan, Healy, Dobbie, Lyon and Morrison.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 East Kilbride 3 (Russell (Pen); Robertson x2 and Elliott) at Stair Park on November 15, 2025
- East Kilbride 3 Stranraer 1 (Robertson (Pen), Ferguson and Balde; Turay) at K-Park Stadium on August 16, 2025
- Stranraer 3 East Kilbride 1 (Gallagher, Ross and Gilmartin; Samson) at Stair Park on May 18, 2024
- East Kilbride 2 Stranraer 2 (Stirling and Robertson; McIntosh and Ross) at K-Park Stadium on May 11, 2024
- Stranraer 1 East Kilbride 0 (Yates) at Stair Park on July 17, 2021
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Stirling Albion (H): 3-2 (Lang x2 and Rough)
- WIN v Clydebank (H): 2-1 (Own goal and Edgar)
- WIN v The Spartans (A): 0-4 (Lang, Russell (Pen), Quigg and Dunne)
- LOSS v East Kilbride (H): 3-1 (Russell (Pen))
- WIN v St Mirren B (H): 2-0 (Lang x2)
East Kilbride
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-3 (Robertson x2 (Pen x1) and Foster)
- DRAW v Edinburgh City (H): 1-1 (Young)
- WIN v Stranraer (A): 1-3 (Robertson x2 and Elliott)
- WIN v Celtic B (H): 2-0 (Robertson and See)
- WIN v Stirling Albion (H): 2-0 (Robertson and Young)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Stirling Albion: Lane, Ecrepont, Reid, Rough, Dunne (Docherty 74), Stuart (McKnight 89), Dolan, Quigg (Hughes 89), McManus (Hunter 80), Plank (Russell 74), Lang.
Not used: Coll, Sharp and Henderson.
East Kilbride
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: Morrison, MacKenzie, Fagan, McGregor (Ferguson 80), Breen, Leitch, Balde, Spence, Robertson, Foster, Young.
Not used: Hamilton, Sula, Healy, Dobbie, Mimnaugh, Lyon and See.
Five facts
- Deryn Lang scored a double on Saturday in the home victory over Stirling Albion. That means it is now more than 3,000 days since a Stranraer player scored a hat-trick. Scott Agnew netted a treble in a 4-0 win over Albion Rovers in September 2017. Paul Woods was the other goalscorer.
- The frontman’s goals also mean he is clear at the top of the club’s goalscoring chart – on seven. Lang is also joint top for assists, alongside Mark Russell and Finn Ecrepont on three.
- In the last 10 games (930 minutes, including extra time against Clydebank), Stranraer have been behind for just 31 minutes. All of those minutes came in the defeat to East Kilbride.
- East Kilbride have found the net in 25 of their 26 games so far this season. The one game where they did not score came against Stenhousemuir in the KDM Evolution Trophy.
- Tuesday marks the 45th birthday of former Stranraer defender and assistant manager Lee Mair. He made 10 appearances in a Stranraer shirt, with the final one coming in a 3-1 defeat at Ayr United on Halloween in 2015. Scott Robertson scored that day and the visiting team was: McGurn, Robertson, Pettigrew, Mair, Rumsby, Aitken (Turner 80), Cairney (McCloskey 86), McCluskey (Longworth 58), Thomson, Stirling, McGuigan. Not used: Keenan, McGill and Currie.
Admission
Admission is via the home club’s Fanbase platform, with all pricing details below:
- Adult (16 to 65) – £15
- Concession (65+) – £10
- Under 16 – £5
Coverage
Pitchside cameraman James Verity is on the main camera shoot and editing for the first few weeks of December, and will be joined by Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin on commentary.
As usual, you can follow our live updates via X (formerly Twitter) on matchday.
The manager’s post-match reaction will be available on YouTube, along with matchday highlights later in the week.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Dylan Heron
