Defender Craig Ross has challenged his side to end a lengthy wait and make it back-to-back wins.
It is more than 12 months since Stranraer enjoyed that winning feeling in consecutive games.
Last season, a Scottish Cup victory over Civil Service Strollers was followed by a triumph against Elgin City.
Now, following an impressive and fully deserved win at The Spartans, Stranraer are looking to go and make it six points out of six with victory over Edinburgh City on Saturday.
Ross said: “Confidence would have been low after the Scottish Cup game against Broxburn – that’s just natural.
“To go out and beat a really good Spartans side, who will be up there, let’s not be kidded, they will be up there by the end of the season.
“To go there and win and win in the way we did was really pleasing.
“That will be a really big thing for confidence but the result is only good if we follow it up on Saturday as well.
“There is no point in us facing Edinburgh and not putting in the same application we did against Spartans because otherwise it is pointless.
“The games against Civil Service Strollers and Elgin feel like ages ago!
“In this league, you need to get a few wins together.
“If you get three or four wins together in a row, you are looking at play-offs.”
That is the sort of form that Saturday’s visitors have enjoyed in recent weeks.
The capital club, tipped by many to struggle, have only lost to Dunfermline Athletic since the beginning of November.
Twelve points out of twelve has put them into the top four as the club approach the halfway stage of the season.
Ross, now in his fourth season at Stair Park, said: “Edinburgh are a good team who are going well.
“They have got a bit of momentum as well and they are scoring goals.
“We know how difficult it will be and we are hoping we can put in the exact same performance against Edinburgh as we did against Spartans.
“We need to approach it like the Spartans game and, hopefully, it should see us alright.”
Not for the first time this season, Stranraer conceded the opening goal when they travelled to The Spartans on Tuesday night.
However, goals from Elliot Dunlop and Mark Russell turned the game on its head.
Ross said: “Coming back from a goal down does show a good bit of character.
“Obviously, we ‘half’ did it against Broxburn but then threw it away.
“A lot of the time in this league, the first goal is important.
“Knowing that even if sometimes it does not go your way and you don’t get the first goal, knowing that you can get back in the game is good.”
Last meeting
The first points of the Chris Aitken era came at Meadowbank Stadium just over two months ago.
Ten minutes were played when Mark Russell collected the ball near the centre circle, strode forward and then lifted a shot over Mark Weir for the first goal.
Lewis McArthur came close to a spectacular equaliser before the break but was denied by Jacob Pazikas in the away goal. The leveller would come after the interval when a Sam Jones ball over the top was collected by Quinn Mitchell, who finished well.
Any fan leaving early would have missed the winner as Max Guthrie tucked home Matty Grant’s low cross at the second attempt.
Edinburgh City: Weir, Gormley, Mitchell (Scally 81), McArthur, Lynch, Grigor (Jarvis 59), J Robertson, Jones, Stokes, Young, Lawson.
Not used: Pitt, McKinstray, Rennie and Beveridge.
Stranraer: Pazikas, Brindley, Cummins, Ross, McIntosh (Woods 85), Gallagher, Dunlop (Grant 74), Hawkshaw (S Robertson 66), Reid, Russell, Guthrie.
Not used: McKnight, Ecrepont, Adam, Edgar and Broun.
Last five meetings
- Edinburgh City 1 Stranraer 2 (Mitchell; Russell and Guthrie) at Meadowbank Stadium on October 5, 2024
- Stranraer 2 Edinburgh City 1 (Armour and Orr (Pen); Shanley) at Stair Park on July 22, 2023
- Edinburgh City 3 Stranraer 2 (Handling x3; Walker and Watt) at Meadowbank Stadium on August 24, 2022
- Edinburgh City 1 Stranraer 2 (McDonald; Ross and Burns) at Ainslie Park on March 18, 2022
- Stranraer 0 Edinburgh City 2 (See and Handling) at Stair Park on February 5, 2022
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v The Spartans (A): 1-3 (Dunlop and Russell x2)
- LOSS v Broxburn Athletic (H): 1-2 (Dunlop)
- LOSS v Bonnyrigg Rose (H): 1-2 (Robertson)
- WIN v East Fife (A): 1-2 (Guthrie and Grant)
- LOSS v Elgin City (A): 1-0
Edinburgh City
- WIN v Stirling Albion (A): 0-3 (Young, Wells and See)
- LOSS v Dunfermline Athletic (H): 1-2 (Young (Pen))
- WIN v Peterhead (A): 2-3 (Young x3 (Pen x1))
- WIN v Clyde (H): 1-0 (Young)
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (H): 2-0 (Robertson and Young)
Last time out
Spartans v Stranraer: Mutch, Robertson (McQueen 64), Brindley, Cummins, Ross, Gallagher, Dunlop (Ecrepont 83), Hawkshaw (McKnight 75), Grant, Russell, Lang (Guthrie 83).
Not used: Adam, Foster and Pazikas.
Stirling Albion v Edinburgh City: Weir, Gormley, Mitchell, Lynch, Grigor, Jones, Jarvis (See 68), Stokes (Hamilton 89), Young (Rennie 87), Lawson (Scally 89), Wells (Pitt 89).
Not used: Beveridge.
Five facts
1. Connor Young has scored in his last five appearances for Edinburgh City. The last Blues player to score in five consecutive games was Ruari Paton at the end of 2020 going into 2021. He scored alongside Adam Cummins in a 2-2 draw with Stenhousemuir and was joined on the scoresheet by Tom Orr, Darryl Duffy and Cameron Elliott in a 4-0 win over Albion Rovers. He rounded off the year by scoring in a 5-0 win over The Spartans, where Duffy and Cummins also found the net alongside a double from Matty Yates. Paton netted from the penalty spot, alongside Orr, in a 2-0 win over Annan and scored the winner in a memorable win over Kelty Hearts after the Blues came from 2-0 down to win 3-2, with Orr and Scott Robertson netting.
2. Stranraer last played on December 14 five years ago when they went down 2-0 at home to East Fife. Ross Davidson opened the scoring for the visitors before Scott Agnew sealed the points in stoppage time.
3. In our 11 meetings since the capital club won promotion to the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), there have been no goalless encounters. The matches have also been played on four of the seven days of the week and at three different grounds.
4. Sunday marks the 45th birthday of former Stranraer frontman John Bradford. He had a brief loan spell at Stair Park from Ayr United in January 2002. Three appearances yielded two draws and a defeat. His final appearance came in a 2-2 draw at home to Berwick Rangers. Paul Blair and Ian Harty had Stranraer two up before late goals from Neil Bennett and Martin Neil. The home side that day was: McGeown, Paterson, Wingate, Wright, Hodge, Aitken, Blair, MacDonald (Jenkins 76), Finlayson, Harty, Bradford (Shaw 86). Not used: Farrell, Grace and O’Neil.
5. Craig Ross will become the first Stranraer player this season to pass 2,000 minutes – if he plays more than 80 minutes against Edinburgh City. The 22-year-old has missed just one game this season, when he was an unused substitute against Hamilton Academical. Since then, he has not missed a single minute.
Admission
Admission in the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park is ‘pay at the gate’ only. Season tickets are valid for Saturday’s game.
Away fans can enter the ground from the away turnstile opposite the main stand. This turnstile is cash only.
The following pricing applies:
- Adult – £15
- Concession (over 65) – £10
- Youth (5 to 16) – £5
- Under 5 – FREE
Pavilion Bar
Pop into the Pavilion Bar outside the away turnstile from 1pm for a pre-match refreshment.
Home, away and neutral supporters are warmly welcomed, and the bar accepts both cash and card.
Or, stop off at the Stranraer FC Fitba’ Bar on North Strand Street in the town centre, which is also open to all.
Coverage
We have live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter) for those further afield, and the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube following the game.
Club 1870 subscribers can catch the goals after 10pm on Saturday night, along with full match footage later on Sunday.
Our usual highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with commentary from Brian Martin and Cameron Ritchie.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
