Hard work is paying off for Stranraer and for Kirk McKnight.
The Blues followed up their win over Elgin City with another positive showing as they defeated Stirling Albion 3-0.
The win, which saw goals from McKnight, Elliot Dunlop and Robbie Foster, meant Stranraer have won consecutive games for the first time in more than a year.
McKnight, who joined the club at the beginning of the season, highlighted the importance of the work done away from the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park.
He said: “It’s brilliant.
“We have been working hard on Tuesdays and Thursdays so the goal was to get back-to-back wins and that is what we have done today.
“Hopefully, we kick on now.
“We go into Saturday against Edinburgh City and then we have got a big game on Tuesday and, hopefully, win there as well.”
McKnight was handed a start on Saturday in the absence of Grant Gallagher, who missed out through injury.
The 20-year-old was making his 19th appearance in a Stranraer shirt but just eight of those appearances have been from the start.
And he took full advantage of the opportunity as he not only helped his side to three points but also notched up his first goal for the club as well.
Speaking after the full time whistle, he said: “The gaffer said to me before the game that I had the jersey now and this was my opportunity to keep it.
“Hopefully, I have done that today.”
The goal proved vital in Stranraer’s victory as McKnight cleverly flicked the ball with his chest beyond the reach of Derek Gaston.
However, the goalscorer was quick to pile the praise on team-mate Finn Ecrepont.
He said: “It was Finn’s ball – he has done everything for me.
“I’ve just managed to guide it in with my chest and that is it.
“I’ve not scored many with my chest, although I have practised it to be fair!
“Somehow it has actually come off but it was all Finn’s ball and I need to give him the credit.”
Now, attention turns to a trip to Edinburgh City and the chance to keep the impressive form going.
The capital club hold a 13-point advantage over the Blues but McKnight insisted that the management team were encouraging the squad to look at the teams above them.
He said: “When the gaffer first came in, he was never about the bottom.
“He has always been aiming for what is above.”
Last meeting
The spoils were shared when Edinburgh City made the trip south before Christmas.
Neither team could find a breakthrough, although Deryn Lang’s curling effort in the first half had Mark Weir rooted to the spot. Elliot Dunlop called the goalkeeper into action with a fine solo effort and Lang was then denied by Weir after a fine team move.
Robbie Mutch was also called into action on occasion with Connor Young and Quinn Mitchell having attempts on goal.
In the second half, Dunlop was kept out for a second time by the visiting goalkeeper and neither team could find the breakthrough in tricky conditions.
Stranraer: Mutch, Brindley, Ross, McQueen, Robertson (Foster 83), Gallagher, Dunlop, Russell, Hawkshaw (McKnight 76), Grant, Lang (Guthrie 84).
Not used: Adam and Pazikas.
Edinburgh City: Weir, Gormley, Mitchell, Lynch, Grigor, Jones, Jarvis (Hamilton 72), Wells, Stokes, Young, See.
Not used: Walker, Pitt, Scally, Rennie and Beveridge.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 0 Edinburgh City 0 at Stair Park on December 14, 2024
- 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
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Stirling Albion (H): 3-0 (McKnight, Dunlop and Foster)
- WIN v Elgin City (H): 1-0 (Grant)
- LOSS v Clyde (A): 2-0
- WIN v Spartans (H): 2-0 (Docherty and Edgar)
- LOSS v Bonnyrigg Rose (A): 3-1 (Russell)
Edinburgh City
- WIN v Elgin City (A): 1-2 (See and Stokes)
- WIN v Spartans (H): 5-0 (Lawson x2, See x2 and McArthur)
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-1 (Robertson)
- WIN v Stirling Albion (H): 4-3 (Lawson x2, Zaid and See)
- LOSS v East Fife (A): 4-1 (Stokes)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Stirling Albion: Lane, Ross, Docherty, Ecrepont, Reid, Robertson, Dunlop, Quigg, McKnight (Foster 68), Grant (Guthrie 74), Edgar (Hawkshaw 81).
Not used: Brindley and Kane.
Edinburgh City
Lineup v Elgin City: Weir, Mitchell (Gormley 89), Robertson, McArthur, Grigor, Jarvis, Lawson, Wells, Zaid (Jones 83), Stokes (Lynch 89), See (Daramola 68).
Not used: Pitt, Scally, Hamilton and Beveridge.
Five facts
1. Three clean sheets in a row in the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park is Stranraer’s best defensive run at home since the 2020/21 season. Ruari Paton, Tom Orr, Darryl Duffy and Cameron Elliott all scored in a 4-0 win over Albion Rovers, which was followed by a 5-0 win over Spartans when Duffy and Paton were joined on the scoresheet by Adam Cummins, as well as a Matty Yates double. Orr and Paton were again on target as Stranraer defeated Annan and Andy Stirling and Orr found the net in a 2-0 win over Brechin City. Coincidentally, Edinburgh City ended that run with a Liam Brown goal.
2. Kirk McKnight and Robbie Foster both scored their first Stranraer goals last weekend. The last time Stranraer had two players on the scoresheet for the club for the first time was a 6-0 win over Berwick Rangers in 2019/20. On that occasion, Jordan Allan and James Hilton were celebrating their first for the club. Cameron Elliott and Connor McManus also found the net while Mark Stewart scored two penalties.
3. Stranraer have scored seven goals in 2025 and each of them has come from a different player. Grant Gallagher headed home against Forfar Athletic before Mark Russell’s consolation at Bonnyrigg Rose. Sean Docherty marked his home debut with a goal against Spartans and Ryan Edgar also got on the scoresheet. Matty Grant scored the only goal of the game against Elgin City and Kirk McKnight, Elliot Dunlop and Robbie Foster were all on target against Stirling Albion last time out.
4. Saturday marks the 32nd birthday of former Stranraer defender David Smith. Fittingly given this weekend’s opposition, he started his career in the capital and played for Hearts. He then had a couple of loan spells with Raith Rovers before time at Falkirk and Dumbarton. He made 49 appearances for the Blues after joining in the summer of 2018. His single goal for the club came in a 1-1 midweek draw with Stenhousemuir, with Conner Duthie also on target. The home side that day was: Currie, Brownlie, Smith, Hamill, Cummins, McManus, Turner, McCann, Anderson (Victoria 64), Elliott (O’Keefe 71), Cameron. Not used: McDonald, Lamont, McColm and Avci.
5. Stranraer have played Edinburgh City away from home six times since the capital club won promotion to the Scottish Professional Football League. The Blues have found the net on every occasion.
Admission
See Edinburgh City’s Fanbase website for all ticketing details.
Pricing is as follows:
- Adult – £15
- Concessions – £10
- Under 12s – £5
Coverage
You can stay updated throughout the afternoon with 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.
Laurence Nelson is back leading the line with Brian Martin on Sunday morning’s extended highlights package, and you can watch the whole match in its entirety on Club 1870 later on Sunday.
South of Scotland League
If you can’t make it to the capital, come out and support our high-flying South of Scotland League side as they begin their Cree Lodge Cup campaign against Lochmaben.
Kickoff at the Stuart Binnie Arena (Stranraer Academy) is 2pm.
Admission is £4, and there are drinks, snacks and pies on sale at the ground.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
