Goalkeeper Ewan Henderson is determined to keep rival Josh Lane on his toes in the battle for the gloves.
Lane has played both of the club’s opening two games this campaign with Henderson named on the bench.
However, Henderson, who was manager Chris Aitken’s first close season signing, has vowed to be patient and work to ensure both goalkeepers progress.
He said: “Josh and Jim Low are really good.
“I don’t have a bad word to say about either of them.
“Josh is a really good goalie and, obviously, we are in the same position but if he is playing it is just about me being patient and supporting him when he is playing.
“I have known Jim for a few years and you know what you get with him.
“They are both good guys.
“You need to be patient and see what happens but if the chance comes that is great; if it does not then just support Josh and make sure he is doing well.”
The Blues have opened the campaign with promising performances against the Championship duo of Ross County and Partick Thistle.
A bonus point win over the Staggies last weekend was followed by a good showing at Firhill on Tuesday night before the hosts ultimately emerged victorious.
Saturday brings the first chance for the fans – and management – to see their team against a fellow League Two side for the first time this season.
Stranraer held the upper hand in the meetings with Edinburgh City last term, taking 10 points from a possible 12.
However, it was the club from the capital who enjoyed a more successful season as they finished in the play-offs.
Henderson, who works as a plumbing and gas engineer, was looking forward to the trip to Meadowbank Stadium.
He said: “This will be a lot more of what we expect this season.
“Obviously, Edinburgh City are in the same league as us so it will be good to gauge where we are at.
“They are a good team as well and did quite well last season.
“It will be good to see where we are at.”
Twenty-year-old Henderson might not have been the most recognisable name to the Stair Park faithful but he is no stranger to Aitken.
The duo were together at Kilwinning Rangers and a decision over whether to link up again with Aitken proved an easy one.
Henderson said: “I have known Gary Brown (coach) and the gaffer from Kilwinning.
“They got in touch and said there was an opportunity to come in.
“That was basically it – I didn’t take much convincing!”
Last meeting
Stranraer wrapped up a season unbeaten against Edinburgh City with a 2-0 win at Stair Park in April.
A goal at the end of the first half was followed by a goal early in the second. Max Guthrie nodded home from close range just before the interval.
The second saw his strike partner Deryn Lang capitalise on uncertainty in the visiting defence to poke the ball home.
Edinburgh pushed to get back into the game with Sam Jones calling Josh Lane into action. The visitors introduced substitute goalkeeper Dean Beveridge late on, and he denied Matty Grant and Elliot Dunlop.
Stranraer: Lane, Robertson (Brindley 73), Ross, Ecrepont, Reid, Docherty, Quigg, McKnight (Grant 60), Russell (Mitchell 81), Guthrie (Dunlop 73), Lang (Edgar 81).
Not used: Hilferty, Ellis and Kane.
Edinburgh City: Weir (Beveridge 80), Gormley, Mitchell, McArthur (Scally 61), Lynch, Robertson, Stokes, Jones, Wells (Hamilton 61), Daramola, See (Pitt 71).
Not used: None.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 2 Edinburgh City 0 (Guthrie and Lang) at Stair Park on April 19, 2025
- Edinburgh City 0 Stranraer 1 (Ross) at Meadowbank Stadium on March 1, 2025
- 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
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Partick Thistle (A): 0-2
- DRAW v Ross County (H): 1-1 (Stranraer win 6-5 on penalties) (Sharp)
- LOSS v Bonnyrigg Rose (H): 0-1
- LOSS v Elgin City (A): 3-0
- WIN v Edinburgh City (H): 2-0 (Guthrie and Lang)
Edinburgh City
- LOSS v Queen of the South (A): 4-0
- LOSS v Partick Thistle (H): 1-4 (Daramola)
- LOSS v East Fife (A): 3-0
- WIN v East Fife (H): 1-0 (Zaid)
- LOSS v Spartans (A): 3-1 (Hamilton)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Partick Thistle: Lane, Reid, Rough, Dunne, Coll, Stuart (McKnight 75), Docherty (McManus 46), Dolan (Sharp 51), Hunter (Quigg 65), Russell, Turay (Edgar 65).
Not used: Ecrepont and Henderson.
Edinburgh City
Lineup v Queen of the South: Weir, Mitchell, Service (Duncan 36), Lynch (Trialist 71), McArthur, Stokes, Jarvis, Lawson, Mahon, Ferguson (Brodie 55), Daramola.
Not used: Marinovic.
Ins and outs
Stranraer
Ins: Beejay Coll (St Cadoc’s), James Dolan (Unattached), Evan Dunne (Beith Juniors), Ewan Henderson (Whitletts Victoria), Ronan Hughes (St Cadoc’s), Lewis Hunter (The Spartans), Josh Lane (Hamilton Academical, loan), Daniel McManus (St Cadoc’s), Lewis Reid (Queen’s Park, loan made permanent), Scot Rough (Beith Juniors), Tommy Sharp (Livingston), Jordan Stuart (Beith Juniors) and Sallu Turay (Partick Thistle).
Outs: Tomas Brindley (Cumnock Juniors), Adam Cummins (Irvine Meadow), Grant Gallagher (Cumnock Juniors), Matty Grant (Johnstone Burgh), Dean Hawkshaw (Hurlford United), Craig Ross (Airdrieonians), Max Guthrie (Ayr United, end of loan), Sam Kane (Queen’s Park, end of loan), Josh Lane (Hamilton Academical, end of loan) and Scott Robertson (retired).
Edinburgh City
Ins: Bradley Barrett (Bonnyrigg Rose), Jack Duncan (Broxburn Athletic), Jaden Ferguson (Dundee North End), Robbie Mahon (Loughgall), Jake Service (University of Stirling) and Malik Zaid (Hibernian, loan made permanent).
Outs: Dean Beveridge (Easthouses Lily MW), Sam Gormley (Broxburn Athletic), Robbie Hamilton (Broxburn Athletic), Sam Jones (Tranent), Callum Pitt (Berwick Rangers), Jon Robertson (Broxburn Athletic), Shea Scally (St Mary’s University), Ouzy See (East Kilbride), Dylan Wells (Motherwell, end of loan) and Josh Grigor.
Five facts
1. Saturday marks the birthday of the only South American Stranraer player – Luciano Nequecaur. The striker, who has played in Portugal, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico and Chile, as well as Scotland, turns 33. Nequecaur made eight appearances for Stranraer and scored once, opening the scoring against Buckie Thistle in a 3-1 win. His final game came at the end of January 2016 in a 2-0 win over Brechin City. Andy Stirling and Willie Gibson found the net. The Stranraer side that day was: Belford, Robertson, Pettigrew, Bell, Dick, Rumsby, Gibson (McGuigan 82), Cairney, Malcolm (Nequecaur 83), Stirling, Longworth (Thomson 74). Not used: McCloskey, Turner and Currie.
2. Stranraer have defeated five teams in Edinburgh. Victories have come against Meadowbank Thistle, Hibs, Spartans, Edinburgh City and Civil Service Strollers.
3. Danny Handling scored a hat-trick in a 3-2 victory for Edinburgh City against Stranraer in August 2022. No Stranraer player has scored three goals over the 14 meetings since the capital club was promoted to the Scottish Professional Football League. Max Guthrie, Tom Orr and Craig Ross have all scored twice for Stranraer.
4. Jake Service was among the summer signings for Edinburgh City. The defender spent time with Stranraer, Newton Stewart and Queen of the South as a youngster before joining Stirling University.
5. 60 percent of Max Guthrie’s goals for Stranraer came against clubs from Edinburgh, with 40 percent against Edinburgh City.
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 and the full match footage the same evening.
Brian Martin is joined by Cameron Ritchie for Sunday morning’s extended highlights package.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
