It has been a rollercoaster season for Stranraer with plenty of ups and downs along the way.
Thirty-one players have pulled on a Blues shirt, three different managers have occupied the dugout in the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park and it has brought six league wins, six draws and 11 defeats.
One of the bright lights for Stranraer has been Ryan Edgar, who has scored four goals this campaign to add to his effort against Stenhousemuir on the final day of the league season last term.
He said: “The season has been a good challenge.
“It has definitely been a different experience from what I was used to but I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far.
“The learning curve has been huge, just getting used to the differences from non-league football to the proper game, if you know what I mean.
“Definitely the fitness levels is the biggest thing.
“The fitness is a dramatic change to what I was used to and then the actual technical level as well.
“It is obviously a step up from what I am used to playing.”
Despite his inexperience, Edgar has actually featured in more games than any of Stranraer’s other recognised strikers over the course of the season so far.
Seven starts has yielded four goals, including one from the bench against Stirling Albion in the League Cup before helping turn the Scottish Cup tie with Threave Rovers in Stranraer’s favour.
His latest strike came in sealing all three points against Spartans earlier this month.
Saturday brings the start of what could be a crucial period in determining where Stranraer end up this campaign as the Blues return to Wigtownshire.
A trip to Edinburgh City is the only away game between this weekend and March 14, as Elgin City, Stirling Albion, Forfar Athletic and Peterhead all visit the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park.
The Blues’ home form has not been great this campaign but the coming weeks will offer an excellent opportunity to change that.
Edgar said: “You could see it a couple of weeks ago where we got the first home win against Spartans since September.
“You could see how much it actually means to everyone down here.
“It brings a lot more to the games and the atmosphere is ten times better when you are winning.”
Last meeting
Elgin got off to the best possible start when Stranraer made the trip north at the beginning of November.
The visitors could not fully clear an Olly McDonald free-kick and eventually it was swung back in for Jack Murray, whose header deceived Robbie Mutch and ended up in the back of the net.
Stranraer had efforts to get back on level terms before the break but none of them truly tested Aidan Glavin in the home goal.
lgin’s hopes were not helped by Russell Dingwall receiving a second yellow after the interval but the away side could not find a way through. Their best effort came from Matty Grant, who was ready to celebrate before Glavin pushed his free-kick to safety.
Elgin City: Glavin, Booth, Murray, Cairns, Girvan, Dingwall, Cameron, Leslie (Golding 68), Gallagher, Gavin, McDonald (Sargent 68).
Not used: Fraser, MacDonald and Taylor.
Stranraer: Mutch, Cummins, Ross, Ecrepont, McIntosh (Grant 58), Reid, Gallagher (Adam 84), Russell, Hawkshaw (Dunlop 77), Lang (Robertson 84), Edgar (Guthrie 58).
Not used: Brindley, McQueen, McKnight and Pazikas.
Last five meetings
- Elgin City 1 Stranraer 0 (Murray) at Borough Briggs on November 2, 2024
- Stranraer 1 Elgin City 1 (Robertson; Murray) at Stair Park on August 24, 2024
- Stranraer 1 Elgin City 2 (Own goal; Ewan and Jeffreys) at Stair Park on March 16, 2024
- Elgin City 2 Stranraer 1 (Dingwall (Pen) and Harvey (Pen); Lang) at Borough Briggs on January 6, 2024
- Stranraer 3 Elgin City 1 (Forrest (Pen), Grant and Dolan; Jones) at Stair Park on November 4, 2024
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Clyde (A): 2-0
- WIN v Spartans (H): 2-0 (Docherty and Edgar)
- LOSS v Bonnyrigg Rose (A): 3-1 (Russell)
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-1 (Gallagher)
- LOSS v East Fife (H): 0-2
Elgin City
- LOSS v Stirling Albion (A): 3-1 (Draper)
- WIN v Bonnyrigg Rose (H): 3-0 (Hester x2 and Dolzanski)
- WIN v East Fife (H): 1-0 (Girvan)
- DRAW v Clyde (A): 0-0
- LOSS v Aberdeen (H): 0-3
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Clyde: Lane, Brindley, Ross, Docherty, Reid, Robertson, Gallagher, Dunlop (Quigg 84), Russell (Grant 63), Foster (Guthrie 63), Edgar.
Not used: Ecrepont, McKnight and Kane.
Elgin City
Lineup v Stirling Albion: McHale, Booth, Dolzanski, Girvan (MacIver 46), Draper, Golding (Hyde 46), Cameron, Leslie (McDonald 46), Gallagher (Sargent 76), Dingwall, Hester.
Not used: Cairns, MacEwan, Fraser, MacDonald and Taylor.
Five facts
1. Stranraer took a point the last time they played on February 15 and it proved to be their final point for nearly eight months as football was shut down by the Covid-19 pandemic. That came at Station Park when Ryan Stevenson cancelled out a Darren Whyte goal for Forfar Athletic. The visiting team that day was: Currie, Allan, Cummins, McIntyre, Hamill, Robertson, McManus, Thomson (Elliott 84), Stevenson, Johnstone (Hilton 68), Stirling. Not used: Burgess, Phillips and Ross.
2. It was 15 years ago this month the last time Stranraer and Elgin City battled out a goalless draw. In the 39 meetings, there have only been two goalless draws – one at Stair Park and one at Borough Briggs.
3. One man to have played for both Stranraer and Elgin City is defender David Brownlie. He had a loan spell in the Highlands in 2016/17 and then a single season at Stair Park in 2018/19. He made 32 appearances in a Stranraer shirt and scored twice – against Montrose in a 2-0 win (Grant Anderson also scored) and a 3-2 win over Dumbarton (Anderson again scored, alongside PJ Crossan). He turned 28 on Thursday and is now assistant head coach for the Queen’s Park women’s side.
4. Elgin City are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Stranraer. They have never gone five meetings without defeat against the Blues.
5. Four players have scored their only goal in a Stranraer shirt against Elgin City. Jamie Cochrane netted in a 3-2 win in the Highlands (Gregory Tadé and Andy Gibson also found the net) in 2008, while Nathan Shepherd scored the only goal in a meeting at Stair Park in 2011. Tom Devitt scored a consolation at Stair Park as the Blues were thumped 4-1 in 2020. Finally, Sam Ellis scored alongside Matty Yates in 2022.
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
Merchandise
All three 2024/25 Mizuno kits are back in stock and available from the merchandise hut outside the main McLeans Taxis Stand, along with training tops, clothing, scarves and club ties.
Cash and card payments are accepted and we open from 1.30pm.
Pavilion Bar
Pop into the Pavilion Bar outside the away turnstile from 1pm for a pre-match refreshment with fellow fans.
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
If you’re further afield, follow our live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter).
The manager’s post-match reaction will be available on YouTube following the game.
Club 1870 subscribers get a first look at the goals from 10pm on Saturday night, along with full match footage later on Sunday.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin back on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
