One defeat in 11 plays one defeat in 11 at Borough Briggs as Stranraer make the long journey to Elgin on Saturday.
Two of Scotland’s in form teams meet as both look to strengthen their bid for the promotion play-offs.
Among those heading north is Beejay Coll, who will be hoping Stranraer can continue their impressive form.
Last weekend saw the Blues defeat Stirling Albion 3-2.
Coll said: “Last Saturday, against Stirling, I think anybody that was not at the game or has not watched the game would look at the scoreline and think it was tight.
“That could have been six or seven at half time, never mind at full time.
“I think the boys are really high in confidence and I don’t think we need to fear anybody.
“Obviously, with Elgin, it is a long trip and you need to prepare well.
“I think we can go there and get a result.
“Now, we are looking up the way instead of down the way like we were at the start of the season.”
Following the victory at Stair Park last weekend, the vice-captain was one of six changes made for the midweek trip to K-Park.
Stranraer’s strength in depth proved crucial as the Blues came through 4-1, with goals from Mark Russell, Deryn Lang, Daniel McManus and Lewis Hunter.
Coll, the only member of the squad over the age of 30, was keen to play more but stressed the most important thing was the team getting results.
He said: “I’m experienced enough and I have played in many games to know that if a team is winning, they are playing well, they are scoring goals, there is not really much you can do.
“But you need to make sure you keep yourself ready.
“Maybe, after training you do extra runs, do a bit in the gym if you are not getting enough minutes on a Saturday, on a Sunday go out for a run – just keep the legs ticking over.
“The last thing you want to do is when you do play 90 minutes that you are pulling up after 60 minutes because you are not ready.”
Coll was instrumental in the midweek victory, winning the penalty for the game’s opening goal.
Conditions were far from ideal for the KDM Evolution Trophy contest and the full-back took full advantage of defensive uncertainty in the strong winds.
He said: “I feel like I have got whiplash.
“I text Martin Fellowes the next day and said that I felt like I had been hit by a bus.
“I looked back at the highlights and it is actually worse – the goalie catches me with his elbow and the defender kicks me in the face on the way down.
“It is one of those where with the conditions you take a gamble.
“I saw Daniel McManus cross it in from the right and I just saw the ball going in.
“I knew that if I was a goalkeeper – trying to judge the ball in the air when you are defender, never mind a goalkeeper, is tough – I knew if I got any touch to it that I was going to get clattered.
“I had a burst lip but it was worth it.”
Last meeting
A point apiece was the result when Stranraer and Elgin City met at Stair Park in September.
The two goals came in the second half but the home side did have the ball in the net earlier. Mark Russell’s shot was only partially blocked and fell into the path of Ryan Edgar, who tucked the ball home – only for the offside flag to go up.
Russell was then denied by goalkeeper Tom Ritchie before Stranraer found a breakthrough. Edgar was brought down in the box and Russell kept his cool from the penalty spot.
The equaliser came in spectacular fashion as Kane Hester’s clever flick looped over a helpless Josh Lane.
Neither side could find a winner, with Jack MacIver coming close for the visitors.
Stranraer: Lane, Reid, Rough, Gillies, Coll (Ecrepont 78), Stuart (Hunter 67), Dolan, Quigg, Russell (McManus 85), O’Donnell (Lang 78), Edgar (Plank 85).
Not used: McKnight, Sharp, Turay and Henderson.
Elgin City: Ritchie, Booth (Ross 82), Murray, Ewan, Virtanen, Cameron, Spalding, MacIver, Hester, Sargent (O’Connor 82), Walker (Obasoto 85).
Not used: Cooper, MacDonald and McHale.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 Elgin City 1 (Russell (Pen); Hester) at Stair Park on September 20, 2025
- Elgin City 3 Stranraer 0 (Dingwall, Golding and Gallagher) at Borough Briggs on April 26, 2025
- Stranraer 1 Elgin City 0 (Grant) at Stair Park on February 15, 2025
- 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
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v East Kilbride (A): 1-4 (Russell (Pen), Lang, McManus and Hunter)
- 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))
Elgin City
- DRAW v Clyde (H): 1-1 (MacIver)
- WIN v Stirling Albion (H): 4-2 (Colloty, Murray x2 and Hester)
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (A): 1-1 (Dingwall)
- WIN v Dumbarton (H): 2-0 (Ross and MacIver)
- WIN v Dundee B (H): 3-1 (Obasoto, Hester and Sargent)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v East Kilbride: Lane, Reid, Rough, Docherty, Coll, McKnight (Stuart 74), Russell, Hughes (Quigg 67), Hunter (Ecrepont 75), McManus (Sharp 75), Lang (Dolan 74).
Not used: Dunne and Henderson.
Elgin City
Lineup v Clyde: Ritchie, Booth, Murray, Ross, Virtanen, Dingwall, Gallagher, Spalding (Hester 59), MacIver, Colloty, Walker (Sargent 59).
Not used: Cooper, Ewan, Obasoto, MacDonald, Cairns, O’Connor and McHale.
Five facts
- If Kirk McKnight plays on Saturday at Borough Briggs, he will have reached 50 appearances in a Stranraer shirt. Currently, 31 appearances have been starts with 18 coming from the bench. His only goal for the club came in a 3-0 win over Stirling Albion, with Elliot Dunlop and Robbie Foster also on target.
- Stranraer and Elgin have faced each other on 20 occasions at Borough Briggs. The Blues have an impressive record with 10 wins. The first victory saw the visitors triumph 3-2, with goals from George Shaw, Ian Harty and Kevin Finlayson. The Stranraer line up was: McGeown, Paterson, Wingate, Wright, Gaughan, Jenkins (Weir 76), George, Aitken, Finlayson, Shaw, Harty. Not used: Sherry, Grace, Gallagher and O’Neil.
- Elgin City come into the game on the back of an eight-game undefeated run. That has consisted of two draws and six wins, including an extra-time triumph against Stirling Albion.
- Goalkeeper Josh Lane enjoyed his second assist of the season when he teed up Daniel McManus against East Kilbride. His first came against Rangers B – also in the KDM Evolution Trophy.
- Lewis Hunter has scored two goals for Stranraer – against Glenafton Athletic and East Kilbride – and both have come in the 77th minute.
Podcast
Check out the latest episode of Look Blues Talking for a full preview of this weekend’s trip to Elgin, along with a complete rundown on our wins over Clydebank, Stirling Albion and East Kilbride – plus four post-match interviews.
Admission
Admission is via the home club’s ticketing platform, with all pricing details below.
Stand tickets:
- Adult – £18
- Concession – £12
Ground tickets:
- Adult – £16
- Concession – £10
Coverage
The intrepid James Verity is making the long journey north to bring you all the action from this weekend’s game, with the one and only Laurence Nelson 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
