Strikers love scoring goals and Dean Cleland is no different.
The on-loan frontman was on target for Stranraer last weekend in the 2-1 win over The Spartans.
Then, on Tuesday night, he found the net for Hibs’ under-19s as they defeated Motherwell.
Now, the teenager is aiming to keep the goal-scoring habit going when Elgin City make the long trip south on Saturday.
He said: “Obviously, I just love scoring goals.
“I don’t think there is any better feeling in football than scoring a goal.
“At under-19s, it is good to score, and at League Two, it is good to score.
“It is good to keep that habit going no matter what game you are playing in.
“It is good for your confidence and it looks good for me as a player to know that I can score at both levels.”
Cleland opened the scoring last time out at the LIME Stadium at Stair Park with a well placed header beyond Paddy Martin.
The goal, his second for the club, came after the striker was presented with a good chance by team-mate Matthew Gillies.
Martin saved on that occasion but Cleland spoke about the importance of remaining focused in front of goal.
He said: “As a striker, you miss a lot of chances.
“It is just about forgetting it and going and trying to score the next one.
“The chance on Saturday, I genuinely think I just thought I had so much time to do whatever I wanted and then the gap closed and closed.
“Obviously, you are a bit gutted at the time but as soon as it is gone then it is gone and you cannot change that.
“You just need to go again.
“I know that the other lads will create more chances for me.
“It is about forgetting the ones that you miss and just moving onto the next one because you will get more chances.
“If you are still thinking about the one you missed then you will miss the next one.”
Elgin make the long journey following consecutive wins.
Four goals scored, none conceded and six points secured means they come into the contest in a confident mood.
Cleland said: “We know what is at stake at the weekend.
“We are looking to build on the Spartans win and we are at home again.
“It’s a bit of travelling for Elgin and we will be looking to play on that a wee bit as well.
“They are travelling a lot longer than us.
“We will look to build and we are the team that is looking to be caught the most because we are sitting in fourth, but if we keep picking up points then no-one will be able to catch us.”
Last meeting
A stoppage time goal from Scot Rough gave Stranraer all three points on the trip to Borough Briggs.
The Blues had taken the lead after Daniel McManus collected the ball in midfield and found Dominic Plank. The on-loan Hearts man cut inside and fired beyond goalkeeper Tom Ritchie.
Jack Murray brought the hosts level with a header from a corner and it looked like momentum was on their side.
However, Russell Dingwall was sent off for a foul on Plank and Stranraer would go on to win. Rough was in the right place, at the right time, to fire home after a Stranraer free-kick.
Elgin City: Ritchie, Booth (Cairns 85), Murray, Ross, Virtanen, Dingwall, Gallagher, Spalding (Cameron 76), MacIver, Walker (Sargent 55), Colloty (Hester 56).
Not used: Ewan, Obasoto, MacDonald, O’Connor and McHale.
Stranraer: Lane, Ecrepont (Coll 77), Reid, Rough, Dunne, Stuart, Dolan (Docherty 89), Quigg (Gillies 70), Plank (Russell 77), McManus, Lang.
Not used: McKnight, Hughes, Sharp, Hunter and Henderson.
Last five meetings
- Elgin City 1 Stranraer 2 (Murray; Plank and Rough) at Borough Briggs on December 13, 2025
- 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
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Spartans (H): 2-1 (Cleland and Quigg)
- DRAW v Annan Athletic (H): 0-0
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (A): 1-1 (Lang)
- WIN v East Kilbride (A): 0-2 (Dolan and Cleland)
- WIN v Queen’s Park (H): 1-1 (Stranraer win 6-5 on penalties) (Plank)
Elgin City
- WIN v Edinburgh City (H): 3-0 (Dingwall, Own goal and Sargent)
- WIN v Stirling Albion (H): 1-0 (Machado)
- LOSS v East Kilbride (H): 1-6 (Gallagher)
- DRAW v Clyde (A): 1-1 (Sargent)
- LOSS v Partick Thistle (H): 2-3 (Sargent x2)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Spartans: Currie, Reid, McGrath, Dunne, Coll, McKnight (Hunter 81), Plank (Dolan 69), McManus (Quigg 69), Gillies, Lang (O’Donnell 81), Cleland (Hughes 88).
Not used: Ecrepont, Docherty and Tas.
Elgin City
Lineup v Edinburgh City: McHale, Murray, Cairns, Neill, Ross, Virtanen (Hyde 46 (Thompson 67), Dingwall, Spalding, Walker (Gallagher 67), Machado (Hickey-Fugaccia 67), Sargent (Hester 85).
Not used: Cameron, Girvan and Ritchie.
Five facts
- Dean Cleland’s goal in the 12th minute was the first time Stranraer have scored in the 12th minute since Deryn Lang’s goal against St Mirren B in December.
- Stranraer are yet to lose in the league this calendar year. The last time they got beyond February without losing was in 2020/21. However on that occasion, Stranraer had only played one league game, due to the shutdown of football during COVID-19. The 2-0 win over Annan Athletic saw goals from Tom Orr and Ruari Paton.
- Stranraer and Elgin City have played each other 35 times since the last goalless draw. That came in February 2008. The Blues team was: Black, McKinstry, White, McLaughlin (Kane 40), Dobbins, Gibson, Mitchell, Bonar (Trialist 79), Gribben (Cashmore 70), Mullen, Tade. Not used: Cochrane and Ferguson.
- Since Chris Aitken took charge of Stranraer, they have scored 11 times in the 90th minute. Each of those goals have come in a Stranraer win. James Dolan (v Dumbarton), Ryan Edgar (v Glenafton Athletic), Scot Rough (v Elgin City) and Aaron Quigg (v Spartans) have all managed it this season.
- Lewis Reid’s assist for Aaron Quigg’s winner last weekend against Spartans was the first time the central defender has scored or assisted a goal in 63 appearances.
Admission
Admission at the LIME Stadium 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
We’re stocked with all three brand new kits, exclusive Adidas teamwear, hats, scarves, umbrellas, warm layers, pin badges, key rings and more.
Cash and card payments are accepted.
You can also purchase a range of merchandise online.
Podcast
In the latest episode of Look Blues Talking, we celebrate our late winner against Spartans, preview this weekend’s home meeting with Elgin City to the LIME Stadium, and hear from Scot Rough on his surprise switch to Crusaders.
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 on Saturday night, along with full match footage the next day.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin calling the action.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)
