Scorer: Foster (88)
Robbie Foster’s first goal of the season two minutes from time ensured Stranraer were celebrating three points at Borough Briggs.
Until recently, the final game of the campaign between Elgin City and Stranraer had looked as if it could decide who would take the final play-off spot.
Forfar Athletic got there first and so the contest at Borough Briggs was only to decide which side finished in fifth place.
Chris Aitken made eight changes for the game, with only Lewis Reid, Joe McGrath and Ronan Hughes remaining in the starting line-up from the 1-1 draw with Stirling Albion.
Into the team came Max Currie, Finn Ecrepont, Sean Docherty, Kirk McKnight, Lewis Hunter, Dean Cleland and Ryan Edgar, while Edin Lynch made his first start for the club.
Despite the changes, it was the visitors who created the opening couple of chances.
Edgar nodded the ball down for Hughes, who found Ecrepont wide on the left.
Goalkeeper Tom Ritchie was far from convincing in trying to deal with the cross but a shot from Hughes was then deflected wide.
Midfielder Hughes was then on target a few minutes later.
A long ball down the line from Reid found his team-mate, who cut inside and forced Ritchie to make the save down low at his near post.
A brilliant sliding tackle from McKnight prevented Ali Spalding from getting a shot away at the other end but it was Ritchie who was the busier goalkeeper in the first half.
He had to stand tall to keep out Edgar, who ran from near the halfway line before firing at goal.
Elgin did have the ball in the net, in spectacular fashion, before the half time whistle.
A long ball up the park was headed into the air by Reid and Russell Dingwall sent a stunning first time volley into the net from outside the box – but the offside flag was already up.
Dingwall had another effort seven minutes after the restart.
Similar to Edgar’s run in the first half, he strode through unchallenged but his shot was too close to Currie, who was making his 100th start in a Stranraer shirt.
Elgin were much improved after the break and it took another Currie save to keep the scores blank.
Dylan Ross played the ball into the box and Dingwall surely thought he had scored, only for a stunning reaction save from Currie to keep him out.
Both teams were starting to create real chances as they attempted to end the season with a win.
Ecrepont called Ritchie into action with a dipping free-kick and then Foster had a chance to open the scoring.
He exchanged passes with Cleland but could not curl his shot beyond the reach of the home number one.
There would be chances for both sides in the final 10 minutes.
Substitute Daniel McManus saw a clever flick from a corner cleared off the line by Lyall Booth before Currie denied Lewis Hyde, who managed to sneak in at the back post to head towards goal.
That meant there was time for one last chance as Stranraer secured all three points.
Evan Dunne rose highest to nod down a Matthew Gillies cross.
Hughes did well to shrug off his defender and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper for Foster to nod home.
The striker has had a horrible year with injuries but was clearly delighted at ending the campaign on a high.
That was just about it for Stranraer, who, although disappointed not to have reached the play-offs, are surely happy about taking steps in the right direction after a couple of challenging years.
Elgin City: Ritchie, Murray, Cameron, Neill, Ross (Booth 70), Virtanen (Thompson 81), Girvan (Cairns 70), Spalding (Hyde 46), Dingwall (Hester 63), Sargent, MacIver.
Not used: Machado and Taylor.
Stranraer: Currie, Ecrepont, Reid, McGrath, Docherty (Dunne 61), McKnight (Gillies 61), Hughes, Lynch, Hunter (Dolan 61), Edgar (Foster 61), Cleland (McManus 74).
Not used: Coll and Tas.
Referee: Abbie Hendry
Attendance: 608
HT: 0-0
Photos: James Verity