Scorers: Strain (32), Henderson (41) and Parkinson (59)
Clinical Falkirk proved too strong for Stranraer as the Premiership side ran out 3-0 winners.
The Blues knew that they would need to be at their best at The Falkirk Stadium against a team who finished in the top six last term.
Chris Aitken made a number of changes from the team that had gone down to a disappointing midweek defeat against Edinburgh City.
Goalkeeper Max Currie was soon called into action as he kept out an Ethan Ross effort with just five minutes on the clock.
That was not really a sign of things to come, though.
Falkirk enjoyed plenty of possession but Stranraer’s defence stopped them from troubling the goalkeeper.
Eventually, that possession paid off as they worked the ball to Leon McCann on the left.
His low cross was missed by two Falkirk players but Ryan Strain made absolutely no mistake in hammering the ball home from the edge of the area.
If Stranraer were going to cause an upset, the next goal was always going to be crucial.
The visitors would have been hoping they could hold out until at least the half time whistle.
Instead, it was the hosts who were celebrating making it 2-0.
A Falkirk corner was headed straight back to the taker, Strain, and he delivered to the back post where Liam Henderson rose highest to head home.
Stranraer almost got themselves back in the game immediately after the restart though.
Beejay Coll’s cross had Nicky Hogarth backpedalling and the goalkeeper managed to get back in time to turn it round the post.
That was not the only opportunity for Aitken’s team.
A fine break from Lewis Dobbie saw the ball worked out wide to Dunne and his cross was nodded inches the wrong side of the post by Aaron Quigg.
Unfortunately, that momentum was killed off when Falkirk got their third.
A fine move was finished off when Ethan Laidlaw crossed the ball in for Ben Parkinson to turn home.
In truth, Falkirk could have added to their goal tally in the closing half hour.
Ross saw a free-kick clip the crossbar while the same player was then denied by the goalkeeper’s foot.
Currie was a busier man in those closing stages as he smothered at the feet of Finn Yeats and then kept out Brad Spencer’s shot from outside of the box.
Stranraer now switch focus to the League Two season and an opening day trip to Clyde.
Falkirk: Hogarth, McCann, L Henderson, Strain (Spencer 72), McMillan, Melniks, Ross, McGovern (Allan 77), Sibbald (Yeats 72), Parkinson (MacIver 66), Laidlaw (Doherty 66).
Not used: Donaldson, Neilson, Tanser and Hastings.
Stranraer: Currie, Dunne, Nair, Gillie, Coll (Ecrepont 70), Quigg (Binnie 82), Traynor, Bruce (Stuart 67), Healy, Hughes (Dolan 67), Dobbie (Cleland 82).
Not used: McLuckie, Lynch and E Henderson.
Referee: Lewis Hogarth
Attendance: 1,502
HT: 2-0