Elliot Dunlop has challenged his team-mates to make it back-to-back wins after victory over East Fife.
Mark Russell’s double gave Stranraer three much-needed points last weekend ahead of a trip tomorrow to Forfar Athletic.
A second consecutive win could lift the Blues above Bonnyrigg Rose and into sixth spot in the League Two table.
Speaking after the full time whistle, he said: “Obviously, Forfar have not been great but you see the way the league is you turn up and they could do anything against us.
“We need to build on today and I think we can get even better.
“Scott Robertson has said we need to take it into training on Tuesday.
“We have had a really good week in training last week and hopefully it will be the same again; build on it and you will see the confidence go up.”
Dunlop has enjoyed a fruitful start to his time at Stair Park after making the loan switch from Airdrie.
The midfielder took his assist tally to four for the club after teeing up Russell twice against Dick Campbell’s East Fife.
On top of that, he also leads the way in the scoring charts, alongside Russell and Deryn Lang, with three goals.
He said: “These are things, for me, personally, taking things out of games.
“Goals and assists are things that get you recognition.
“It has started off well but there is plenty of time to go and I just need to keep going.
“There is good craic with the boys and I love coming in here.”
Too often this campaign, Stranraer have found themselves on the wrong side of narrow defeats.
Only Bonnyrigg Rose have won a league fixture against the Blues by more than an odd goal.
The victory against East Fife was the club’s first of the season and the first since the last day of last term against Stenhousemuir.
Dunlop said: “I think it is well overdue.
“The way we have been playing the past couple of weeks, we have been disappointed not to take three points.
“We have been playing well and I think it was just well earned.”
Previous meeting
Just three minutes were on the clock when Forfar Athletic took the lead at Station Park in April.
A free-kick into the box was not dealt with by the visiting defence and Mark Whatley was on hand to bundle home from close range.
Matty Grant drew a save from Marc McCallum but things went from bad to worse for Stranraer. Again, Stranraer’s defending was not great and Stuart Morrison rose highest to head home.
Stranraer huffed and puffed to get back into it but failed to find a way past McCallum.
Forfar Athletic: McCallum (Paris 88), Nditi, Brindley, M Allan, Morrison, Whatley (Inglis 62), Munro, Mykyta (S Ross 63), Robson, Skelly (Mohammed 77), McLean (F Allan 63).
Not used: Thomson, Scally and Lobban.
Stranraer: Budinauckas, Williamson, C Ross, McQueen, McIntosh (Gilmartin 85), Grant, Gallagher, Hawkshaw (Dolan 45), Miller (Fleming 45), Armour (Orr 25), Lang (Edgar 68).
Not used: Ecrepont and Downie.
Last five meetings
- Forfar Athletic 2 Stranraer 0 (Whatley and Morrison) at Station Park on April 27, 2024
- Stranraer 0 Forfar Athletic 0 at Stair Park on March 2, 2024
- Forfar Athletic 1 Stranraer 1 (Allan; McDonald) at Station Park on December 2, 2023
- Stranraer 0 Forfar Athletic 2 (Paterson and Skelly) at Stair Park on September 23, 2023
- Stranraer 0 Forfar Athletic 0 at Stair Park on April 8, 2023
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v East Fife (H): 2-1 (Russell x2)
- LOSS v Annan Athletic (H): 1-5 (Dunlop)
- LOSS v Bonnyrigg Rose (A): 0-2
- DRAW v Elgin City (H): 1-1 (Robertson)
- LOSS v Peterhead (A): 0-1
Forfar Athletic
- LOSS v Spartans (A): 1-0
- DRAW v Elgin City (H): 1-1 (Morrison)
- LOSS v Edinburgh City (H): 0-3
- LOSS v East Fife (A): 2-1 (Own goal)
- LOSS v Fraserburgh (A): 2-1 (Reekie)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v East Fife: Pazikas, Brindley, Cummins, Ross, Ecrepont, Grant (Woods 69), Gallagher, Dunlop, Russell, Hawkshaw (McKnight 87), Guthrie (Edgar 89).
Not used: Adam, Lang and Broun.
Forfar Athletic
Lineup v Spartans: McCallum, Morrison, Allan, Whatley, Taylor, Malcolm, Inglis, Robson, Cannon (Cocks 82), Skelly (Mohammed 82), Rodden.
Not used: Reekie, McLean and Paris.
Ins and outs
Stranraer
Arrivals: Mo Adam (Gala Fairydean Rovers), Tomas Brindley (Forfar Athletic), Harry Broun (Dumbarton), Adam Cummins (Stirling Albion), Robbie Foster (Huntly), Kirk McKnight (Broomhill), Mark Russell (Portadown), Paul Woods (unattached), Elliot Dunlop (Airdrieonians, loan), Max Guthrie (Ayr United, loan) and Jacob Pazikas (Rangers, loan)
Departures: Ben Armour (Peterhead), Andy Downie (Creetown), Kyle Fleming (Annan Athletic), Kyle Girvan (Elgin City), George O’Connor (Hurlford United), Ben Hughes (Hurlford United), Tom Orr (Cumnock Juniors), Josh Walker (Queen of the South), Cammy Williamson (Darvel), Lewis Budinauckas (Rangers, end of loan), Aidan Gilmartin (St Mirren, end of loan), Murray Miller (Stirling Albion, end of loan), James Dolan and Chris Johnston.
Forfar Athletic
Arrivals: Nathan Cannon (Alloa Athletic), Filip Franczak (St Johnstone), Ross MacLean (Dumbarton), Blair Malcolm (Dumbarton), Scott Reekie (St Andrews United), Bradley Rodden (Bonnyrigg Rose), Mitch Taylor (Elgin City), Arran Cocks (St Johnstone, loan), Bayley Klimionek (St Johnstone, loan), Rayan Mohammed (Dundee, loan) and Jackson Mylchreest (St Johnstone, loan).
Departures: Tomas Brindley (Stranraer), Andy Munro (East Fife), Seb Ross (Peterhead), Daniel Scally (Hong Kong FC), Craig Thomson (Dundee North End), Finlay Allan (Dundee, end of loan), Dylan Lobban (Aberdeen, end of loan), Rayan Mohammed (Dundee, end of loan), Tyler Mykyta (Cove Rangers, end of loan), Roberto Nditi and Darren Whyte.
Five facts
1. Mark Russell’s double last weekend against East Fife was the first league brace by a Stranraer player since James Hilton put two goals past Stenhousemuir in April 2022.
2. Coincidentally, the dismissal of Liam McFarlane was the first time a goalkeeper has been sent off against Stranraer since the above encounter at Ochilview. On that occasion, Peter Urminsky was sent off late on and Ross Forbes went in goals for the closing seconds.
3. Stranraer have scored one goal in their last five meetings with Forfar Athletic. In contrast, the Station Park side have scored five over the same time period.
4. The last meeting between the two sides at Stair Park finished goalless. Fans of both sides need to cast their minds back to August 2018 for the last time there has been a 0-0 draw in Angus. The visiting side that day was: Currie, McDonald, Brownlie, D Smith, Hamill, Cummins, McManus, Turner, Anderson (I Smith 82), Layne (Elliott 41), Donnelly (Ashmore 87). Not used: McGowan, Lidington, Lamont and Avci.
5. Forfar were undefeated against Stranraer last term with two wins and two draws. Stranraer managed that in 2015/16. Mark McGuigan and Chris Aitken scored in a 2-1 win at Station Park before a goalless draw at Stair Park. That was followed by a 1-1 draw in Angus (Jamie Longworth scoring for the visitors) and a 1-0 win at Stair Park, thanks to a Craig Pettigrew effort.
Food and drink
The 1984 Lounge is open to all supporters from 12.30pm until kickoff.
Forfar is of course famous for its Forfar Bridie – these meaty delights are available at the ground, or from local bakers McLaren’s and Saddlers.
Admission
Admission at Station Park is on a ‘pay at the gate’ basis – pricing as follows:
- Adults – £15
- Concessions – £10
- U17s – £5
On-street parking is available close to the ground.
Please allow plenty of time for your journey, travel safely and get behind the Blues!
Coverage
Due to the lengthy journey back from Angus, highlights from Saturday’s trip to Forfar will be out later on Sunday, with commentary from Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin.
As usual, the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube following the game.
Club 1870 subscribers can catch the goals late on Saturday evening, along with full match footage on Sunday evening.
We’ll have limited live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter) for those further afield.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
