Summer signing Mo Adam believes there are plenty of reasons to be positive despite Stranraer going down to back-to-back defeats.
The Blues have had a tough opening week to the campaign with top flight Ross County followed by Championship Raith Rovers, who almost replaced the Staggies in the Premiership, as their first two opponents.
Saturday brings another tough test in Hamilton Academical, who will also be playing in the second tier this season.
Stranraer have found the net on both occasions and came close to getting something from each game.
Adam said: “I thought we played well against Ross County and were unlucky in the last 10 minutes to get one behind and we thought we could go for the game.
“Then, we ended up losing another one straight afterwards, which was quite unlucky.
“It was a decent performance.
“Then, on Tuesday, we were really unlucky to lose with the last kick of the ball after Elliot had scored.
“There are a lot of positives to take because it was good opposition we were coming up against.”
The 19-year-old caught the eye of manager Scott Agnew during the PFA Scotland exit trials at Broadwood Stadium.
He said: “The exit trials are all about the boys who have left clubs or are out contract.
“The PFA run a week of training with a showcase game and they invite scouts on the Saturday to come and see the boys play.
“One of the boys at the PFA told me to come down and that is how I ended up doing the showcase this year.
“I tried not to think about it too much and just tried to think of it like a normal game – whatever happens happens.
“I just tried to keep level-headed and then hopefully everything falls into place.
“That was the way I thought about it and tried not to panic too much.”
Now, he is adjusting to making the step up having left Motherwell last summer before playing a handful of games with Scottish Lowland Football League side Gala Fairydean Rovers.
Adam said: “League Two is a lot harder because there are a lot more technical players.
“It is a challenge because it is first team football and a different environment compared to what I am used to.
“It is definitely a steep learning curve.”
Previous meeting
A goalless first half at New Douglas Park gave way to seven second half goals just two years ago.
Andy Winter, Andy Ryan and then a double from Matthew Shiels had Hamilton four goals up within 10 minutes of the restart.
Paul Woods netted from the penalty spot to get Stranraer on the scoresheet before Lewis Smith made it a five-star display for the hosts.
With two minutes left, Woods again found the net from 12 yards to ensure the final score was 5-2.
Hamilton Academical: Fulton, Doyle, Shiels (McGinn 86), O’Reilly, Lawson, Owens (Newbury 86), L Smith (Brown 79), Mimnaugh, Ngandu, Ryan (One 66), Winter.
Not used: Spence, Martin and J Smith.
Stranraer: Scullion, Robertson, Ellis, Girvan, Watt, Dunn (Forrest 54), Brady (Walker 64), Hilton, Gallagher, Woods, McLean.
Not used: Hawkshaw, Duffy and O’Connor.
Last five meetings
- Hamilton Academical 5 Stranraer 2 (Winter, Ryan, Shiels x2 and L Smith; Woods (Pen x2)) at New Douglas Park on July 12, 2022
- Stranraer 2 Hamilton Academical 1 (Orr and Duffy; Odoffin) at Stair Park on November 11, 2020
- Hamilton Academical 1 Stranraer 0 (Wake) at New Douglas Park on March 28, 2006
- Stranraer 5 Hamilton Academical 4 (Ross, Moore x3 and Shields; Carrigan, Ferguson x2 and Jones) at Stair Park on December 26, 2005
- Hamilton Academical 2 Stranraer 0 (Jones and Gilhaney) at New Douglas Park on October 29, 2025
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Raith Rovers (A) 2-1 (Dunlop)
- LOSS v Ross County (H): 1-3 (Lang)
- WIN v East Kilbride (H): 3-1 (Gallagher, Ross and Gilmartin)
- DRAW v East Kilbride (A): 2-2 (McIntosh and Ross)
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-2
Hamilton Academical
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (H): 0-0 (Stirling won 4-2 on penalties)
- WIN v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (A) 2-3 (O’Hara x2 (Pen x1) and Smith)
- WIN v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (H): 2-1 (O’Hara and Owens)
- WIN v Alloa Athletic (H): 3-2 (Tumilty, Smith and Rose)
- DRAW v Alloa Athletic (A): 2-2 (Henderson and O’Hara)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Raith Rovers: Pazikas, Ross, McQueen, Ecrepont, McIntosh, Brindley, Gallagher, Russell, Grant (Dunlop 67), Hawkshaw (Edgar 79), Lang (Orr 67).
Not used: Cummins, McKnight, Hughes, Adam and Broun.
Hamilton Academical
Lineup v Stirling Albion: Albinson, Tumilty, Hendrie, McGinty, McGowan, Martin (MacDonald 77), Maguire (Murray 70), Williamson (Morgan 77), O’Hara, Bradley (Barjonas 70), Shaw (Henderson 63).
Not used: Kilday, Newbury, Lane and Lyness.
Ins and outs
Stranraer arrivals
Mo Adam (Gala Fairydean Rovers), Tomas Brindlay (Forfar Athletic), Harry Broun (Dumbarton), Adam Cummins (Stirling Albion), Kirk McKnight (Broomhill), Mark Russell (Portadown), Elliot Dunlop (Airdrieonians, loan) and Jacob Pazikas (Rangers, loan)
Stranraer departures
Ben Armour (Peterhead), Andy Downie (Creetown), Kyle Fleming (Annan Athletic), Kyle Girvan (Elgin City), Josh Walker (Queen of the South), Lewis Budinauckas (Rangers, end of loan), Aidan Gilmartin (St Mirren, end of loan), Murray Miller (Stirling Albion, end of loan), Chris Johnston, George O’Connor and Cammy Williamson.
Hamilton Academical arrivals
Charlie Albinson (Ayr United), Steven Bradley (Livingston), Barry Maguire (Motherwell), Sean McGinty (Ayr United), Oli Shaw (Barnsley) and Nikolay Todorov (Airdrieonians).
Hamilton Academical departures
Ryan Fulton (Heart of Midlothian), Michael Hewitt (Queen of the South), Marley Redfearn (Clyde), Lewis Smith (Livingston), Andy Winter (Livingston), Jamie Smith (Annan Athletic, loan), Jake Davidson (Inverness Caledonian Thistle, end of loan), Jake Hastie (Hartlepool United, end of loan), Makenzie Kirk (Heart of Midlothian, end of loan), Akheem Rose (Ayr United, end of loan), Jamie Hamilton, Chrissy McGinn, Joe McGlynn and Joel Mumbongo.
Five facts
1. The last meeting between the two sides featured Jonny Ngandu, who would then spend the second half of the 2022/23 season in the blue of Stranraer. He made 14 appearances for Hamilton, including that win over Stranraer, but failed to find the net. He would make nine appearances for Stranraer, scoring a vital goal in a 1-0 win over Albion Rovers. He has now signed for Spalding United.
2. Ryan Oné – son of former Stranraer favourite Armand – came off the bench for Hamilton in the last meeting. Ryan would make a further 34 appearances for Hamilton before moving south of the border to Sheffield United. The striker, who only turned 18 last month, made his debut for the Blades in defeat to Arsenal.
3. Hamilton goalkeeper Dean Lyness will be hoping for a birthday to remember on Saturday. The shotstopper, who won the FAI Cup with St Patrick’s Athletic in 2023, will turn 33.
4. Friday marks the birthday of a former Stranraer striker. The only former Blue to have played in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Portugal, Mexico and Scotland, Luciano Nequecaur made eight appearances for the Blues. His single goal came in the Scottish Cup when Stranraer defeated Buckie Thistle. He turned 32 today.
5. It is more than 20 years since Stranraer and Hamilton could not be separated over 90 minutes. A goalless draw at Stair Park in April 2003 has been followed by five wins for Hamilton and two wins for Stranraer. The home side for the draw was: McCulloch, Wingate, Farrell, Sharp, Gaughan, Jenkins, Aitken (Curran 71), Finlayson, Harty (Kane 71), Moore (Lurinsky 77), Scott. Not used: Crawford and Marshall.
Merchandise
Our new Mizuno training tops for 2024/25 will be on sale at Stair Park, along with a variety of other merchandise.
Head to the back of the main stand from 1.30pm.
Parking
There is ample parking throughout the grassy areas of Stair Park, and you should find a spot within the grounds. Please allow plenty of time for your journey and travel safely.
Admission
Admission is ‘pay at the gate’ only, so no tickets are required. Season tickets are not valid for the League Cup.
The gates open from 2pm, and away fans can enter the ground from the away turnstile opposite the main stand. This turnstile is cash only.
The following pricing applies:
- Adult – £14
- Concession (over 65) – £10
- Youth (5 to 16) – £5
- Under 5 – FREE
Pavilion Bar
Drop into the Pavilion Bar outside the away turnstile, where a warm welcome and a cold refreshment awaits home and away supporters from our team of volunteers.
Home, away and neutral supporters are welcome, and the bar accepts both cash and card.
Or, stop into the Stranraer FC Fitba’ Bar on North Strand Street in the town centre, which is also open to all.
Coverage
As usual, the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube during the evening, and Club 1870 subscribers can watch the goals before midnight.
Our usual extended highlights will follow on Sunday morning, with full match footage available via Club 1870 on Sunday afternoon.
For anyone not able to make it to Stair Park, the good news is that extended live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter) are back.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
