Playing through the pain barrier will be the aim for Evan Dunne on Saturday.
The defender missed Tuesday night’s KDM Evolution Trophy victory over Gala Fairydean Rovers but is hoping to be available when Kelty Hearts travel to The LIME Stadium at Stair Park.
He said: “I am just managing it but I hurt my ankle against Spartans.
“I have just kind of managed it through the weekend and then same again, hopefully, this weekend.
“Thankfully, I have just managed to get the swelling down and play through the pain barrier.
“I will be available for Saturday.
“I rolled it just before half time against Spartans and got some ice on it and strapped it up.
“The adrenaline took me through but after the game and on Sunday it was a struggle.”
The full-back was part of Chris Aitken’s starting line-up last weekend when they visited Stirling Albion.
Goals from Lewis Dobbie and Dunne had Stranraer, seemingly, in control and on their way to three points at half time.
However, the hosts fought back to score two goals of their own in the second half and ensured the spoils were shared.
Nearly a week on and the 23-year-old was still frustrated with not picking up a first win at Forthbank since 2021.
He said: “I have got to be honest, it ruined my full weekend.
“I was still annoyed on Monday and it felt like a defeat the way the game went.
“We should have been three or four up at half time but two quick goals in the second half – deflating is the word to use.”
Kelty Hearts are making their first trip to The LIME Stadium since April 2022, when they ran out comfortable winners.
Stranraer will be looking to continue their promising home form, though.
A league victory over Spartans was followed by the 3-0 triumph over their visitors from Galashiels in midweek.
Dunne said: “It is two wins in the last two home games and we will be looking to keep that going.
“Hopefully, we can get a win and bounce back from last Saturday at Stirling, albeit it a draw away from home is not the worst result.
“We want to win every game, especially with the position we were in.”
Last meeting
Three unanswered second half goals ensured it was three points for Kelty Hearts last year.
Craig Johnston came close for the hosts while James Dolan was not far away for Stranraer in the goalless first half.
The deadlock was broken just two minutes after the restart. The visitors failed to really deal with a long ball up the park and when a cross came in Johnston was waiting to tuck it home.
Substitute Innes Murray then beat Josh Lane to double the lead and the scoring was wrapped up when Murray turned provider and Bailey Campbell smashed home.
Kelty Hearts: Armour, Thomas, Paterson, Arnott (Bexfield 79), Mercer, Brydon, Ferguson, Graham (Campbell 88), Trialist A (Murray 60), Trialist B (Diack 60), Johnston (Leitch 79).
Not used: Adamson.
Stranraer: Lane, Stuart (Hunter 72), Reid, Rough (Dunne 61), Docherty, Coll, Dolan (Ecrepont 61), Quigg, Russell, McManus (Lang 61), O’Donnell (Turay 78).
Not used: McKnight, Sharp, Edgar and Henderson.
Last five meetings
- Kelty Hearts 3 Stranraer 0 (Johnston, Murray and Campbell) at New Central Park on September 6, 2025
- Kelty Hearts 2 Stranraer 0 (Daramola and Johnston) at New Central Park on July 25, 2023
- Stranraer 0 Kelty Hearts 3 (McNab, Reilly and Higginbotham) at The LIME Stadium at Stair Park on April 16, 2022
- Kelty Hearts 3 Stranraer 2 (O’Ware, Barjonas and Austin; Muir and Hilton) at New Central Park on January 29, 2022
- Stranraer 0 Kelty Hearts 4 (Own goal, Forster and Austin x2) at The LIME Stadium at Stair Park on December 18, 2021
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Gala Fairydean Rovers (H): 3-0 (Cleland, Traynor and Hughes)
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (A): 2-2 (Dobbie and Dunne)
- WIN v Spartans (H): 1-0 (McLuckie)
- LOSS v Alloa Athletic (A): 2-1 (Trialist)
- LOSS v Annan Athletic (H): 0-1
Kelty Hearts
- LOSS v Clydebank (H): 2-4 (Moffett and Higginbotham)
- WIN v Dumbarton (H): 3-1 (Hislop, Moore and Ferguson)
- LOSS v Elgin City (A): 4-1 (Cole)
- WIN v Motherwell B (H): 4-3 (Murray, Shanley x2 and Hislop)
- WIN v Stirling Albion (H): 3-2 (Moore, Shanley and Cole)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Gala Fairydean Rovers: Henderson, Ecrepont, Nair, McLuckie, Stuart, Hughes, Quigg, Healy (McKane 80), Trialist (Mason 60), Dolan (Traynor 46), Cleland (Dobbie 72).
Not used: D McManus and Currie.
Kelty Hearts
Lineup v Clydebank: Adamson, Hannah, Davidson (C Flatman 61), Z Flatman, Walker, Ferguson (C McManus 46), Murray (Snoddy 81), Lawson, Cunningham, Moffett (Hislop 61), Higginbotham (Shanley 61).
Not used: Brydon and Smith.
Transfers
Stranraer
Ins: Murray Binnie (St Johnstone), Zach Bruce (Hibernian, loan), Connor Cameron (Renfrew), Dean Cleland (Hibernian), Lewis Dobbie (East Kilbride), Lewis Gillie (Hibernian, loan), Aaron Healy (Arthurlie), Seb Mason (Carlisle United, loan), Mark McLuckie (Bo’ness United), Kenzi Nair (Heart of Midlothian), Dominic Plank (Heart of Midlothian) and Archie Traynor (Kilmarnock, loan).
Outs: Murray Binnie (Bo’ness United, loan), Ryan Edgar (Cumnock Juniors), Matthew Gillies (Heart of Midlothian, end of loan), Lewis Hunter (Caledonian Braves), Deryn Lang (Dumbarton), Joseph McGrath (Hibernian, end of loan), Kirk McKnight (Annan Athletic), Corey O’Donnell (Annan Athletic), Lewis Reid (Ross County), Tommy Sharp (Cumnock Juniors), Lyndon Tas (Heart of Midlothian, end of loan), Sallu Turay (Linlithgow Rose), Sean Docherty and Robbie Foster.
Kelty Hearts
Ins: Alasdair Davidson (Dunfermline Athletic, loan), Thomas Falconer (St Mirren, loan), Zak Flatman (Heart of Midlothian), Callum Hannah (Raith Rovers), Kallum Higginbotham (Bonnyrigg Rose), Jamie Hislop (Ayr United, loan), Nathan Lawson (East Kilbride, loan), Connor McManus (East Fife), Finn Moffett (University of Stirling), Ryan Shanley (Stirling Albion), Jamie Smith (Livingston) and Gordon Walker (Dumbarton).
Outs: Aaron Arnott (Forfar Athletic), Clark Bexfield (Hill of Beath Hawthorn), Cammy Cooper (Airdrieonians, end of loan), Corrie Fellows (Largs Thistle, loan), Sam Fisher (Dunfermline Athletic, end of loan), Kyle Gourlay (Brechin City), James Graham (Caledonian Braves), Grant Leitch (Berwick Rangers, loan), Luke McCarvel (Ross County), Brody Paterson (Arbroath), Arran Pettifer (FC United of Manchester), Murray Thomas (Stirling Albion), Jack Wyllie (Rangers, end of loan) and Craig Clay.
Five facts
- Stranraer have failed to score in more than half of their meetings with Kelty Hearts. The two sides have faced each other seven times, with the Blues not getting on the scoresheet in five of those matches.
- Tuesday night’s victory over Gala Fairydean Rovers marked a century of appearances in a Stranraer shirt for James Dolan. He has made 75 starts, alongside 25 substitute appearances.
- Carter McKane’s appearance for Stranraer means that someone local has played for the first team every season stretching back to 2016/17. They are: Carter McKane (2026/27), Ryan Edgar (2025/26), Ryan Edgar, Adam Wilde, Jake Ellis, Harry Mitchell and Ally Hilferty (2024/25), Carter McKane, Ryan Edgar and Conor Phillips (2023/24), James Hilton (2022/23), James Hilton (2021/22), James Hilton and Lewis McIntyre (2020/21), James Hilton, Lewis McIntyre, Reece Agnew, Lewis Dunn, Harry Mitchell and Dean Fyfe (2019/20), Lyle Avci, Jonny Baxter, Lewis Dunn and Ally McColm (2018/19) and Jonny Baxter (2017/18).
- Saturday marks the 39th birthday of former Stranraer midfielder Paul Cairney. He spent a single season at The LIME Stadium at Stair Park in 2014/15. He also managed one, memorable goal when he scored from distance against Livingston in the play-off semi-finals. The Stranraer team that day was: Belford, Robertson, Pettigrew, Bell, Dick, Cairney, Thomson, Gibson, Malcolm (Barron 59), Stirling (Kemp 88), McGuigan (Longworth 73). Not used: Rumsby, McCloskey, Turner and Currie.
- Dean Cleland’s opener on Tuesday night was the first time Stranraer had scored in the 28th minute since… Lewis Dobbie did it at Stirling Albion three days earlier.
Admission
Admission is ‘pay at the gate’. Season tickets are valid for Saturday’s league game, and available to purchase.
Away fans can enter the ground from the away turnstile opposite the main stand. This turnstile is cash only.
The following pricing applies:
- Adult – £17
- Concession (over 65) – £12
- Youth (5 to 16) – £6
- Under 5 – FREE
Pavilion Bar
Pop into our ever-popular Pavilion Bar outside the away turnstile from 1pm for a pre-match refreshment with fellow fans.
Home, away and neutral supporters are warmly welcomed, and the bar accepts both cash and card.
Or, stop off at the Stranraer FC Fitba’ Bar on North Strand Street in the town centre, which is also open to all.
Merchandise
Pop into the brand new club shop in the McLeans Taxis Stand, which is stocked with exclusive Adidas teamwear, hats, scarves, umbrellas, pin badges, key rings, stickers and much more.
Cash and card payments are accepted.
We are currently awaiting another restock of replica kits, which will be unavailable in the meantime.
Podcast
In this week’s edition of club podcast Look Blues Talking, we look back on the draw at Stirling, review our midweek cup win and preview this weekend’s meeting with Kelty Hearts.
Coverage
If you can’t make it, you can 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.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube by Sunday morning, with Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Dylan Heron, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)