Holding out against Bonnyrigg Rose could be an important lesson for the rest of the season, according to Finn Ecrepont.
Stranraer picked up their first win of the season on Tuesday night when they knocked their Midlothian opposition out of the SPFL Trust Trophy.
Mark Russell’s first goal for the club and a Craig Ross header seemed to have Scott Agnew’s men well on their way to booking a place in the third round.
However, the visitors pulled one back and it took a late Ross clearance to deny Bonnyrigg a leveller.
Ecrepont was a second half sub and felt there were plenty of positives to take from the result.
He said: “I think it showed a bit of character from Craig, and the boys need to learn from that.
“There will be some games where, hopefully, we do have a cushion and you see the game out.
“But there will be games where it will be close and it might only be 1-0 and take something like that to see it out.
“We’ve got to keep doing things like that to keep winning games.”
The win sets Stranraer up for a long trip north to Peterhead this weekend.
It is almost a decade since the Blues won on a visit to Balmoor Stadium but, following the midweek win over Bonnyrigg, they will be looking to make it back-to-back victories in all competitions for the first time since the beginning of November last year.
The full-back said: “We have got to aim for the three points – we are good enough.
“The manager has said a lot that there is nobody in this league that we should be scared of home or away.
“Last year, our away form was not good enough and that is one thing that we need to improve on.
“It is something we will look to start doing early doors.
“We were unlucky against Clyde and hopefully we can put it right against Peterhead.”
The 2024/25 season marks Ecrepont’s third season at Stair Park.
However, after twice joining in mid-season, this campaign marks the first time he has had a pre-season with the Wigtownshire club.
He added: “I’m glad I have finally been able to get a go at it right from the start of the season.
“I’m settling in just fine.
“There are a lot of boys that have been here over the last couple of years so I know a good core of the squad.”
Previous meeting
Two first half goals ultimately proved decisive when Stranraer travelled to Balmoor Stadium in March.
Home advantage proved key last term with Stranraer enjoying six points out of six at Stair Park and Peterhead matching the feat at the other end of the country.
The opening goal came courtesy of former Blue Conor O’Keefe and Stranraer’s chances of getting back into the game were killed off when Kieran Shanks doubled the advantage.
Attacking options in Deryn Lang, James Dolan and Tom Orr were all thrown on after the break but Stranraer failed to find a breakthrough.
Peterhead: McKenzie, D Strachan, Goldie, R Strachan, Duffy, Ritchie, McKee, Stewart (Pawlett 73), O’Keefe (Ward 73), Shanks, Jack Brown.
Not used: Armstrong, Jason Brown, Gibbons, Jordon Brown and Wood.
Stranraer: Budinauckas, Robertson, Ross, McQueen, Ecrepont (Williamson 73), Girvan, Forrest, Fleming (Orr 71), Johnston (Dolan 58), Grant, Armour (Lang 58).
Not used: McIntosh, Gallagher, Miller and Downie.
Last five meetings
- Peterhead 2 Stranraer 0 (O’Keefe and Shanks) at Balmoor Stadium on March 9, 2024
- Stranraer 2 Peterhead 0 (Johnston and Orr) at Stair Park on January 13, 2024
- Peterhead 3 Stranraer 2 (McAllister, S Ross and McKee; Armour and Own goal) at Balmoor Stadium on November 11, 2023
- Stranraer 2 Peterhead 1 (Orr and Fleming; Jason Brown) at Stair Park on September 2, 2023
- Peterhead 3 Stranraer 0 (Conroy x2 and Scott Brown) at Balmoor Stadium on December 7, 2019
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Bonnyrigg Rose (H): 2-1 (Russell and Ross)
- LOSS v Clyde (A): 0-1
- DRAW v Spartans (H): 2-2 (Lang and Dunlop)
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (A): 2-2 (Edgar and Lang) (Stirling Albion won 4-2 on penalties)
- LOSS v Hamilton Academical (H): 0-3
Peterhead
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (H): 2-1 (McAllister and S Ross)
- WIN v Bonnyrigg Rose (A): 0-1 (Armour)
- LOSS v Hibernian (A): 4-0
- WIN v Kelty Hearts (A): 0-1 (Barry)
- WIN v Elgin City (H): 4-2 (Armour, Goldie and Jason Brown x2)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Bonnyrigg Rose: Pazikas, Cummins, C Ross, McQueen, Brindley (McKnight 71), Dunlop, Russell (Ecrepont 82), Hawkshaw (McIntosh 82), Grant (Hughes 82), Lang (Gallagher 71), Edgar.
Not used: Robertson, Woods, Adam and Broun.
Peterhead
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: McKenzie, D Strachan, Armstrong (Seb Ross 78), Jason Brown, Scott Ross, McCarthy, Pawlett (Jack Brown 78), Forrest, Dunne, Barry (Armour 72), McAllister (Smith 72).
Not used: R Strachan, Wilson, Ward and Oluyemi.
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) 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), 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 Chris Johnston.
Peterhead
Arrivals: Ben Armour (Stranraer), Max Barry (Buckie Thistle), Cieran Dunne (unattached, previously Cove Rangers), Dylan Forrest (Stranraer), Seb Ross (Forfar Athletic) and Cammy Smith (Morecambe).
Departures: Joe McKee (Cumnock Juniors), Hamish Ritchie (Spartans), Conner Duthie (Albion Rovers, loan), Arran Smith (Huntly, loan), Flynn Duffy (Dundee United, end of loan), Alfie Stewart (Aberdeen, end of loan), Conor O’Keefe and Sandy Wood.
Five facts
1. Goalkeeper Harry Broun celebrates his 21st birthday this Friday. The former Kilmarnock and Dumbarton shotstopper worked alongside former Stranraer goalkeeping coach – and former trialist – Eric Phillips. Broun has made one appearance this season, starting against Ross County on the opening day.
2. Grant Gallagher and Scott Robertson both played in Stranraer’s last victory at Balmoor Stadium. That came in March 2015 when the visitors trailed from an Andy Rodgers goal at the break. Willie Gibson and Jamie Longworth scored after the interval to turn the game on its head.
3. The above win made it five games unbeaten at Peterhead. The Blues began that run with a 3-1 win (goals from Frank McKeown, Stephen Stirling and Michael Moore) in 2011 before a 1-1 draw (Craig Malcolm) after the turn of the year. Jamie Longworth scored in a Scottish Cup win in November 2014 and Stranraer won 4-1 (McKeown, Grant Gallagher, Malcolm and Chris Aitken) on target before the end of the year. Then came the 2-1 win in March 2015 before a 1-1 draw (Malcolm again) and a goalless draw in March 2016.
4. Former Stranraer man Ben Armour will be lining up for the home side at Balmoor Stadium on Saturday. He scored for Stranraer at Peterhead last season and was on the winning side for the hosts when the two sides met in December 2019. The visiting team that day was: Currie, Robertson, Cummins (Dangana 74), Hamilton, Hamill (Elliott 21), McManus, Hilton, Murphy, Smith (Jones 57), Pignatiello, Stirling. Not used: Stewart and Burgess.
5. Another ex-Blue lining up for the home side at Balmoor Stadium will be Dylan Forrest. The midfielder made his professional debut for Hamilton’s B side in the Scottish League Challenge Cup against Airdrie in 2019. The Diamonds side that day featured former Blues in Craig Thomson and Kieran Millar while current Stranraer man Dean Hawkshaw also played.
Admission
Balmoor offers a warm welcome to all fans, with parking available right outside the ground.
If you’re making the long journey north, please buy your ticket online or from the ticket office on match day, as you won’t be able to pay at the turnstile.
The social club at Balmoor is open to all, and weary travellers can visit their coffee shop which is open pre-match for tea, coffee and hot food.
Food and drink outlets within the ground are cash only, with programmes and 50/50 prize draw tickets available to purchase.
Coverage
If you can’t make it on Saturday, you can catch limited live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter).
Following the match, the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube during the evening, and Club 1870 subscribers can watch the goals around 10pm.
Laurence Nelson and Gary Redhead will provide commentary for our extended highlights package, which follows on Sunday.
Full match footage will be available via Club 1870 on Sunday afternoon to early evening.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
