Milestone man Matty Grant has a very clear checklist for Saturday’s clash with Peterhead.
The midfielder has been a key player under Jamie Hamill, Scott Agnew and now Chris Aitken since joining the club from Pollok in the summer of 2022.
If selected, Saturday will see him reach a century of appearances in a Stranraer shirt.
He said: “I actually thought I had played 103 or 104!
“If this is my 100th game in blue then I look forward to it.
“Obviously, Stranraer is my first professional club outwith St Mirren reserves and Pollok.
“To reach 100 games for a team in League Two is pretty good.
“A win would be the ideal way to mark it – maybe even a goal; I’ve not scored as much this year.
“So a goal and a win would be good.”
Grant and his team-mates will be looking to get back on the winning trail after their impressive run of form was halted on Tuesday night as they lost out to Forfar Athletic.
The Blues had led at half time thanks to Ryan Edgar’s strike but the game was turned on its head thanks to a goal from Craig Slater 15 minutes from time and then Bradley Rodden’s injury time penalty.
Grant said: “I think we were more gutted than disappointed.
“It was a tough one to take on Tuesday.
“I think, obviously, just the way we lost the game at the very end was probably worse than scoring a goal from open play.”
Prior to the midweek game, Stranraer had enjoyed a hat-trick of wins.
Those triumphs had them moving up the League Two table and fans daring to dream of the prospect of a top half finish and even a potential play-off push.
That could yet happen but Stranraer’s squad is stretched to breaking point with Chris Aitken unlikely to be able to call on the services of a number of players, including Grant Gallagher and Mark Russell.
Grant, who slotted in at right back for the second half of the midweek defeat, highlighted how, despite the depleted squad, they were still giving it everything to ensure the season was one to remember for all the right reasons.
He said: “We are still, obviously, not too far away.
“We are still maybe seven or eight points off of fourth and fifth and you look down and we are still 10 points ahead.
“The job is not done but we have put ourselves in a good position over the last couple of weeks.
“Obviously, over the last couple of weeks, we have had a few injuries but everybody has been working.
“Even the boys coming off the bench, we are working as a team.
“Training has been good and we have set our own standards now.”
Last meeting
Stranraer lost out on their last trip to Balmoor Stadium but not before they hit the woodwork.
Robbie Foster cut in from out wide but his low effort came back off the far post with the goalkeeper beaten.
Gradually, the home side came more into the game though, with Dylan Forrest seeing a shot against his former club go wide.
The only goal of the game would come after the break. Fine play by Max Barry down the left won a corner and Jason Brown’s header had enough on it to beat Sam Kane.
Peterhead: Oluyemi, Goldie, Jason Brown, Wilson, Dunne, McCarthy (McAllister 86), Jack Brown, Pawlett (Colloty 75), Forrest (Walker 63), Barry, Shanks (Strachan 75).
Not used: Armstrong, Scott Ross, Jordon Brown and McKenzie.
Stranraer: Kane, Brindley (A Trialist 67), Ross, Ecrepont, Reid, Robertson, Gallagher, Russell, McKnight (Edgar 77), Grant, Foster (Guthrie 67).
Not used: Cummins, McIntosh and Lane.
Last five meetings
- Peterhead 1 Stranraer 0 (Jason Brown) at Balmoor Stadium on January 14, 2025
- Stranraer 0 Peterhead 0 at Stair Park on October 19, 2024
- Peterhead 1 Stranraer 0 (Seb Ross) at Balmoor Stadium on August 17, 2024
- 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
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (H): 1-2 (Edgar)
- WIN v Edinburgh City (A): 0-1 (Ross)
- WIN v Stirling Albion (H): 3-0 (McKnight, Dunlop and Foster)
- WIN v Elgin City (H): 1-0 (Grant)
- LOSS v Clyde (A): 2-0
Peterhead
- WIN v Elgin City (H): 2-0 (McCarthy and Shanks)
- DRAW v East Fife (A): 0-0
- DRAW v Clyde (H): 2-2 (Smith and Jason Brown)
- WIN v Bonnyrigg Rose (A): 3-4 (Colloty, Shanks, Barry and Smith)
- DRAW v Forfar Athletic (H): 2-2 (Shanks x2 (Pen x1))
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: Lane, C Ross, Docherty (Foster 46), Ecrepont, Reid (Guthrie 76), Dunlop, Hawkshaw (Robertson 72), Quigg, McKnight, Grant, Edgar (Lang 72).
Not used: Smith, Phillips and Kane.
Peterhead
Lineup v Elgin City: McKenzie, Strachan, Jason Brown, Scott Ross, Dunne, McCarthy (Jack Brown 66), Smith, Pawlett (Seb Ross 46), Forrest, Barry (Carnwath 80), Shanks (Colloty 80).
Not used: Goldie, Wilson, McAllister, Jordon Brown and Oluyemi.
Five facts
1. Stranraer are yet to score a goal against Peterhead in three meetings this season. In the 2008/09 season, the Blues failed to find the net in any of the four meetings with Saturday’s opposition. Peterhead won 4-0 and 1-0 at Balmoor Stadium before winning 3-0 and 1-0 at Stair Park.
2. Craig Ross’ goal against Edinburgh City was the first time Stranraer had scored from a corner since Craig Ross scored against Bonnyrigg Rose in August. The time before that? Craig Ross scored against East Kilbride.
3. Saturday marks the 19th birthday of goalkeeper Sam Kane. On loan from Queen’s Park, his Stranraer debut came against Peterhead on January 14. He also featured four days later against East Fife.
4. Tuesday night’s defeat was the first time Stranraer had lost at home to a team with 10 men since August 2019. The visitors to Stair Park that day were Peterhead. Rory McAllister was sent off with 18 minutes remaining but Peterhead were already 2-0 up thanks to a Scott Brown double. David Dangana pulled one back for Stranraer with five minutes left but it was not enough. The home side that day was: Burgess, Allan, Cummins, Hamilton, Hamill, Robertson, McManus, Hilton (Smith 77), Thomson, Stewart (Jones 69), Elliott (Dangana 69). Not used: Currie.
5. If selected, Matty Grant will make appearance number 100 for Stranraer. The midfielder, signed from Pollok, has made 78 starts and 21 substitute appearances. He has also found the net on 11 occasions, with two of the goals coming this term. Both goals have been the winner – with the second in a 2-1 triumph at East Fife followed by the only goal against Elgin City earlier this month.
Admission
Admission in the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park is ‘pay at the gate’ only. Season tickets are valid for Saturday’s game.
Away fans can enter the ground from the away turnstile opposite the main stand. This turnstile is cash only.
The following pricing applies:
- Adult – £15
- Concession (over 65) – £10
- Youth (5 to 16) – £5
- Under 5 – FREE
Merchandise
All three 2024/25 Mizuno kits are back in stock and available from the merchandise hut outside the main McLeans Taxis Stand, along with training tops, clothing, scarves and club ties.
Cash and card payments are accepted and we open from 1.30pm.
Pavilion Bar
Pop into the 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.
Coverage
If you’re further afield, 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 from 10pm on Saturday night, along with full match footage later on Sunday.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with commentary kings Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin back on duty.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
