For the second week running, Stranraer will find themselves up against Championship opposition.
The Blues exited the KDM Evolution Trophy last Tuesday night when they lost out 4-1 at Ayr United.
Queen’s Park are the visitors in the rearranged clash the LIME Stadium this Tuesday as the Scottish Cup takes centre stage.
Lewis Reid, a former Queen’s Park defender, was relishing the chance to test himself against higher opposition once again.
He said: “I love it.
“That is the level I want to be playing at and that is where I strive to be: playing full-time.
“It just gets me experience of playing these teams again.
“I love it and it is a new challenge.
“It kind of puts you out of your comfort zone and tests you in different ways that you probably do not get tested in League Two.”
The defeat at Somerset Park, which saw Ronan Hughes net his first goal for the Blues, ended a nine-game unbeaten run stretching back to mid-November.
Chris Aitken’s men have not suffered back-to-back losses since September when Kelty Hearts and Spartans enjoyed victories.
Central defender Reid, who has struck up an impressive partnership with Scot Rough, was keen to get one over on his old side.
He said: “We are quite lucky that we have got another game so quickly.
“It is such a big game as well.
“We really fancy ourselves to go and create an upset on Saturday.
“We are on our home patch, we will take the game to Queen’s Park and, hopefully, get through to the next round.”
The defender joined on loan last season as soon as Aitken came through the door.
He then made the switch permanent but rejected the idea that he had taken a step back by swapping Saturday’s opponents and the Championship for Stranraer and League Two.
He said: “I would not say it was a step back.
“I would have said it was more of another step forward because when I was at Queen’s Park I very rarely played.
“I came to Stranraer and I was playing week in, week out.
“The gaffer has put a lot of trust in me and I have seen it more as a step forward, just getting regular football and learning the men’s game.
“I feel as if I have done that.”
Last meeting
Seven goals were shared the last time Queen’s Park made the trip down the A77 to Stair Park.
The deadlock was broken when Simon Murray capitalised on a defensive mistake to slot beyond Luke Scullion with not even nine minutes on the clock.
The striker doubled the tally with a header from a corner and things looked ominous when Grant Savoury made it 3-0 before half time with a strike from outside the box.
However, Stranraer launched a comeback before the break. Scott Robertson volleyed home from close range before Scott McLean netted the rebound after James Hilton’s penalty was saved.
Straight from kick-off, Murray wrapped up his hat-trick and Queen’s Park would go three clear when Savoury netted in second half injury time.
Stranraer: Scullion, Robertson, Ellis, Girvan, Dunn, Brady (Walker 72), Hilton (Duffy 82), Gallagher, Woods, Hawkshaw (Forrest 72), McLean.
Not used: O’Connor.
Queen’s Park: Ferrie, Robson, Kilday, Fox, Davidson, Longridge (Moore 70), Thomson (Naismith 59), Thomas, Savoury, Jarrett (Brown 59), Murray (Williamson 78).
Not used: Gillies, Bruce, Bannon, Biggar and Heraghty.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 2 Queen’s Park 5 (Robertson and McLean; Murray x3 and Savoury x2) at Stair Park on July 9, 2022
- Queen’s Park 0 Stranraer 1 (Yates) at The Falkirk Stadium on April 23, 2021
- Queen’s Park 3 Stranraer 0 (Doyle, Kilday and McHugh (Pen)) at Hampden Park on March 20, 2021
- Stranraer 0 Queen’s Park 1 (MacLean) at Stair Park on October 31, 2020
- Stranraer 2 Queen’s Park 3 (Robertson and Agnew (Pen); Keena x2 and Burns) at Stair Park on March 17, 2018
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Ayr United (A): 4-1 (Hughes)
- DRAW v Forfar Athletic (A): 2-2 (Ecrepont and Lang)
- DRAW v Edinburgh City (H): 1-1 (Lang)
- DRAW v Annan Athletic (A): 2-2 (Russell (Pen) and Lang)
- DRAW v Dumbarton (H): 1-1 (Russell)
Queen’s Park
- DRAW v Dunfermline Athletic (H): 1-1 (Fieldson)
- WIN v Clyde (H): 2-1 (Drozd and Fowler)
- WIN v Airdrieonians (A): 0-3 (Fowler x2 and Fieldson)
- DRAW v Partick Thistle (H): 2-2 (Murray and Drozd)
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (H): 2-0 (Fowler and McLeish)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Ayr United: Lane, Reid, Rough, Docherty, Coll, McKnight (Stuart 63), Hughes (Quigg 74), Hunter (McManus 63), Dolan, Russell (Cleland 63), Lang (O’Donnell 74).
Not used: Ecrepont, Dunne and Henderson.
Queen’s Park
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: Sliwinski, Fieldson (Shiels 74), Carrick, Friel (Pignatiello 84), Lamie, MacGregor, Waugh, Scott (Connolly 63), Bradley (Drozd 63), McLean (McLeish 63), Fowler.
Not used: Burke, Longridge, Sowa and Ferrie.
Five facts
- Queen’s Park scored five on their last visit to Stair Park with Simon Murray scoring a hat-trick on the opening day of the season. He returned 12 months later to repeat the feat in the first game with his new club Ross County.
- A goal from Ronan Hughes last time out means the number of outfield players yet to score for Stranraer has reduced. Lewis Reid and Beejay Coll, as well as loan duo Matthew Gillies and Dean Cleland, are the quartet yet to celebrate a goal in a Stranraer shirt.
- It is more than a decade since Stranraer and Queen’s Park met in the Scottish Cup. On that occasion, David Anderson’s goal for the visitors was cancelled out by a Craig Malcolm effort. The replay at Hampden Park would go the way of the Blues, though. A double from Sean Winter had the visitors 2-0 up before James Brough pulled one back. Chris Aitken restored the two-goal advantage before Winter wrapped up his hat-trick. Among those in the Queen’s Park starting line-up that day? Future Scotland internationals Andy Robertson and Lawrence Shankland, as well as a certain Jamie Longworth. The Blues line-up was: Mitchell, Staunton, McKeown, Dunlop, Macgregor, Winter (Agnew), Aitken (Rafferty), Gallagher, Love, Moore (Wright), Malcolm. Not used: Kinnaird and Cadwell.
- Fans of both sides need to cast their minds back to the final meeting of the 2009/10 season for the last time there was a goalless draw between Stranraer and Queen’s Park. Since then, the two sides have faced each other 24 times.
- Lewis Reid is not the only ex-Queen’s Park man in the Stranraer squad. Beejay Coll also had a spell at Hampden Park, where he made more than 20 appearances.
Admission
Admission at Stair Park is ‘pay at the gate’ only. Season tickets are not valid for Tuesday evening’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
We’re stocked with all three Adidas kits, hats, scarves, umbrellas, warm layers, pin badges, key rings and more.
Or, pick up a bargain with reduced prices on our brand new Stranraer FC 2026 calendar (also available online via Shopify).
Cash and card payments are accepted.
You can also purchase a range of merchandise online.
Pavilion Bar
Pop into our popular Pavilion Bar outside the away turnstile 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.
Podcast
In the latest episode of Look Blues Talking, we look back on the trips to Forfar and Ayr, and ahead to the Scottish Cup meeting with Queen’s Park.
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 on Wednesday morning, along with full match footage.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube by Wednesday evening, with Brian Martin and Euan Home on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)
