Scorers: Stranraer – Cleland (12) and Quigg (90+1); Spartans – McGrath OG (67)
Aaron Quigg’s stoppage time lob gave Stranraer three welcome points at the LIME Stadium.
The game looked destined to finish in a draw – Stranraer’s eighth over 90 minutes in their last 10 games – after Dean Cleland’s opener was cancelled out by his fellow Hibs loanee Joe McGrath’s unfortunate own goal.
However, with time ticking away, substitute Quigg came up with the game’s decisive moment.
Both sides made two changes coming into the game.
Chris Aitken brought in Kirk McKnight and Daniel McManus for James Dolan and Quigg.
Meanwhile, Spartans brought in Ethan Drysdale and Mark Stowe as Jordan Tapping missed out and Cameron Russell moved to the bench.
The home side started in promising fashion and had already created a few chances before Cleland’s opener on 12 minutes.
Paddy Martin did well to keep out Evan Dunne’s header following a McKnight corner.
Then, Cleland probably should have broken the deadlock.
Matthew Gillies chipped the ball over the visiting defence and Cleland almost had too much time as Martin rushed out and blocked the shot.
The goal was coming though and it was no surprise that it came for the home side.
Spartans simply could not get the ball clear and Dominic Plank chipped the ball to the back post where Cleland was waiting.
He headed back across goal and Martin was helpless to keep this one out.
The visitors to Stair Park came more into the contest on the back of that goal.
Marc McNulty was the main danger man, with Max Currie keeping out one effort from the edge of the box and then watching another effort fly inches wide of the target.
In truth, the Stranraer defence was having to soak up a lot of pressure.
They did so admirably and Currie was almost a spectator for much of the second half.
The pressure finally told midway through the second period.
Drysdale had plenty of time on the left and his shot across goal spun off Dunne.
Defensive colleague McGrath could only stick out a leg and diverted it beyond a helpless Currie.
Spartans were clearly buoyed by the goal and kept the pressure on as they looked to turn the game around.
Again, full credit to the Blues defence who were happy to throw themselves in front of any shots.
With time ticking away, Spartans came within a whisker of winning it.
Bradley Whyte won the ball in midfield and strode towards the box, pulling his shot just the wrong side of the left upright.
It looked as if that would be that and both teams would have to settle for a point.
Instead, a long thump up the park by Lewis Reid was raced onto by Quigg, who got to the ball before fellow substitute Dolan.
Quigg lobbed the ball over a stranded Martin, who could only turn and watch the ball clip the post and cross the line.
Understandably, the late winner was much appreciated by not just the home supporters but the Stranraer players and bench.
It is a result that keeps the Blues in the promotion play-offs and could prove vital at the end of the campaign.
Stranraer: Currie, Coll, Reid, McGrath, Dunne, McKnight (Hunter 81), Plank (Dolan 69), McManus (Quigg 69), Gillies, Lang (O’Donnell 81), Cleland (Hughes 88).
Not used: Docherty, Ecrepont and Tas.
The Spartans: Martin, Drysdale (Nair 85), Waugh, Sonkur, K Watson (Davidson 46), Craigen (Russell 46), Welsh, Whyte, McNulty, Stowe, Dishington (Aiken 73).
Not used: Booth, Dall, Lawless, P Watson and Carswell.
Referee: Gary Hanvidge
Attendance: 427
HT: 1-0
Photos: Bill McCandlish
