Two late goals from former Stranraer man Ayrton Sonkur ultimately proved decisive the last time Spartans visited Stair Park.
Not only did it give the capital club the win, but it denied Stranraer three points that would have kept the club off the bottom of the table come the end of the season.
Craig Ross was part of the home side’s defence on that afternoon in February and will be hoping to line up again in a Stranraer shirt on Saturday.
Ahead of the new league campaign kicking off, he said: “The 2-1 game probably hurt the most, to be honest.
“It just shows they are a good side because it was not easy to come to Stair Park and win.
“We have got to give them respect in that sense but at the same time we have got to put things right and beat them at home.
“The changing room was probably one of the lowest it has been after that game.
“We defended so well and we were in it for so long and it was a bit of naivety from us.
“As soon as they scored the first one, we’ve tried to go and kick the ball into the corner instead of trying to keep it for the last few seconds.
“That is a big learning point for this season.”
Ross and manager Scott Agnew will be hoping that the ups and downs of last season will help the club over the next eight or nine months.
Each of the players is now a year more experienced and the squad has been added to with Adam Cummins, Tomas Brindley, Mark Russell and Paul Woods joining the club.
In total, the quartet have played more than 800 senior games of football.
Ross said: “You need a good mix of experience and youth.
“That naivety in the Spartans game, with experience you probably don’t end up losing that game.
“Having experience all across the pitch is really important.”
Ross is also gaining valuable experience and sits third in the current squad in terms of appearances in a Stranraer shirt – although some way behind Scott Robertson and Grant Gallagher!
That means there have been plenty of new faces coming in during his time at Stair Park and this summer has been no different.
The defender, who joined from Kilmarnock, said: “Obviously, it takes time for new boys to come in but the new boys that have come in and done well.
“It is good to have some boys back from last season with more added experience.”
Previous meeting
A point at Ainslie Park was ultimately not enough to help Stranraer avoid bottom spot at the end of last season.
The goalless draw was not without chances, as Deryn Lang saw his low shot loop up in the air after goalkeeper Blair Carswell stuck out a foot. The former Lanark United man came close again after the break but his dipping effort was too close to the home goalkeeper.
However, the hosts could have taken all three points late on. Marc McNulty’s ball into the box hung up in the air and Lewis Budinauckas had to backpedal before claiming the ball.
The Spartans: Carswell, Booth, Sonkur, P Watson, K Watson, Russell (Denholm 70), Armstrong (Thompson 70), Craigen (Dishington 20), Whyte, Henderson, McNulty.
Not used: Laing, Newman, Brown and Meek.
Stranraer: Budinauckas, Williamson, Ross, McQueen, McIntosh, Gallagher, Hawkshaw (Miller 77), Forrest, Grant (Dolan 61), Armour (Orr 70), Lang (Gilmartin 77).
Not used: Ecrepont, Fleming and Downie.
Last five meetings
- The Spartans 0 Stranraer 0 at Ainslie Park on April 13, 2024
- Stranraer 1 The Spartans 2 (Orr; Sonkur x2) at Stair Park on February 17, 2024
- The Spartans 3 Stranraer 0 (Denholm, Sonkur and Own goal) at Ainslie Park on December 23, 2023
- Stranraer 3 The Spartans 4 (Orr, Dolan and Lang; Craigen, Armstrong, Tapping and Henderson) at Stair Park on October 7, 2023
- Stranraer 5 The Spartans 0 (Duffy, Paton, Cummins and Yates x2) at Stair Park on December 26, 2020
Last five games
Stranraer
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (A): 2-2 (Edgar and Lang) (Stirling Albion won 4-2 on penalties)
- LOSS v Hamilton Academical (H): 0-3
- LOSS v Raith Rovers (A) 3-1 (Dunlop)
- LOSS v Ross County (H): 1-3 (Lang)
- WIN v East Kilbride (H): 3-1 (Gallagher, Ross and Gilmartin)
The Spartans
- WIN v Livingston (A): 0-1 (Russell)
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (H): 1-0 (Henderson)
- WIN v Cove Rangers (A): 0-5 (Henderson (Pen), Own goal, Dishington and Russell x2)
- LOSS v Dunfermline Athletic (H): 0-3
- DRAW v Dumbarton (H): 2-2 (Russell and Henderson (Pen))
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Stirling Albion: Pazikas, Brindley, Cummins, Ross, McIntosh, Grant (Edgar 82), Gallagher (Lang 46), Russell, Hawkshaw (Hughes 82), Dunlop (McKnight 46), Foster (Orr 60).
Not used: Adam, McQueen, Robertson and Broun.
The Spartans
Lineup v Livingston: Carswell, K Watson, Booth, Dishington, Sonkur, P Watson, Hunter, Denholm (Craigen 60), Walls (Russell 61), Whyte, Henderson.
Not used: Anderson, Wylie, Scott, Inglis and Meek.
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) and Chris Johnston.
The Spartans
- Arrivals: Callum Booth (St Johnstone), Lewis Hunter (Annan Athletic), Hamish Ritchie (Peterhead) and Brogan Walls (East Fife).
- Departures: Rhys Armstrong (Airdrieonians), Sean Brown (Linlithgow Rose), Sam Jones (Edinburgh City), Gavin Morrison (Inverness Clachnacuddin), Sam Newman (Cowdenbeath), Mason McCready (Partick Thistle, end of loan), Robbie Thompson (end of loan, Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Alan Brown, Jordan Tapping, Marc McNulty and Harvey Swann.
Five facts
1. Stranraer’s result after 90 minutes at Stirling Albion would have been good enough for a draw in the league. The last time the Blues came from two goals to rescue at least a point was away to Raith Rovers in April 2019. The hosts had led 2-0 before Kyle Turner, Innes Cameron and Joao Victoria scored. Coincidentally, Stranraer also came from 2-0 down to beat Kelty Hearts 3-2 at Stark’s Park in the Scottish Cup in January 2021.
2. Stirling Albion were victorious in the penalty shoot-out last time out. Stranraer last enjoyed a shoot-out win at Galabank in October 2020. After the game finished 1-1 (Ruari Paton scoring for the Blues), Stranraer came through 5-4 on spot kicks.
3. His goal at Ibrox was one of 43 he scored for the club, happy birthday to Jamie Longworth on Saturday. The frontman, who turns 37, was a real fans’ favourite during his time with the club after joining from Queen’s Park. Forty-three goals in 93 starts, plus 42 substitute appearances says it all. He went on to play for Alloa Athletic, Stenhousemuir and East Kilbride before moving to the Middle East.
4. Callum Booth, who plays for The Spartans, was born in Stranraer but moved to East Lothian at a young age. Since then, he has played for Hibs, Arbroath, Brechin City, Livingston, Raith Rovers, Partick Thistle, Dundee United and St Johnstone. He was also capped at under-19s and under-21s for Scotland.
5. Recent signing Robbie Foster was previously on the books of Sheffield United. However, he is not the only forward with a connection between the Blades and the Blues. Doug Brown moved from Bramall Lane to Stair Park in the early 1980s before moving to Australia. He also featured for Clydebank.
Merchandise
Our new away kits for 2024/25 will be on sale at Stair Park, along with a variety of other merchandise.
Head to the back of the main stand from 1.30pm.
Parking
There is ample parking throughout the grassy areas of Stair Park, and you should find a spot within the grounds. Please allow plenty of time for your journey and travel safely.
Admission
Admission at Stair Park is generally ‘pay at the gate’ only, so no tickets are required. Season tickets are valid for Saturday’s game, along with all regular league fixtures.
The gates open from 2pm, and 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
Pavilion Bar
Drop into the Pavilion Bar outside the away turnstile, where a warm welcome and a cold refreshment awaits home and away supporters from our team of volunteers.
Home, away and neutral supporters are welcome, and the bar accepts both cash and card.
Or, stop into the Stranraer FC Fitba’ Bar on North Strand Street in the town centre, which is also open to all.
Coverage
The manager’s interview will be available on YouTube during the evening, and our popular extended highlights package will follow on Sunday morning.
Club 1870 subscribers can watch an exclusive player interview and catch the goals before midnight, along with full match footage on Sunday afternoon.
For anyone further afield, you can catch live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter) throughout the afternoon.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
