A packed fixture list is no bad thing for recent signing Aaron Quigg.
The midfielder joined Stranraer earlier this month after impressing Chris Aitken while on trial.
Three games in the space of a week brings about its own challenges but Quigg was enjoying every moment of it.
The Blues picked up a rare win at Forfar Athletic but then went down to a disappointing defeat to Bonnyrigg Rose on Tuesday night.
Saturday brings a contest with Spartans and Stranraer have a return fixture with Forfar and then Clyde before Valentine’s Day.
Speaking to the Stranraer website 24 hours after the defeat in Midlothian, Quigg said: “On Saturday, we were really good away to Forfar and I thought the boys were brilliant.
“Obviously, then, last night at Bonnyrigg was disappointing.
“I think we just need to find that bit of consistency because Saturday it was a really good win away at Forfar and then Tuesday night was disappointing.
“The boys are a really hard working group so we will watch the game back and see what we can do to hopefully try to rectify the mistakes we made last night and take it into Saturday.
“Consistency in football is massive.
“You cannot go one win, then losing, then winning and then losing.
“If we can win on Saturday that could kick off a good wee run for us.
“A win on Saturday is the most important thing.
“Obviously, having games Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday can be hard for boys but, personally, I love it.
“I would play a game every other night if I could.”
The new signing spent the first half of the campaign at the opposite end of Dumfries and Galloway.
Six months working under Willie Gibson and Steven Bell at Annan Athletic was a good learning experience.
Now, he is hoping to use that experience to boost Stranraer after being reunited with a number of familiar faces, including Kirk McKnight and Craig Ross.
He said: “I really enjoyed it at Annan and they are a good club and good people but I was not getting the minutes that I wanted really.
“I left Annan and the manager here gave me a wee text to come in and train.
“I really enjoyed it and I signed last week.”
Football is something that runs in the family.
His dad Stevie played up front for Largs Thistle but the Stranraer faithful are more likely to see Aaron in midfield.
He said: “I’m a midfielder – I’ve never really played as a striker or a forward.
“My dad played for Largs Thistle and a few Junior teams and he was a big battering ram.”
Last meeting
Stranraer were celebrating three points on the road, despite Spartans opening the scoring.
The goal in the first half came when Callum Booth crossed in from the left and Blair Henderson nodded back across goal beyond Robbie Mutch.
Credit to Stranraer, who found their leveller when Elliot Dunlop collected Deryn Lang’s pass. The on-loan Airdrie man still had plenty to do but coolly lifted the ball over Blair Carswell.
The game was turned on its head when Mark Russell cut in from the left and curled home a delightful effort.
That was how the scoring remained until the very end when Stranraer were awarded a penalty. Max Guthrie was hauled down by Kevin Waugh and Russell did the business from 12 yards.
Spartans: Carswell, Booth, Waugh, Dishington (Stowe 68), Sonkur (Hunter 84), Whyte, Watson, Scott, Walls (Craigen 72), Henderson, Russell.
Not used: Cunningham, Denholm, Wylie and Meek.
Stranraer: Mutch, Cummins, Ross, Robertson (McQueen 64), Brindley, Gallagher, Dunlop (Ecrepont 83), Russell, Hawkshaw (McKnight 75), Grant, Lang (Guthrie 83).
Not used: Adam, Foster and Pazikas.
Last five meetings
- Spartans 1 Stranraer 3 (Henderson; Dunlop and Russell x2 (Pen x1)) at Ainslie Park on December 10, 2024
- Stranraer 2 Spartans 2 (Lang and Dunlop; Watson x2) at Stair Park on August 3, 2024
- Spartans 0 Stranraer 0 at Ainslie Park on April 13, 2024
- Stranraer 1 Spartans 2 (Orr; Sonkur x2) at Stair Park on February 17, 2024
- Spartans 3 Stranraer 0 (Denholm, Sonkur and Own goal) at Ainslie Park on December 23, 2023
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Bonnyrigg Rose (A): 3-1 (Russell)
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-1 (Gallagher)
- LOSS v East Fife (H): 0-2
- LOSS v Peterhead (A): 1-0
- DRAW v Clyde (H): 1-1 (Russell (Pen))
Spartans
- WIN v Peterhead (H): 1-0 (Stowe)
- DRAW v Bonnyrigg Rose (A): 2-2 (Russell and Henderson (Pen))
- WIN v Edinburgh City (H): 1-0 (Henderson (Pen))
- LOSS v East Fife (A): 5-1 (Stowe)
- WIN v Clyde (H): 3-2 (P Watson and Russell x2)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Bonnyrigg Rose: Lane, Ross, Ecrepont, McIntosh (Docherty 55), Reid, Robertson, Dunlop, Russell, Quigg (Grant 64), Guthrie (Edgar 55), Foster (Trialist 55).
Not used: Brindley, Gallagher, McKnight and Kane.
Spartans
Lineup v Peterhead: Carswell, Waugh, Laing, Sonkur, Whyte, Scott (Dishington 62), Hunter, Walls (Henderson 62), Craigen (K Watson 76), Russell, Stowe (Morgan 62).
Not used: Dishington, Preston, Ritchie, Scott and Meek.
Five facts
1. Former Stranraer full-back Ross Barbour turns 32 on Saturday. He made more than 60 appearances for Kilmarnock but just four for Stranraer. That saw two wins (2-1 over Annan Athletic and 3-1 over East Stirlingshire) and two defeats (3-0 against Rangers and 5-2 against Alloa Athletic) before leaving the Blues in 2016. He now plays his football for Darvel.
2. Defeat at Bonnyrigg Rose means Stranraer have not kept back-to-back clean sheets since consecutive goalless draws towards the end of last season. There were no goals when Stranraer faced Spartans in April last year and there were no goals the following weekend when the Blues hosted Dumbarton.
3. Stranraer have won two games at Stair Park this season. The last time they recorded only two wins in the league was in 2019/20, when a 3-2 win over Raith Rovers (Connor McManus, David Dangana and Cameron Elliott scored) was followed by a 3-0 win over Clyde (Adam Cummins, Scott Robertson and Mark Stewart scored). That season also saw home cup wins over Berwick Rangers (6-0 – Stewart scored a double while Elliott, McManus, Jordan Allan and James Hilton found the target) and Dunfermline Athletic (Hilton scored from the penalty spot).
4. Stranraer have never failed to find the net against Spartans at Stair Park in any of the five previous meetings.
5. Stranraer have not won their first game in February since 2017. That saw a Craig Malcolm double and Steven Bell effort in a 3-0 win over Albion Rovers. The Blues team that day was: Belford, Dick, Barron, Bell, Neill, Gibson, Robertson, Agnew (Wilson 85), Donald (Turner 70), Thomson, Malcolm (McGuigan 80). Not used: Kassaraté, Morena, Kemp and Currie.
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
Our 2024/25 Mizuno home jersey is finally back in stock and available from the merchandise hut outside the main McLeans Taxis Stand.
Inspired by the shores of Loch Ryan, the new tops are priced as follows:
- Adult £55
- Youth £45
Cash and card payments are accepted, and we have a range of sizes available, along with brand new away strips, training tops and more 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 Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin returning on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
