Football can be a cruel game at times as Stranraer and Sean Docherty found out last weekend.
The Blues looked on course for three points when Mark Russell tucked home a penalty with 78 minutes on the clock against Clyde.
However, the former Greenock Morton man was then sent off before the visitors scored a quickfire double to return to New Douglas Park with the win.
Docherty had won the spot kick at Stair Park but was injured in doing so and watched the closing minutes from the dugout.
He said: “It is the same as last week against Forfar when we have just got to see out the game better.
“Even when we go a goal down, I know the boy hit a wonder strike but even at 1-1 – just take the point and move on.”
Docherty was barely sat down when the game turned once again as Russell was penalised for a tackle outside of the box.
Martin Rennie stepped up to score before the frontman tapped home a stoppage time winner for the side eighth in Scottish League Two.
Docherty, who joined the club from East Fife earlier this year, was not impressed with the referee’s decision, which led to Russell’s dismissal and the equaliser.
He said: “The referee’s decision is absolutely shocking.
“I think Mark has actually passed the ball away and he gets a red card.”
Stranraer will now need to dust themselves down and go again when they travel to Ainslie Park this weekend.
The Blues were 3-1 winners in the capital earlier this campaign, before Docherty joined the club – although, he was part of the East Fife side that won there in September.
Docherty will be hoping to be fit for Saturday’s game after hobbling off after winning the penalty.
Speaking at the full time whistle, he said: “I will try my best but we will see what the physio says.
“We just need to look to the next game, win the next game and focus on ourselves and no-one else.
“If you win the game, you forget about the last one and that is football for you.
“You get a new week to prove yourself.”
Last meeting
An action-packed start to the game at Stair Park saw both sides create chances in the opening 60 seconds with Josh Lane and Blair Carswell called into action.
The opening goal would come from a new face. Sean Docherty was making his home debut after joining from East Fife and he raced onto a cross from Mark Russell to blast home.
Ryan Edgar had an effort blocked by Ayrton Sonkur at the start of the second half but the frontman would have the decisive moment. The game was in stoppage time when Edgar coolly slotted across the goalkeeper after being found by Matty Grant.
Stranraer: Lane, Robertson, Brindley, Ross, Docherty, Reid, Gallagher, Dunlop (McKnight 76), Russell, Foster (Grant 65), Edgar (Quigg 90).
Not used: Ecrepont and Kane.
Spartans: Carswell, Booth, Waugh, Laing (K Watson 65), Sonkur, Whyte, Hunter (Dishington 84), Russell, Walls (Stowe 65), Craigen (Morgan 65), Henderson.
Not used: Preston, A Scott, Ritchie, M Scott and Meek.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 2 Spartans 0 (Docherty and Edgar) at Stair Park on February 1, 2025
- 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; P 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
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Clyde (H): 1-2 (Russell (Pen))
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (H): 0-1
- WIN v East Fife (A): 0-3 (Hawkshaw (Pen) and Lang x2)
- DRAW v Peterhead (H): 0-0
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (H): 1-2 (Edgar)
Spartans
- LOSS v East Fife (A): 4-2 (Dishington and Henderson (Pen))
- LOSS v Elgin City (H): 1-2 (Dishington)
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (A): 0-2 (Ritchie and Own goal)
- WIN v Elgin City (A): 0-2 (Henderson and Sonkur)
- DRAW v Stirling Albion (H): 0-0
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Clyde: Kane, Ross, Docherty (Brindley 81), Ecrepont, Reid, Dunlop, Hawkshaw, McKnight (Quigg 72), Grant (Lang 72), Russell, Foster (Edgar 81).
Not used: Robertson, Guthrie and Lane.
Spartans
Lineup v East Fife: Carswell, Waugh, Sonkur, Preston (Laing 77), Whyte, Dishington, Hunter (Wylie 85), Russell, Craigen (Dall 73), Stowe (Walls 72), Henderson (Morgan 73).
Not used: Meek.
Five facts
1. Mark Russell’s goal last weekend against Clyde was the first time Stranraer have scored in the 80th minute in more than four years. The last man to do it was Joao Victoria in November 2020 against Cowdenbeath. His goal came after Tom Orr had scored in the first half as Stranraer won 2-0.
2. Happy birthday to former Stranraer midfielder Sam McCloskey, who turned 30 on Friday. Currently playing for Troon, McCloskey made 26 appearances in a Stranraer shirt between August 2014 and September 2016. His debut came in a 2-2 home draw with Brechin City, where Stranraer were 2-0 behind thanks to goals from Colin Hamilton and Craig Molloy. However, Stranraer turned the game round thanks to goals from Adam Forde and Stephen Stirling. The home team that day was: Fahey, Rumsby, Pettigrew, McKeown, Robertson, Marenghi (Stirling 57), Aitken (Forde 46), Gallagher (McCloskey 88), Malcolm, Longworth, Winter. Not used: Longridge, Deazley and Tobin.
3. Clyde scored in the last minute last weekend. That was the sixth goal Stranraer have conceded in the last minute of a game this season.
4. Craig Malcolm was the first player to score in a competitive meeting between Stranraer and Spartans. He scored four in a 7-1 cup triumph in August 2016 and remains top scorer in fixtures between the two sides. Former Stranraer defender Ayrton Sonkur is next in line with three goals – all coming for the capital club.
5. Mark Russell’s goal last weekend took him to 10 for the season, making him the first Stranraer player to reach double figures since Matty Yates in 2021/22. Elliot Dunlop and Deryn Lang are both on six goals. The last time Stranraer had two players in double figures was 2020/21 when Tom Orr finished on 11 and Ruari Paton found the net on 10 occasions.
Admission
Admission at Ainslie Park is priced as follows:
- Adult – £17
- Concession (16 to 18 and 65+) – £12
- Youth (13 to 15) – £5
Supporters can either purchase tickets online or pay at the gate.
Coverage
We’ll have live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter) for those not heading to Ainslie Park this weekend, and the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube following the game.
Our usual highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday morning, with commentary from Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin.
Club 1870 subscribers can catch the goals after 10pm on Saturday night, along with full match footage later on Sunday.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, MadMac Photography
