Goalkeeper Josh Lane believes one league win could get Stranraer’s league season up and running.
The Blues have won three games over 90 minutes this term but none of those have come in League Two.
Spartans are the visitors to the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park on Saturday with Stranraer looking to spring a surprise.
Lane, who has featured in each of Stranraer’s games this campaign, was confident the players could get things going this weekend.
He said: “In training everything is going well and we prepare ourselves in the right way.
“What I can guarantee is that as soon as that first win in the league comes, we will be flying.
“It is, ultimately, we have to take our chances, I think.
“Put the game to bed early doors instead of just waiting off and the other team always scores first.
“If we can get that first goal, we just need to take our chances.”
Next Saturday will bring a quickfire return to Wigtownshire for the Blues, who welcome Elgin City in the seventh league fixture of the campaign.
Back-to-back home games offers Stranraer the chance to get the season going after a sluggish start in the league.
Lane said: “Coming down to Stranraer, it is a bit of a fortress.
“It does make it tougher for opposition and it then makes us more confident going into the games.”
Lane became a key component of Chris Aitken’s team that battled their way clear of bottom spot last season.
A clean sheet on his debut against Forfar Athletic was followed by a clean sheet on his home debut, against Saturday’s visitors.
And it was no surprise when the manager was keen to bring Lane back from Hamilton Academical for a second loan spell.
Since rejoining the club, he has been an ever-present between the sticks.
Lane, who also had a loan spell at Thorniewood United, said: “As soon as I found out I was able to come back, I had to.
“I just loved my time so much last season.
“I loved it.
“There was never any doubt I was coming back and I knew that the paperwork was going to go through.”
Last meeting
Stranraer’s final trip to Spartans last season gave the Edinburgh club their first three points of the four meetings.
The visitors had Craig Ross to thank early on as he cleared a Brogan Walls effort off the line. However, the Spartans man would be celebrating the opening goal before the break. Sam Kane did well to keep out Cammy Russell’s shot but the home midfielder then crossed the ball back into the danger area and Walls swept home.
Robbie Foster was inches away from an equaliser but it would come from his replacement early in the second half. Blair Carswell managed to get a hand to an Elliot Dunlop shot but Max Guthrie was following up to slam the ball into the roof of the net.
The winner would come from a well worked team goal down the right and Russell was the man to finish it off.
Spartans: Carswell, Watson (Preston 67), Waugh, Sonkur, Walls (Stowe 77), Dall, Craigen (Hunter 84), Whyte, Dishington, Henderson, Russell.
Not used: Laing, Morgan and Meek.
Stranraer: Kane, Robertson, Ross, Reid, Brindley (Ecrepont 55), Dunlop, Quigg, McKnight, Grant (Hawkshaw 77), Foster (Guthrie 52), Lang (Edgar 77).
Not used: Docherty and Lane.
Last five meetings
- Spartans 2 Stranraer 1 (Walls and C Russell; Guthrie) at Ainslie Park on April 5, 2025
- Stranraer 2 Spartans 0 (Docherty and Edgar) at Stair Park on February 1, 2025
- Spartans 1 Stranraer 3 (Henderson; Dunlop and M 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
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Kelty Hearts (A): 3-0
- LOSS v Stirling Albion (A): 1-0
- WIN v Rangers B (H): 4-1 (Sharp, Stuart, O’Donnell (Pen) and Rough)
- DRAW v Clyde (H): 1-1 (O’Donnell)
- LOSS v East Kilbride (A): 3-1 (Turay)
Spartans
- WIN v Hibernian B (H): 5-1 (Welsh, Russell x2 (Pen x1), Stowe and Whyte)
- WIN v Annan Athletic (H): 1-0 (Drysdale)
- DRAW v Peterhead (A): 1-1 (Henderson)
- WIN v Forfar Athletic (H): 1-0 (Stowe)
- WIN v Clyde (A): 1-3 (Stowe x2 and Whyte)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Kelty Hearts: Lane, Reid, Rough (Ecrepont 61), Docherty, Coll, Stuart (Hunter 72), Quigg, Russell, Dolan (Dunne 61), McManus (Lang 61), O’Donnell (Turay 78).
Not used: McKnight, Sharp, Edgar and Henderson.
Spartans
Lineup v Hibernian B: Carswell, Watson, Tapping, Drysdale (Nair 61), Waugh (Dall 61), Welsh, Craigen (Wylie 61), Whyte, Scott (Dishington 61), Russell (Ndlovu 69), Stowe.
Not used: Booth, Sonkur, Walls and Martin.
Ins and outs
Stranraer
Ins: Beejay Coll (St Cadoc’s), James Dolan (Unattached), Evan Dunne (Beith Juniors), Ewan Henderson (Whitletts Victoria), Ronan Hughes (St Cadoc’s), Lewis Hunter (The Spartans), Josh Lane (Hamilton Academicals, loan), Daniel McManus (St Cadoc’s), Corey O’Donnell (Stenhousemuir), Lewis Reid (Queen’s Park, loan made permanent), Scot Rough (Beith Juniors), Tommy Sharp (Livingston), Jordan Stuart (Beith Juniors) and Sallu Turay (Partick Thistle).
Outs: Tomas Brindley (Cumnock Juniors), Adam Cummins (Irvine Meadow), Grant Gallagher (Cumnock Juniors), Matty Grant (Johnstone Burgh), Dean Hawkshaw (Hurlford United), Craig Ross (Airdrieonians), Max Guthrie (Ayr United, end of loan), Sam Kane (Queen’s Park, end of loan), Josh Lane (Hamilton Academical, end of loan) and Scott Robertson (retired).
Spartans
Ins: Bailey Dall (Heart of Midlothian, loan made permanent), Ethan Drysdale (Heart of Midlothian), Paddy Martin (Bonnyrigg Rose), Marc McNulty (St George City), Jordan Tapping (Unattached), Sean Welsh (Queen’s Park) and Kenzi Nair (Heart of Midlothian, loan).
Outs: Jake Cunningham (Preston Athletic), Lewis Hunter (Stranraer), Chris Inglis (East Stirlingshire, loan made permanent), Ben Lamont (East Stirlingshire, loan made permanent), Adam Meek (Civil Service Strollers), Hamish Ritchie (Formartine United), Sam Coats (Civil Service Strollers, loan), Josh Laing (Bonnyrigg Rose, loan), Liam Morgan (Hamilton Academical, end of loan), Arran Preston (Hamilton Academical, end of loan), Danny Denholm (retired), Blair Henderson (Linlithgow Rose) and Aaron Scott.
Five facts
1. Former Stranraer midfielder Jim Doherty would have celebrated his 67th birthday on Saturday. He began his career with hometown club Kilmarnock before making more than 200 appearances for Clyde. A spell at Queen of the South was followed by a brief spell at Stair Park before he retired through injury. He sadly died last year.
2. With Scot Rough’s substitution at New Central Park last weekend, it means Josh Lane is the only Stranraer player to have played every minute of every game this season.
3. Stranraer failed to win any of their first five league games last term before going on to defeat East Fife in matchday six. Mark Russell scored a double, with an Alan Trouten effort sandwiched in between for the visitors. Goalkeeper Liam McFarlane was also sent off for East Fife, who ended the game with Andy Munro in goals.
4. Sean Docherty’s only goal – so far – in a Stranraer shirt came at home to Spartans. Ryan Edgar was also on the scoresheet in the 2-0 win at the beginning of February.
5. Last Saturday marked the first occasion since August last year that Stranraer have been able to name nine substitutes in consecutive matches. In the second game, the Blues won 2-1 against Bonnyrigg Rose with Mark Russell and Craig Ross, who also scored an own goal, finding the net. The home team that day was: Pazikas, Cummins, Ross, McQueen, Brindley (Gallagher 71), Dunlop, Russell (Hughes 82), Hawkshaw (Ecrepont 82), Grant (McIntosh 82), Lang (McKnight 71), Edgar. Not used: Robertson, Woods, Adam and Broun.
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
Stranraer FC merchandise is available from the hut outside the main McLeans Taxis Stand, including all three of this season’s kits, hats, a range of leisurewear, and sale items from last season.
Cash and card payments are accepted and we open from 1.30pm.
You can also purchase a range of merchandise online.
Pavilion Bar
Pop into our popular 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.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with Brian Martin joined by Cameron Ritchie on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)
