Scorers: Spartans – Stowe (40); Stranraer – Turay (6) and Quigg (73)
Aaron Quigg found the net against Spartans for the third time this season to give Stranraer all three points at Ainslie Park.
The Blues moved back into the top four with a hard-fought victory against the title-chasers in the capital.
Chris Aitken made a double change from the side that had drawn with Dumbarton last weekend.
Beejay Coll and Lewis Hunter came into the team in place of Finn Ecrepont and James Dolan.
There had been goals in each of the three previous meetings between the sides this campaign and fans did not have long to wait for that record to continue.
A goal kick from Lyndon Tas was flicked on by Quigg and into the path of Sal Turay.
The frontman got away from his marker and then kept his cool to beat Blair Carswell for his first goal since returning from injury.
Spartans were enjoying plenty of possession but, arguably, it was the visitors who were creating the more clear-cut chances.
Deryn Lang turned a Quigg cross into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper before Hunter came very close with a drive following a Stranraer corner.
At the other end, Cammy Russell clipped the post with a low drive from outside of the box.
And the midfielder was heavily involved as Spartans found their leveller five minutes before the break.
Stranraer players and the coaching staff were convinced that Spartans had handled the ball in the middle of the park.
Nothing was awarded by referee Joel Kennedy and Russell then teed up Mark Stowe to sweep home, despite the best efforts of Coll on the line.
Both teams would have chances after the break, with Turay twice coming close.
He put a low shot wide of the target and then called Carswell into action when he closed down an attempted defensive clearance.
The angle was too tight on that occasion but Stranraer were starting to look more dangerous.
The winner would come with 17 minutes left when Danny McManus did exceptionally well to win the ball in his own half.
He then powered into the Spartans half and found Matthew Gillies, who delivered a low cross for Quigg to tap home from close range.
Spartans had to go for it now in an attempt to take something from the game.
Their best chance would fall to former Hibs striker Marc McNulty.
He collected Bradley Whyte’s ball through the Stranraer defence but found Joe McGrath in his way and the defender blocked the shot.
Spartans would have more opportunities in the closing minutes but Tas and his defence held firm for the win.
Attention now turns to the LIME Stadium and the visit from a Forfar Athletic side with their own play-off ambitions.
Spartans: Carswell, Booth (Drysdale 69), Tapping (Waugh 46), Nair (Whyte 46), Sonkur, Watson, Dishington, Russell, Craigen (Lawless 79), Stowe, McNulty.
Not used: Aiken, Wylie, Ndlovu and Meek.
Stranraer: Tas, Reid, McGrath, Dunne, Coll (Ecrepont 75), Quigg, McManus (Dolan 75), Gillies, Hunter (Stuart 62), Turay (Hughes 75), Lang.
Not used: Docherty, McKnight, Lynch and Henderson.
Referee: Joel Kennedy
Attendance: 521
HT: 1-1
Photos: Mark Brown (Spartans FC)
