Ben Hughes believes he is a better player for having spent the bulk of last season away from Stair Park.
The midfielder was a second half substitute against Hamilton Academical on Saturday in his first appearance in a blue shirt since September last year.
That came in a 5-0 defeat at eventual champions Stenhousemuir, who ended Stranraer’s fine start to the campaign in style.
Hughes then went out on loan to Hurlford United, managed by former Stranraer fans’ favourite Darren Henderson, where he made a big impression.
Now, Hughes is hoping to show the coaching staff and the fans how far he has come in the last 12 months.
He said: “100 per cent I am a better player than this time last year.
“I think if I had stayed and had not got the game time that I would have liked then I would not have developed anywhere near as much as I did going out and getting that exposure.
“I learned a lot.
“Physically, it is a really physical league and it is very competitive in the West of Scotland Football League.
“I learned a lot and definitely feel it has made me a better player.”
Hughes made 10 appearances for Stranraer last season, with seven of those coming from the bench.
In contrast, he found himself a regular in the Hurlford team, playing both in midfield and occasionally at left back.
The 19-year-old said: “Darren Henderson at Hurlford was brilliant with me and he knew as a young player I needed games.
“He gave me that, which was what I needed, and I really feel it has benefited me as a player.”
Hughes came on for the final 23 minutes during the 3-0 defeat to Hamilton Academical.
Now, attention turns to a trip to Forthbank Stadium and the first game this season where Stranraer are facing a team from League Two and not opposition from, at least, two divisions above.
Hughes said: “We will fancy our chances a wee bit more going into that.
“With the workrate that has been there in the previous performances, if we take that in and show a wee bit more quality then we will be fine.”
Previous meeting
Stranraer almost took the lead in bizarre circumstances in the last meeting with Stirling Albion.
Sean McIntosh’s cross was pushed onto the bar by Blair Currie and the ball seemed to roll along the woodwork before dropping behind.
The opening goal came in odd circumstances as well. Grant Gallagher appealed for handball but, with the referee refusing to blow his whistle, Jack Leitch arrowed a shot home from outside the box.
Kyle Girvan came close to levelling things after the break before the Blues found their equaliser. Josh Walker chipped a cross into the box and Scott Robertson showed the hunger to get across his man and nod home.
Stranraer had chances to win it, including when Walker was clean through but lost his footing at the worst possible moment and a scramble where Girvan, Craig Ross and Matty Grant came close.
There would be one last chance when Girvan was pushed in the back in the box, but Currie got down well to save Walker’s spot kick.
Stranraer: Connelly, Robertson, Ross (Watt 87), Ecrepont, McIntosh, Girvan, Gallagher, Ngandu (Forrest 70), Grant, Walker, Brown.
Not used: Brady, Malcolm, D Duffy and O’Connor.
Stirling Albion: Currie, McGeachie, McLean, Cummins, F Duffy, Davidson, Leitch (Banner 71), Denholm (Dunsmore 68), Carrick, Moore, Thomson (Spence 83).
Not used: Clark, Hamilton, Cooper and Weir.
Last five meetings
- Stranraer 1 Stirling Albion 1 (Robertson; Leitch) at Stair Park on March 18, 2023
- Stirling Albion 1 Stranraer 0 (Davidson) at Forthbank Stadium on January 28, 2023
- Stranraer 3 Stirling Albion 1 (Forrest, McIntosh and Gallagher; Thomson) at Stair Park on December 3, 2022
- Stirling Albion 4 Stranraer 1 (Fotheringham x2, Leitch and Carrick; Duffy) at Forthbank Stadium on September 17, 2022
- Stirling Albion 1 Stranraer 0 (Dunsmore) at Forthbank Stadium on March 26, 2022
Last five games
Stranraer
- 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)
- DRAW v East Kilbride (A): 2-2 (McIntosh and Ross)
Stirling Albion
- DRAW v Hamilton Academical (A): 0-0 (Stirling Albion win 4-2 on penalties)
- LOSS v Raith Rovers (H): 0-3
- DRAW v Dumbarton (H): 0-0
- LOSS v Dumbarton (A): 2-1 (Hilson)
- DRAW v Annan Athletic (H): 1-1 (McPake)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Hamilton Academical: Pazikas, Cummins, McQueen, Ecrepont (McKnight 39), McIntosh, Brindley, Gallagher (Hughes 67), Dunlop, Russell (Grant 56), Hawkshaw (Orr 67), Lang (Edgar 56).
Not used: Robertson, Ross, Adam and Broun.
Stirling Albion
Lineup v Hamilton Academical: Gaston, McGeachie, Sula, Denham (Weir 24), Wright, Waugh, Ewen, Hilson (Featherstone 80), Crane, Carrick (Howe 87), Roy (McKinley 80).
Not used: Knox, Reilly, Scott, McIlravey and Erskine.
Ins and outs
Stranraer arrivals
Mo Adam (Gala Fairydean Rovers), Tomas Brindlay (Forfar Athletic), Harry Broun (Dumbarton), Adam Cummins (Stirling Albion), Kirk McKnight (Broomhill), Mark Russell (Portadown), Elliot Dunlop (Airdrieonians, loan) and Jacob Pazikas (Rangers, loan)
Stranraer departures
Ben Armour (Peterhead), Andy Downie (Creetown), Kyle Fleming (Annan Athletic), Kyle Girvan (Elgin City), Josh Walker (Queen of the South), Lewis Budinauckas (Rangers, end of loan), Aidan Gilmartin (St Mirren, end of loan), Murray Miller (Stirling Albion, end of loan), Chris Johnston, George O’Connor and Cammy Williamson (Darvel).
Stirling Albion arrivals
Sam Denham (Unattached), Harley Ewen (Cumbernauld Colts), Sam Featherstone (Livingston), Derek Gaston (Arbroath), Harrison Howe (Falkirk), Cammy McKinley (University of Stirling), Ally Roy (East Kilbride), Kyle Scott (St Johnstone), Erik Sula (Clyde), Harry Wright (Hibernian), Ricky Waugh (Queen’s Park, loan) and Bailey Dall (Heart of Midlothian, loan).
Stirling Albion departures
Kyle Banner (Stenhousemuir), Sam Bird (Chorley), Cammy Clark (Dumbarton), Adam Cummins (Stranraer), Blair Currie (Cumnock Juniors), Aaron Dunsmore (Cowdenbeath), Jack Leitch (East Kilbride), Jordan McGregor (East Kilbride), Paul McLean (Cowdenbeath), Josh McPake (St Johnstone), Murray Miller (Kelty Hearts), Kieran Moore (Drumchapel United), Greig Spence (East Stirlingshire), Mark Weir (Edinburgh City), Rudi Molotnikov (Hibernian, end of loan), Kieran Offord (St Mirren, end of loan), Josh Cooper, Lewis Milne and Jordan Wyles.
Five facts
1. Grant Gallagher’s appearance against Hamilton Academical on Saturday was his 300th start for Stranraer. It also takes his appearance total to 312 for the club.
2. Three games into the season and only two players have played the maximum 270 minutes. Tomas Brindley and Sean McIntosh are the only ever-presents after the games with Ross County, Raith Rovers and Hamilton Academical.
3. Former Stranraer loan star Aaron Brown celebrates his 19th birthday on Tuesday. Brown, who had a loan spell with Annan Athletic last season, is still at Rugby Park. During his time at Stair Park, he made 12 appearances, including a goal on his debut in a 3-1 win at East Fife.
4. It is almost 20 years since Stranraer and Stirling Albion both drew a blank in a game against each other. That came in September 2004 at Stair Park. The home side that day was: McCondichie, Wingate (Gaughan 20), Wright, Fraser (McCutcheon 74), Swift, Henderson, Sharp, Jenkins, Aitken (McPhee 61), Finlayson, Graham. Not used: Turnbull and McAuley.
5. Despite Max Currie playing for Stranraer and his brother Blair Currie playing for Stirling Albion, they never faced each other for those clubs.
Admission
Stirling Albion have provided information for away fans ahead of Tuesday night’s 7.45pm kickoff.
With the East Stand closed for this tie, Stranraer fans will be housed in section D, which sits in the centre of the West Stand.
The West Stand is on the same side as the leisure centre, and entry is generally via turnstiles 3 and 4.
Please follow the advice of stewards or club officials on the day.
Parking is available at the ground, but please allow plenty of time to arrive safely and find a parking space.
Coverage
As usual, the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube during the evening, and Club 1870 subscribers can watch the goals before midnight.
Our usual extended highlights will follow on Sunday morning, with full match footage available via Club 1870 on Sunday afternoon.
Live matchday updates will keep you informed on X (formerly Twitter).
Photos: Bill McCandlish
