Stranraer’s mission is simple for the remaining two games: win.
Defeat to Forfar Athletic last weekend means the chance to finish in the top four and the play-offs is now out of Stranraer’s hands.
And while, mathematically, the Blues could still finish above Forfar without winning both games against Stirling Albion and Elgin City, Deryn Lang wants his side to pick up maximum points.
He said: “The boys know it is crunch time.
“There are two games left and there is no room to feel sorry for ourselves.
“We need to try to forget about it and play the way we can play.
“We just need to have that positive mentality and hopefully take it into Saturday.
“There are still plenty of twists and turns, especially with Forfar being three points ahead but with tough two games.
“Edinburgh City, hopefully, they hit a bit of form before the play-offs so that they have got the best chance of surviving.
“Then, it is Annan away on the last day of the season.”
The frontman was in no doubt that if the Blues were to capitalise on any slip-ups, they would need to win both of their remaining games.
The first of those is against Stirling Albion, with both sides having picked up four points from a possible nine from the three encounters against each other this season.
A repeat of the 3-2 Stranraer home win from the start of December – when Lang scored twice – would be most welcome by the Stranraer fans.
The frontman said: “We need six points out of six, 100 per cent.
“Forfar have got two games and it is essentially theirs to lose, isn’t it?
“They are in the driving seat just now and hopefully we can do our bit.
“If we win on Saturday and they drop points, even if it is a draw, we will be there and it will put pressure on them and, hopefully, they stumble and we can capitalise.”
It remains to be seen where Stranraer finish in the League Two table come the end of the season.
However, Chris Aitken’s side are on course for a step in the right direction.
Two years ago, the Blues needed a play-off victory at the bottom of the table to maintain their SPFL status.
Last season, it was an eighth place finish.
Lang has been part of the Stranraer squad in each of those campaigns, having made a goalscoring debut away to Bonnyrigg Rose in 2023.
The club’s top scorer for the season said: “I would say physical wise, I have developed quite a lot.
“It has contributed to my game and helped my game and just, overall, smartness.
“The experience I have gained has been essential in what I have contributed to this year.
“I would say that I have been motivated more than ever to do well and I want the team to succeed.
“It will be quite gutting if we don’t make the play-off positions.
“I want to play in the biggest games and I am sure everybody in the club wants to do that.”
Last meeting
Goals from strikers from each side ensured that the points were shared when Stranraer visited Forthbank at the end of January.
Dean Cleland was denied by Derek Gaston’s foot early on before Ryan Shanley struck the crossbar from outside the box. The frontman would not be denied when he snuck in unmarked for an easy tap in.
The scores would be levelled after the break when Deryn Lang chipped the ball beyond the reach of Gaston. Both teams had chances to win it but neither could secure the three points.
Stirling Albion: Gaston, Hamilton, Banner, Crane, Campbell, Kerr, McNab (Welsh 71), Carse, Brown (Cunningham 80), Hilson (McLean 71), Shanley.
Not used: Hutchinson, Thomson, Knox, Raine, Cannon and Duffy.
Stranraer: Currie, Reid, McGrath, Dunne, Coll, Dolan, Plank, Gillies, Hunter (Hughes 76), Lang, Cleland (O’Donnell 78).
Not used: Ecrepont, Docherty, McKnight, Quigg and Henderson.
Last five meetings
- Stirling Albion 1 Stranraer 1 (Shanley; Lang) at Forthbank Stadium on January 31, 2026
- Stranraer 3 Stirling Albion 2 (Lang x2 and Rough; McLean and Brown) at LIME Stadium at Stair Park on December 6, 2025
- Stirling Albion 1 Stranraer 0 (Shanley) at Forthbank Stadium on August 30, 2025
- Stirling Albion 3 Stranraer 1 (McGeachie and Shanley x2; Dunlop) at Forthbank Stadium on April 12, 2025
- Stranraer 3 Stirling Albion 0 (McKnight, Dunlop and Foster) at LIME Stadium at Stair Park on February 22, 2025
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (H): 0-1
- WIN v Spartans (A): 1-2 (Turay and Quigg)
- DRAW v Dumbarton (H): 1-1 (Dunne)
- LOSS v Annan Athletic (A): 1-0
- WIN v Clyde (H): 3-1 (Reid, Dunne and Lang)
Stirling Albion
- DRAW v Elgin City (H): 2-2 (Russell and Wells)
- LOSS v Dumbarton (A): 2-1 (Hilson)
- LOSS v Clyde (A): 3-1 (McNab)
- WIN v Edinburgh City (H): 1-0 (Thomson)
- LOSS v East Kilbride (A): 3-2 (Shanley and Carse)
Last time out
Stranraer v Forfar Athletic: Tas, Reid, McGrath, Dunne, Coll (Ecrepont 79), Stuart (Hughes 73), Quigg, McManus (Hunter 73), Turay (Dolan 58), Gillies (Edgar 73), Lang.
Not used: Docherty, McKnight, Lynch and Henderson.
Stirling Albion v Elgin City: Gaston, Banner, Denham, Campbell, Kerr, Thomson (Breslin 89), Carse, Russell, Wells (Raine 89), McLean (Laird 73), Hilson.
Not used: Nelson, Knox, Cannon, Dobbs, McIntyre and Duffy.
Five facts
- Friday marked the 29th birthday of former Stranraer midfielder Dean Hawkshaw. He left the club at the end of last season after two spells at the LIME Stadium at Stair Park. His debut came in a 2-0 defeat at home to East Fife in February 2018. The Stranraer team that day was: Currie, Robertson, Neill, McGowan, Hamill, Woods (Lyon 64), Agnew (Hawkshaw 64), Okoh, Turner, Beith, Dykes (Anderson 64). Not used: Barron, MacPherson, Thomson and McLaren. Hawkshaw now plays with Hurlford United.
- Stranraer lost out at home to Forfar Athletic last weekend. However, the Blues have not lost back-to-back home games since March last year. On that occasion, after losing 1-0 to Forfar Athletic, Stranraer lost 2-1 against Clyde.
- No player in Scottish League Two has played more minutes this season than PFA Player of the Year nominee Lewis Reid. Edinburgh City goalkeeper Mark Weir missed last weekend’s contest against East Kilbride, which puts Reid top of the standings. He has missed just 15 minutes.
- It is more than 20 years since Stranraer and Stirling Albion last served up a goalless draw. That came at Stair Park on September 18, 2004 – before nine members of the squad were born.
- Aaron Quigg became the third Stranraer player this season to pass 3,000 minutes. He joins the defensive duo of Scot Rough (3,239) and Lewis Reid (4,253).
Admission
Admission is ‘pay at the gate’. 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
We’re stocked with all three kits, exclusive Adidas teamwear, hats, scarves, umbrellas, pin badges, key rings, stickers and much more.
Cash and card payments are accepted.
You can also purchase a range of merchandise online.
Podcast
The podcast is taking a break this week due to other commitments for our media volunteers.
We’re saving it all up for a bumper episode of Look Blues Talking next Thursday morning, looking back on the home double with Forfar and Stirling, and ahead to Elgin away.
To catch up on previous episodes, see our Look Blues Talking playlist on YouTube.
Coverage
If you can’t make it, you can 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 on Saturday night, along with full match footage.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin reunited on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Dylan Heron, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images), PFA
