Finn Ecrepont’s stunning stoppage time strike ensured Stranraer picked up three much-needed points at home to Clyde.
The visitors to Stair Park came into the game desperate to narrow the gap at the bottom of League Two.
However, a Kyle Fleming effort 15 minutes from time before Ecrepont’s 93rd minute goal gave Stranraer the win and left Clyde with a mountain to climb.
Scott Agnew made one change from the side that battled to a goalless draw with Bonnyrigg Rose at New Dundas Park as Tom Orr was brought in for Aidan Gilmartin.
Given what was at stake it was perhaps little surprise that the opening half hour or so was a nervy affair.
Neither side greatly troubled either goalkeeper and the best chance of the opening stages fell to Clyde’s Alex King.
Stranraer could only clear a Liam Scullion corner to the edge of the box where King was waiting.
He had time to steady himself but then curled his effort off target.
That sparked Stranraer into life for the closing stages and they came within a whisker of opening the scoring in spectacular fashion.
There seemed little danger when Dylan Forrest collected the ball 30 yards from goal.
However, the captain took aim and was unlucky to see his shot clip the top of the crossbar before bouncing over.
Orr then glanced a header wide of the goal and Stranraer started the second half in much the same fashion.
The hosts forced two corners in the opening minute and the second saw the unmarked Craig Ross plant a header straight at Neil Parry.
Stranraer were winning plenty of corners and forced a scramble in the box six minutes after the restart.
However, they were given a timely reminder that they needed to take one of those chances.
The home defence was cut open but Lewis Budinauckas did brilliantly to rush from his goal and block King’s shot.
The ball bounced in the direction of Jordan Allan but the striker could not control the ball as it spun wide.
Fifteen minutes from time and Stranraer found the breakthrough.
Matty Grant did well in picking out Fleming on the edge of the box and the midfielder’s clever turn bought him a yard of space.
He then kept his cool to slide a shot across Parry and into the bottom corner of the net.
Any chance of Clyde taking something from the game appeared to disappear with five minutes left as they found themselves down to 10 men.
James Dolan had only Ross Lyon between him and the visitors’ goal and the former Stranraer man brought down the current Stranraer winger.
Referee Stewart Luke was in no doubt the tackle was worthy of a red card and Clyde would play the remaining few minutes a man down.
Stranraer could have put the game to bed immediately when Dolan and substitute Deryn Lang linked up well but Parry stood up well to deny Orr’s replacement.
It looked as if that would be how the game would finish but any Stranraer fan who left early would surely be kicking themselves.
Spotting Parry out of his goal as Clyde pushed forward, Ecrepont sent an ambitious effort from fully 65 yards over the head of the shotstopper who could only chase the ball into his own net.
A stunning goal to wrap up the points and one that could prove vital in terms of the club’s season.
Stranraer: Budinauckas, Robertson, Girvan, Ross, McQueen, Orr (Lang 64), Dolan, Forrest, Fleming, Ecrepont, M Grant.
Not used: Williamson, Armour, Gilmartin, Johnston and Downie.
Clyde: Parry, Ballantyne (Leitch 80), Dunachie, Howie, Hamilton, Cuddihy (R Grant 58), Lyon, King, Scullion (Rennie 58), Young (Kabia 46), Allan (Cameron 80).
Not used: McGinn, Hynes, Sula and Kinnear.
Referee: Stewart Luke
Attendance: 417
HT: 0-0
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Logan Wilson
