Scorers: Stranraer – Gillies (13) and Reid (60); East Kilbride – J Robertson (Pen 12)
First goals for Matthew Gillies and Lewis Reid helped Stranraer to three vital points in their bid for a play-off place.
The Blues came into the game on the back of an unwanted three consecutive defeats.
Chris Aitken responded by making three changes to the starting line-up as Beejay Coll, James Dolan and Dominic Plank came in for Finn Ecrepont, Dean Cleland and Ronan Hughes.
In contrast, visitors East Kilbride came into the contest full of confidence brought on by seven consecutive wins.
The game started at a frantic pace and it took the crossbar to deny the hosts an early lead.
Danny McManus linked up well with Deryn Lang and it was the latter who took aim from just outside the box.
Goalkeeper Craig Hepburn may have got the slightest of touches and the ball came back off the woodwork.
East Kilbride would soon make Stranraer pay.
Bobby McLuckie had enjoyed an impressive opening period and he knocked the ball beyond Sean Docherty, with the Stranraer defender forced to bring home down.
John Robertson duly fired home from the penalty spot to give the visitors the lead.
However, East Kilbride fans had likely not even finished celebrating before Stranraer were level.
Gillies took responsibility driving into the box from his own half.
He played the ball to Dolan and when the cross was blocked it fell back to Gillies, who blasted high into the net.
Still, East Kilbride could have retaken the lead before the half hour mark.
Connor Young held the ball up well and found Joao Balde, who directed the ball towards goal, only for it to hit the post.
The last chance of the half would come the way of the home team.
Kirk McKnight, on for the injured Docherty, did well with a bit of juggling and found Aaron Quigg.
His shot looked destined until the intervention of Hepburn turned it round the post.
The winner would come on the hour mark.
Dolan’s free-kick into the box was flicked on by man-of-the-match Quigg and Reid was there to fire under the goalkeeper.
East Kilbride came close to quickfire leveller of their own.
John Robertson collected a loose ball fully 30 yards out but his shot was over the crossbar.
They then had an even better chance as the game entered the final quarter of an hour.
A cross from the right evaded everyone and McLuckie was waiting at the back post, only to put his shot wide of the upright.
And they had one more chance late on when a free-kick into the box found Rhys Breen.
Max Currie spread himself superbly to make the block as Stranraer held on.
Things could have been more comfortable in stoppage time when Lang blocked a pass from Sam Young.
The striker only had Hepburn to beat but lifted his shot over the target.
An important victory for Stranraer ahead of a double-header with Clyde and, just as importantly, a fine performance from the Blues.
Stranraer: Currie, Reid, McGrath, Docherty (McKnight 39), Coll (Ecrepont 70), Quigg, McManus, Gillies (Hunter 85), Dolan, Plank (Cleland 70), Lang.
Not used: Hughes, O’Donnell, Turay and Tas.
East Kilbride: Hepburn, S Young, Kyle (Mylchreest 75), Fagan, Breen, Leitch, McLuckie, J Robertson (Foster 69), K Robertson (Dobbie 46), Balde, C Young.
Not used: Hamilton, McGregor, Strachan and Morrison.
Referee: Josh Hay
Attendance: 421
HT: 1-1
Photos: Bill McCandlish
