Scorers: Stranraer – Quigg (6), McManus (37) and Dunne (56 and 69); East Kilbride – McGuffie (15), Robertson (35) and McKenzie (67)
Stranraer kept their hopes of progressing in the KDM Evolution Trophy alive with victory over East Kilbride in a seven-goal thriller.
The two sides have served up some entertaining contests in recent years and Saturday’s clash at The LIME Stadium at Stair Park was no different.
Chris Aitken’s men came into the contest knowing that really only a win would do if they were to have any chance of progressing to the next stage of the competition.
They got off to the perfect start with just six minutes on the clock and the opening goal.
Visiting goalkeeper Shay Kelly was put under pressure by the Stranraer forwards and could only poke a clearance as far as Aaron Quigg.
The midfielder still had plenty to do but his first-time lob from 35 yards flew into the unguarded net.
The lead would not last 10 minutes, though.
Mark McLuckie was penalised for handball outside the box and Craig McGuffie stepped up to curl home a free-kick that left Max Currie with no chance.
Former Stranraer man Cameron Elliott nodded wide for East Kilbride while Lewis Dobbie fired off target at the other end as both teams continued to attack.
But it was the League One team who found the next goal of the game.
Sam Culbert chipped the ball into the box and Elliott was lurking at the back post.
He played it back along the six-yard box and Mitchell Robertson had the easiest of tap-ins.
Again, the lead did not last long as this time Stranraer fired back.
Dean Cleland’s determined work on the right saw him square the ball for Aaron Healy.
Goalkeeper Kelly did really well to keep out his effort but was then powerless to stop Daniel McManus from rolling the ball into the empty net.
Stranraer finished the half strongly and Evan Dunne fired a teasing ball across goal but with no takers.
The travelling support were the first to celebrate in the second half.
However, their cheers were cut short when it was deemed that Callum McKenzie turned home McGuffie’s cross with his hand.
Instead, it was the home fans who were cheering the fifth goal of the game.
James Dolan whipped in a brilliant cross and Dunne rose highest to glance home from inside the six-yard box.
There was plenty more drama to come though.
East Kilbride brought the scores level with a goal that typified the game.
Darragh O’Connor’s chip into the box appeared to have caught everyone out only for Beejay Coll to make a heroic clearance off of the line.
East Kilbride kept the pressure on and Owen Moffat’s cross from the left was diverted home by McKenzie.
Once again, East Kilbride were only level for a matter of minutes as Stranraer grabbed what proved to be the winner.
Kelly failed to keep a hold of Coll’s corner and Dunne was in the right place to volley the ball over the line.
East Kilbride turned up the pressure in the final 20 minutes in a bid to pull level once again.
However, Stranraer defended heroically to keep them out in the closing stages.
Stranraer: Currie, Coll, Nair, McLuckie, Dunne, Quigg, Healy (Lynch 88), McManus (Cameron 73), Dolan, Dobbie, Cleland (Foster 69).
Not used: Marshall, McCutcheon and Henderson.
East Kilbride: Kelly, Calder, Robertson, O’Connor, Steele (Ross 79), Maguire, Culbert, McGuffie, Balde, McKenzie, Elliott (Moffat 53).
Not used: Fallon, McColl and McKendrick.
Referee: George Calder
Attendance: 388
HT: 2-2
Photos: Bill McCandlish