Scorers: Stranraer – Lang (64); Edinburgh City – Barrett (20)
Deryn Lang’s 10th goal of the season helped Stranraer continue their unbeaten run with a point against Edinburgh City.
In chilly conditions, it was a game that took a little while to really come to life.
Stranraer’s best chance of the opening 20 minutes came to the in-form Lang.
Sean Docherty’s cross to the back post was nodded down by Finn Ecrepont and the frontman’s first time effort on the turn was just inches off target.
However, it would be the visitors that found the breakthrough and it came from a familiar source.
Greig Allen delivered the corner into the box and Bradley Barrett managed to stick a leg out and the ball trundled over the line from close range.
Still, Stranraer came within a whisker of ensuring the two sides went into the half time break level.
Dominic Plank collected the ball on the edge of the box, took a touch and then sent a wonderful curling effort beyond the reach of goalkeeper Mark Weir, only for his shot to clip the outside of the post.
The visitors also could have been celebrating a second goal of the afternoon after patient build up play.
Robert Mahon delivered a low ball into the six-yard box and Innes Lawson could not force the ball over the line as Josh Lane made the save.
Whatever was said in the home dressing room at half time clearly had the desired impact as Stranraer were much improved after the break.
A corner caused issues in the Edinburgh defence and Lang should have done better at the back post.
Weir made the save and then Lang’s follow-up was flicked towards goal by Mark Russell but, again, somehow, stayed out.
Moments later and Plank was presented with a glorious opportunity when Quinn Mitchell slipped.
Again, it was the Edinburgh goalkeeper to the rescue as he kept out the on-loan midfielder’s shot.
Home fans could have been forgiven for thinking it was not going to be their day when Scot Rough then headed wide in the box but the equaliser would come just after the hour mark.
Lewis Reid’s cross into the box was flicked on and Lang rose unmarked to head across the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Stranraer continued to be the team on the attack after the goal and debutant Dean Cleland called Weir into action and the striker was also involved in a late penalty shout that was waved away by referee Euan Anderson.
Unfortunately, they could not find a way through the visiting defence and both sides had to settle for a point, which could prove useful to both come the end of the season.
Stranraer: Lane, Ecrepont, Reid, Rough, Docherty (Dunne 77), Gillies (Hunter 87), Plank (Hughes 87), Dolan (Cleland 63), McManus, Russell (Quigg 77), Lang.
Not used: McKnight and Henderson.
Edinburgh City: Weir, Walker, Myles, Sula, Mitchell (Lynch 88), Barrett, Allen, Lawson, Stokes, Mahon (Guthrie 84), Duncan (McDonald 71).
Not used: Brodie, Scally, Service and Marinovic.
Referee: Euan Anderson
Attendance: 447
HT: 0-1
Photos: Bill McCandlish
