Scorers: Stranraer – Cleland (17); Elgin City – Hester (44) and Girvan (87)
Former Stranraer man Kyle Girvan returned to haunt his old club as Elgin City picked up all three points at the LIME Stadium.
The Blues remain in the play-offs but only just after the long-travelled visitors overturned Dean Cleland’s opener.
Manager Chris Aitken stuck with the line-up that had started the match against Spartans, which meant match-winner Aaron Quigg had to be content with a place on the bench.
Before taking the lead, Stranraer would have to survive an early scare.
The home side failed to truly deal with a Russell Dingwall corner and it was Kirk McKnight on the line who came to the rescue to keep out Ryan Sargent’s goalbound effort.
Two minutes later and the home side were celebrating the opening goal.
Evan Dunne won the ball in defence and Deryn Lang fed the ball wide to Cleland.
The striker moved forward unchallenged and then fired beyond goalkeeper Tom Ritchie from the edge of the box.
Stranraer should been celebrating a second goal just moments later.
They found themselves two-on-two and Cleland managed to tip-toe beyond the defenders, only to then lift his shot over the goalkeeper and the crossbar.
Stranraer were living dangerously and it took a Max Currie penalty save to keep them in front.
Lewis Reid was penalised after blocking a cross with his hand but Currie got down well to keep out Dingwall’s spot kick.
Morgyn Neill was then twice denied in quick succession before the visitors finally found their leveller.
Mark Gallagher lifted the ball over the home defence and Kane Hester controlled the ball before smashing it across Currie.
Stranraer came out for the second half in determined fashion and they almost found themselves back in front.
Dominic Plank collected a loose ball and found Cleland, who was denied by a Ritchie block.
Chances were rarer in the second half with Currie only called into action to keep out a fierce drive from Hester.
As the game wore on it looked increasingly likely that the two teams would have to settle for a share of the spoils.
That was until three minutes from time when Girvan found his first goal of the campaign.
Dingwall’s corner was not really dealt with and Currie managed to pull off a save from close range.
Unfortunately, it dropped kindly for Girvan and he bundled the ball over the line.
Stranraer will look to bounce back next weekend when they make the journey to an Edinburgh City side desperate for points at the other end of the table.
Stranraer: Currie, Reid, McGrath, Dunne (Docherty 69), Coll, McKnight (Quigg 59), Plank (Hughes 84), McManus (Dolan 69), Gillies, Lang, Cleland (O’Donnell 69).
Not used: Ecrepont, Hunter, Turay and Las.
Elgin City: Ritchie, Virtanen, Murray, Cairns, Neill, Dingwall, Gallagher (Hyde 76), Spalding (Girvan 81), Machado (Walker 76), Hester (Hickey-Fugaccia 81), Sargent.
Not used: Mercer, Cameron, Thompson and Taylor.
Referee: Cameron Stirling
Attendance: 464
HT: 1-1
Photos: Bill McCandlish
