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Stranraer 2-0 Spartans

  • Post published:1 February 2025

Scorers: Docherty (24) and Edgar (90)

Strikes from Sean Docherty and Ryan Edgar gave Stranraer three welcome points and a first home win under Chris Aitken.

The Blues had disappointed on a midweek trip to Bonnyrigg Rose but bounced back in impressive fashion to defeat Spartans.

The manager made four changes from the loss at New Dundas Park as Sean McIntosh, Finn Ecrepont, Aaron Quigg and Max Guthrie all dropped out in favour of Docherty, Tom Brindley, Grant Gallagher and Edgar.

Anyone who was running late on Saturday almost missed a goal at either end in the opening 45 seconds.

First, Josh Lane did exceptionally well to keep out Cameron Russell after a ball was lifted over the home defence.

Josh Lane recorded his second clean sheet in as many games

Then, at the other end, Robbie Foster was denied by Blair Carswell as he tried to find the bottom corner of the net.

Instead, the opening goal would come midway through the first half.

A fine team move saw Mark Russell cross to the back post and Docherty came in unmarked to fire home first time across Carswell and into the bottom left corner of the net.

Lewis Hunter fired high and wide for the visitors as they attempted to find a quickfire equaliser.

However, Stranraer’s defence held firm and Lane was relatively untested in the opening 45 minutes.

Sean Docherty blasted home a volley to open the scoring

It was the home side who could have extended their advantage as Elliot Dunlop fired over on the angle just before the break.

Foster sent an overhead kick wide of the target in the opening stages of the second half before Spartans started to turn up the pressure.

Only the woodwork denied them a leveller just after the hour mark.

Josh Laing did well down the right and crossed in for Cameron Russell, whose looping header had the home defence beaten but it landed on the crossbar and Stranraer held on.

On a soft pitch, Stranraer were starting to look tired on occasion as they looked to complete a third game in eight days.

Stranraer ground out the victory on a soft Stair Park pitch

Substitute Matty Grant lifted a shot over the goal with quarter of an hour to play and he probably should have put the game to bed eight minutes from time.

He found himself in a foot race but could not quite poke the ball beyond the Spartans goalkeeper.

So, Stranraer had to survive a nervy final six minutes.

First, an almighty scramble in the six-yard box saw Lane, Brindley and the woodwork keep the ball out.

The goalkeeper pushed out Russell’s cross as far as Blair Henderson and then blocked from the striker.

The ball fell kindly for the Spartans man but he was denied by Brindley, who somehow deflected the shot onto the post.

Ryan Edgar rushes off to celebrate after scoring the winner

Moments later and Lane produced another brilliant save to keep out a shot from distance that looked destined for the top corner.

That left just enough time for the Blues to wrap up all three points when Grant did well and then picked the right option by playing in Edgar, who was clinical with his finish.

Three welcome points and, hopefully, the Stair Park faithful will be cheering again on Tuesday night when Forfar Athletic visit.

Stranraer: Lane, Brindley, Ross, Docherty, Reid, Robertson, Gallagher, Dunlop (McKnight 76), M Russell, Foster (Grant 65), Edgar (Quigg 90).
Not used: Ecrepont and Kane.

Spartans: Carswell, Booth, Waugh, Laing (Watson 65), Sonkur, Hunter (Dishington 84), Walls (Morgan 65), Craigen (Stowe 65), Whyte, Henderson, C Russell.
Not used: Preston, A Scott, Ritchie, M Scott and Meek.

Referee: George Calder
Attendance: 455
HT: 1-0

Photos: Bill McCandlish