Scorers: McKnight (43), Dunlop (45) and Foster (90+3)
Quickfire goals at the end of the first half ended Stranraer’s long wait for back-to-back wins.
The Blues had not enjoyed consecutive league victories since early last season when they defeated Clyde and Peterhead.
Manager Chris Aitken was forced into one change from the side that had defeated Elgin City seven days earlier.
Grant Gallagher, who came off before half time in that game, was sidelined, which allowed Kirk McKnight the chance to stake a claim for a regular place in the team.
Buoyed by that win, the home side set the early running and McKnight was unlucky to see his effort deflected round the post at the expense of a corner.
Then, Erik Sula was forced into a last ditch tackle to stop Ryan Edgar getting his shot away.
The tackle came at a price for the defender, who was forced off through injury, and Stranraer continued to pile the pressure on with Finn Ecrepont blazing over after Sean Docherty’s cross.
Gradually, the visitors came more into the game and Ryan Shanley probably should have found the target after being picked out near the penalty spot by Sula’s replacement, Mackenzie Carse.
Josh Lane then pushed clear Leyton Grant’s fierce drive before Shanley poked wide from close range.
Stranraer were holding on though and they got their noses in front just two minutes before the break.
Edgar did well down the left and his cross was only cleared as far as Ecrepont.
He swung the ball back into the danger area and McKnight had timed his run perfectly before flicking the ball on with his chest and well beyond the reach of Derek Gaston.
Stranraer fans barely had time to sit down after those celebrations before they were toasting their team’s second.
Again, Ecrepont and Edgar were involved as the full-back’s clearance was collected by Edgar.
Many strikers would have gone it alone but the Stranraer man waited for support and slid the ball across the six-yard box for Elliot Dunlop to tap home.
The two goals changed the complexion of the game and meant Stirling had to push while Stranraer had something to hold on to.
Stranraer were not sitting back though and could have extended their lead when Dunlop’s free-kick threatened to sneak in, only for Gaston to turn it behind for a corner.
Then, Stranraer did have the ball in the net when Scott Robertson’s clever touch was smashed home by Edgar.
Unfortunately, the offside flag was up and Stirling remained in the contest.
Inevitably, Stirling would have chances and Carse was first denied by a brave defensive block before Josh Lane proved equal to the rebound with a top class save.
The goalkeeper was on hand again to deny the visitors when he managed to get across his goal and push clear an angled drive.
Increasingly though, Stranraer were holding firm and it looked as if the game would finish 2-0.
That was until deep into stoppage time when the returning Dean Hawkshaw found a yard of space and got the ball into fellow substitute Robbie Foster.
The frontman took a touch, turned and fired home off the inside of the post to get his first goal for the club.
Three valuable points for Stranraer, who will be starting to eye up the possibility of a top half finish in League Two.
Stranraer: Lane, Ecrepont, Reid, Ross, Docherty, Robertson, Dunlop, McKnight (Foster 68), Quigg, M Grant (Guthrie 74), Edgar (Hawkshaw 81).
Not used: Brindley and Kane.
Stirling Albion: Gaston, Sula (Carse 20), Kerr, L Grant, Harkness, Waugh (Wright 80), McNab, Constable (Carrick 55), Brown (Deveney 55), Shanley, Hilson.
Not used: Graham, Knox, Weir and Smith.
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Attendance: 449
HT: 2-0
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Ian Irvine-Watson
