There are five tiers between Stranraer and Threave Rovers in Scottish football’s pyramid.
The Blues travel to Meadow Park for a first competitive tie in 37 years as they look to progress in the Scottish Cup.
Of the current squad, only Scott Robertson and Paul Woods were alive the last time the two sides met in a competitive game in 1987.
Stranraer will go into the contest as favourites to many but Kirk McKnight stressed no-one would be overlooking their West of Scotland Football League Third Division opposition.
He said: “It is just another game and we are going to treat it as a league game.
“We don’t really look at any opponents differently.
“We will be going out to do the exact same as we do each week.
“We will be preparing as if we were playing anyone from League Two.
“It is not going to be any different if it is a Friday night game or a Saturday game and whether it is a non-league team or a League Two team.
“We are going to look at it like it is the same opponent each week.”
Twenty-year-old McKnight, who joined Stranraer in the summer having previously played in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) with Kilmarnock and Dumbarton, has had to be patient in recent weeks.
The last of his 468 minutes this season came in the victory over East Fife in the middle of last month.
Now, he is keeping his head down so he is ready when called upon.
He said: “I just need to train hard.
“Obviously, the people in front of me are really good players.”
McKnight is no stranger to a cup run.
He was part of the Broomhill side that reached the fourth round last season.
Victories over Cumbernauld Colts, Beith and Cumnock Juniors set up a tie with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The Highland side would emerge 4-0 winners but Broomhill had made plenty of headlines along the way.
McKnight said: “We did really well, to be fair.
“We got lucky draws but we got to the last 32 of the competition.
“We played Inverness and went up there but did not really get the result we wanted.
“It was good experience.
“People might have underestimated us at the time because we did not do well in the league.
“But, listen, anything can happen in the cup.”
Previous meeting
It was 1987 when Stranraer and Threave Rovers met in the Scottish Cup.
The Castle Douglas side would be hit for six as the Blues came through unscathed.
Travelling fans had to be patient though as the deadlock was not broken until the 41st minute. John McNiven headed home the opener and Stranraer would go on to take control in the second half.
Eric McQueen scored 10 minutes after the break after a slack backpass. Bruce Cleland would go on to score a second half hat-trick and Jim McDonald also found the net.
Threave Rovers: Shanks, Middleton, Houston, Thomson, Gallacher (Connelly), McVittie, Findlay, Little, Maxwell, Bendall, Prentice (Rudd).
Stranraer: McLafferty, McIntyre, Day, Watt, Carson, Wilson, McQueen, McNiven, Cleland, McDonald, Knox.
Not used: McNab and McCabe.
Last five games
Stranraer
- DRAW v Peterhead (H): 0-0
- WIN v Edinburgh City (A): 1-2 (Russell and Guthrie)
- LOSS v Stirling Albion (H): 0-2
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (A): 2-1 (Guthrie)
- WIN v East Fife (H): 2-1 (Russell x2)
Threave Rovers
- LOSS v Greenock Juniors (A): 6-0
- WIN v Berwick Rangers (A): 0-3 (Coles x2 and Officer)
- WIN v Wishaw Juniors (A): 0-3 (Irving x2 and Officer)
- WIN v Vale of Leithen (H): 6-1 (Irving, Officer x2, Kerr, Park and Watson)
- WIN v Benburb (H): 4-2 (Cairnie and Officer x3)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Peterhead: Mutch, Reid, Ross, Cummins, Ecrepont, Grant (Hawkshaw 55), Gallagher, Russell, McIntosh (Dunlop 84), Guthrie (Robertson 55), Lang (Edgar 81).
Not used: Adam, McKnight, McQueen, Woods and Pazikas.
Threave Rovers v Greenock Juniors: S Henderson, Wilson, Park, Watson, Douglas, Summerbee, Downie, Officer, Coles, Cairnie, Irving.
Substitutes: A Henderson, McCulloch, Meagher, Nish, Johnstone and Brown.
Five facts
1. Former Blue Jonny Ngandu celebrates his birthday on Friday. He played against Stranraer for Hamilton Academicals before joining on loan in February. He would make nine appearances under Jamie Hamill and scored once – a crucial goal in a 1-0 win at Albion Rovers. Turning 23, he has played for Stratford Town, Darlington and Spalding United since his time at Stair Park.
2. Stranraer have played opposition from outwith the SPFL in each of the last four seasons. The Blues defeated The Spartans 5-0 (Darryl Duffy, Ruari Paton, Adam Cummins and two from Matty Yates), Kelty Hearts 3-2 (Tom Orr, Scott Robertson and Paton) and Brora Rangers 3-1 (Own goal, Yates and Orr) in 2020/21, lost to Darvel 1-0 in 2021/22, lost 2-1 at Fraserburgh in 2022/23 (Kyle Girvan) and beat Civil Service Strollers 3-0 (Girvan, Craig Ross and Robertson) last season.
3. Former Stranraer man Ross Irving will be lining up for the home side on Friday night. He made 12 appearances for the Blues before heading back east to Queen of the South. His final appearance came in a 4-1 win at Ochilview with Scott Robertson, Anton Brady, Ayrton Sonkur and Tom Muir finding the net.
4. Threave and Stranraer have met more recently than the Scottish Cup tie. The two sides met in pre-season in 2011 when the hosts were 3-2 winners. Andrew Donley, Phil Middlemass and Sean Milligan scored for the hosts while Ryan Kennedy and Craig Malcolm scored in a Stranraer side featuring three trialists. The visiting team was: Marshall, Kane, Devine, Kennedy, McKeown (Gallagher 67), Murphy, Winter (Agnew 71), Danny Mitchell, A Trialist (McColm 67), Malcolm (B Trialist 71), C Trialist. Not used: David Mitchell.
5. Ross Irving is not the only player with a Stranraer and Threave connection. Mark Adams played for both clubs in the late 1990s.
Admission
Match entry is via payment at the turnstiles, with cash and card accepted.
Admission prices are as follows:
- Adult (16 to 64) – £10
- Concession (65+) – £5
- Juvenile (15 and under) – FREE
All under 12s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Food and drink
Threave Rovers Social Club is for matchday hospitality only, and is already sold out.
However, there will be a covered licensed bar behind the main stand offering pre-match and half time refreshments
The pie hut and a second hot food takeaway outlet will both be open in the stadium.
Moore’s Fish and Chip Shop is also just round the corner from the ground in Castle Douglas, and is very popular.
Coverage
It’s a rare live TV appearance for both clubs, as BBC Scotland is screening Friday night’s cup tie in full from 7.30pm.
As usual, the manager’s interview will be available on YouTube following the game.
Our own highlights will be available on Saturday afternoon, with commentary from Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin.
Club 1870 subscribers can catch the goals by Saturday morning, along with full match footage on Saturday evening.
We’ll also have live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter) for those further afield.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
