Almost from the word go the Blues looked keen and eager to make early in-roads into Arbroath territory with Gregory Tade trying his luck early on with a shot that stung the hands of Hill in the Arbroath goal. The Red Lichties, a team who Stranraer struggled to get anything out of in their last campaign looked sluggish early on and this was reflected as Stranraer took a lead on 17 minutes when good work down the flanks saw the ball played forwards towards Tade and he was able to briskly turn the ball back towards Danny Mitchell who side-footed a well placed shot into the net. The Blues momentum continued as they were playing some good football with Andy Gibson, Danny Mitchell and Stephen McConalogue all combining well to make the Arbroath team work hard interrupted only by a fussy referee who seemed to be displaying more cards than a casino.
The Blues were creating good opportunities with McConalogue going close on the half hour mark with Greg Tade nodding a close effort just over the bar shortly afterwards but to no avail but it was a competent first half by Stranraer.
As the second half commenced Stranraer doubled their lead as they again came out of the traps at full speed as the blues surged forwards and again Tade and Mitchell combined as Tade laid on the ball for Mitchell who just inside the box placed the ball into the back of the net to double their lead a couple of minutes into the half. Five minutes later though from nothing Arbroath got a route back into the game as a nothing challenge on the edge of the box was customarily awarded a free kick by the referee and former Blues player John Fraser struck a fine free kick past Scott Black to pull the game back to 2-1. The goal seemed to put Stranraer on to the back foot as they seemed to drop deep but they still seemed to be pressing forwards when they could.
The game settled on was played in midfield for long periods and Stranraer looked to be holding out only to let a defensive slip do for them on 83 minutes as a cross went in and Sellars was able to rise above the defence and head the ball goalwards to the general dismay of the players and supporters alike. A few minutes later the frustration was compounded as Danny Mitchell received his second yellow card in the game for a late tackle, making his first yellow costly when he was earlier carded for keeping hold of the ball for too long and off he went and yet another dismissal for the team. The game finished two apiece and it felt like two points dropped for the home side.
After the game, Stranraer Manager Derek Ferguson was reflective "It does feel like two points dropped but we were up against it on many fronts today. We were two goals up and for us it was a position we had not been in for a while and we seemed to get nervous and dropped back at times and when Arbroath got their first goal we seemed to be expecting them to score a second."
Stranraer: Black, McKinstry, Noble, Dobbins, Kane, Danny Mitchell, Gibson, Tade, McConalogue (Mullen 69), Frizzel (Creaney 69), Nicoll. Subs Not Used: McColm, White.

Sent Off: Danny Mitchell (88).

Booked: Danny Mitchell, Nicoll, Gibson.

Goals: Danny Mitchell 17, 46.

Arbroath: Hill, Rennie, Forsyth, Raeside, Bishop, Fraser, McMullan (Tosh 52), Lunan, Weir (Reilly 76), Sellars, Gates. Subs Not Used: Masson, Don Campbell, Morrison.

Booked: Bishop, McMullan, Lunan, Sellars, Weir, Tosh, Gates.

Goals: Sellars 52, 83.



Gate: 228

Ref: C Brown