Stair Park and Beyond
THE Blues travelled to the home of Scottish football last Saturday when Stranraer took on Queen's Park at Hampden Park in a SFL3 match.
The stats going into this game augured well for the boys in blue – the amateurs had not beat Stranraer in a league game since March 2001 and Queen's manager Gardiner Speirs had won the dreaded manager of the month award for January, which almost guarantees a couple of defeats, and so it proved as Stranraer put on a five-star display and coasted to a 5-2 victory.
The impressive away support didn't have to wait long for the Blues' first. Local lad Stuart Mccolm raced onto a David Mitchell clearance and smashed a lovely shot into the net after just seven minutes.
The second goal arrived in 22 minutes with new boy Scott Agnew beating the offside trap and scoring a peach, beating the hapless Peter Hamilton in goals for Queen's Park.
The long suffering home fans had to wait until the 34th minute for their first real chance of the game, a snapshot by Frankie Carroll which Stranraer keeper David Mitchell saved easily.
The Blues then scored a third in 36 minutes – some lovely play by Noble and Sharp saw Sharpy send in a cross and once again the home keeper seemed at fault, punching at thin air, and Armand One took full advantage to make it 3-0.
Things couldn't get much better for Stranraer and it looked like three points by 3.40 pm.
But this is the Blues we are talking about and sure enough the Glasgow side scored just before half-time, with former Blues midfielder Martin McBride scoring a smashing goal from about 25 yds out.
So 3-1 at half time and the next goal would be vital. The home side players seem to realise this after the break and probably had their best spell of the game as they lay siege to the Stranraer goal, but the Blues were always dangerous on the break and could have added to their goal tally themselves.
The game seemed to heading for a comfortable win for Stranraer and on 71 minutes things got even cosier, after a fantastic move started and finished byDanny Mitchell after an inch-perfect cross by sub Ray Montgomerie.
But the scoring didn't stop there and it was the home side who scored the sixth goal of the game after a flying header by Michael Daly from a corner kick. Scott Agnew then scored with a 20-yarder after another error by the home keeper, giving the man on loan from Ayr Utd a brace, and a 5-2 win for the Blues.
Some super performances from Stranraer and on this form those play-offs might be in Keith Knox's mind.The most pleasing thing about the win was the arrival of three local lads - brothers Danny and Glen Mitchell and Stuart McColm.
Now the question is, can the Blues build on that performance against Elgin City at Stair Park tomorrow, where KO is 3 pm?
I have got to fancy Stranraer in this one, although Elgin are better than their league form would suggest. As ever I would call on the locals to go out and support the boys.
lTo comment, email brianmartin251@btinternet.com
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
