The match had barely entered the latter stages of the opening minute when Cammy Russell found himself inside the box however the Stranraer keeper made himself big and saved before the rebound was blocked and the hosts were able to clear their lines.
Spartans were taking the game by the scruff of the neck from the off, with Blair Henderson causing disruption up top however he too was denied by a well timed block as he looked to test the keeper from 18 yards.
After the initial excitement of goal mouth action, the game settled down as the pitch began to cut up and players sometimes left flummoxed by the ball hitting a big divet as they looked to control / pass / shoot* (*delete as applicable).
Stranraer then took the lead midway through the half, arguably against the run of play when Sean Docherty’s volley beat Blair Carswell to give the debutant the opener.
There was some concern shortly after when Ayrton Sonkur required treatment following an aerial challenge that saw Edgar booked as a result.
HT: Stranraer 1-0 The Spartans
Unlike the start to the opening half, the commencement of the second was very scrappy with neither side forging open an opportunity.
An acrobatic effort inside the Spartans box by Robbie Foster would have been a goal of the season contender but thankfully for the visitors, it was to drift wide of Blair Carswell’s sticks.
Some strong direct running by Brogan Walls saw him exchange a quick one-two with Cammy Russell at the edge of the box before he looked on agonisingly as the shot flashed past the outside post.
Next to go for a run up the flank was Josh Laing who beat his man, sent the ball into the area, finding the head of Cammy Russell who hit the crossbar with his nod towards goal.
Spartans made a triple change midway through the half with Mark Stowe, Kieran Watson and Liam Morgan replacing Laing, Walls and Craigen.
As the game entered its final stages, one almighty stramash and scramble in the Stranraer box somehow saw the ball fail to cross the line. Blair Henderson’s second bite at the cherry seeing his shot hit a defender on the line directing it onto the post. It came back out to Cammy Russell who sent the ball back into the box for Henderson and it was the woodwork that saved Stranraer for a second time as the matter of seconds.
Jamie Dishington was introduced as Douglas Samuel shuffled the pack as the game ticked down towards injury time.
And as Spartans pushed to salvage a last gasp point, the hosts pounced and Ryan Edgar ensured the points remained at Stair Park.
FT: Stranraer 2-0 The Spartans
Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Ayrton Sonkur
