Stranraer 2-0 Albion Rovers: Stranraer in box seat after late strike

The long-serving Blues pounced at the death to put a bit of daylight between the sides for Sunday’s second leg after Frank McKeown’s first half opener had been the difference between the side’s in an open but at times tense first leg at Stair Park.

The home side spent most of the first half asking all the questions but it wasn’t until six minutes before the break before they made the vital breakthrough.

Rovers’ lock-tight defence had an almighty let-off when McKeown forced a fine finger-tip save from Derek Gaston with a powerful header from a Chris Aitken free-kick. But the big defender made no mistake from the resulting Aitken corner kick which Albion defender Ciaran Donnelly could only divert in at the back post with an attempted overhead clearance. The goal opened up the contest and Stranraer could have been out of sight. Martin Grehan went close in the 55th minute when he latched onto a deft pass from Scott Taggart but his low drive failed to beat Gaston.

And shortly after Craig Malcolm went close with low drive.

However, Rovers went agonisingly close in the 58th minute when sub Robert Love hit a looping effort off David Mitchell’s crossbar.

Stranraer fought back and, in the 79th minute, Grant Gallagher’s buccaneering run created an opening but the midfielder’s low drive just swept wide of Gaston’s far post. The home side took a massive step towards promotion in stoppage time when Moore was on hand to slot home a priceless second goal after Gaston could only a parry a teasing Gallagher cross.

Stranraer: Mitchell, Taggart, Noble, MacGregor, McKeown, Aitken, Winter, Stirling, Malcolm, Grehan (Moore 80), Gallagher. Subs not used: McColm, Belkouche, Kane, Marshall.

Albion Rovers: Gaston, Donnelly, Russell, Stevenson, O’Byrne, Lumsden, Pierce (Love 46), Canning, Gemeel, McStay, Boyle (Marriot 89). Subs not used: Acquaih, Chaplain, Fahey.

Referee: S O’Reilly. Attendance: 506.