MATCH PREVIEW – STRANRAER (H)

After Saturday’s disappointing defeat against Annan Athletic, Gary Bollan will be looking to get things back on track when we welcome Stranraer with a 7.45pm kick off.

It has been a close season of change for the Blues who reached the League 1 Play Off semi finals last season.

Long serving manager Stevie Farrell moved onto Dumbarton and was replaced by player Jamie Hammill who has retired from playing to concentrate on management. No fewer than 11 players left Stair Park during the break – Ruari Paton joined QOS while Connor McManus also moved up the leagues to East Fife. Players remaining in League Two were Greg Fleming (Annan). Adam Cummins (Stirling Albion) James Hilton (Edinburgh City) and Thomas Orr (Stenhousemuir). Joao Victoria returned to East Kilbride along with Cameron Elliot while Andy Stirling joined Darvel and Lewis McIntyre also moved to the West of Scotland League with Hurlford United. Tom Devitt returned to his north east of England to join Hebburn Town while Darryl Duffy retired as a player to become Hammill’s assistant.

Players arriving at Stair Park to replace them were Tommy Muir (Annan), Sean McIntosh (Brechin), Paul Woods (East Kilbride), Craig Ross and Josh Rennie (Kilmarnock), Ruaridh Langan (Dumbarton), Joe Moore (Airdrie), Ross Irving (Livingston), Dean Hawkshaw (Glenafton Athletic) and Luke Scullion (Partick Thistle). Curtis Lyle is also on loan from Kilmarnock.

In the Premier Sports Cup the Blues finished runner up to Kilmarnock in Group G with six points. Their opening match was cancelled due to covid in visitors Morton’s camp and a 3-0 win was awarded. The campaign eventually got underway with a 1-0 defeat from Clyde with David Goodwillie scoring from the penalty spot midway through the first half Broadwood. Matty Yeats was then on target in a home 1-0 win over Lowland League East Kilbride before a 2-1 defeat from Kilmarnock at Rugby Park with Josh Walker levelling either side of Fraser Murray and Chris Burke scoring for Killie.

In the SPFL Trust Trophy, the Blues progressed to the second round after Motherwell B withdrew from their first round tie.

The league campaign opened with a 1-1 draw in the long trip to Elgin where Darryl McHardy gave City the lead at the interval before Grant Gallagher got the equaliser early in the second half. A home 3-0 defeat from Annan with Chris Johnston, Aidan Smith and Owen Moxon scoring for Peter Murphy’s side. It was a similar story when Stirling Albion visited Stair Park with Dylan Mackin, Ray Gran and Ross McGeachie scoring for the Binos.

On Saturday, a depleted side got a 1-1 draw at Forfar where a Darryl Duffy opener was cancelled out by Craig Slater.


MATCH SPONSOR – Jimbob and the Jimbobereebobs

MATCH BALL SPONSOR – Kiwi The Gorgie Road Alpaca



MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE – David Dickinson

David makes his first Central Park appearance of the season. On Sunday, he was in charge of the battle of the Saints as St Mirren drew 1-1 with St Johnstone.

ASSISTANT REFEREES – Alasdair Mather and Mark Harris


ADMISSION

Adults - £14 | Concessions - £8 | Season tickets are valid for this game.

You can buy your ticket in advance here.

LIVE STREAM

Can’t make it to Central Park? Blue Brazil TV is streaming the match live for the cost of £11. Buy your stream here.



Previewer: Andrew Mullen.