The Blue Toon go within 2 points of East Fife at the top of the table with a 1-0 win over Stranraer. The captain’s goal means The Blues stay in 8th, just 3 points from the bottom spot.

Stranraer made the long journey north for their first match of 2025, hoping to extend their 4 game unbeaten run, albeit with 3 straight draws. Peterhead’s battle at the top remains close after dropping points against Elgin at the end of 2024 and beating Edinburgh City on the road last Saturday.

Stranraer got things underway with the home side having the brighter start. A deflected shot in the 5th minute from Andrew McCarthy tested Stranraer goalie Sam Kane, who saved comfortably to settle early nerves.

The first big chance fell to Peterhead’s Max Barry, when the ball fell to the left winger after a quick attack. His shot crossed back across the face of the goal and wide.

Peterhead continued to maintain positive possession, limiting Stranraer to their own half for large portions of the first half. Further attempts from Keiran Shanks, Barry, and Dylan Forrest pushed Peterhead closer to an opening goal, but Stranraer held on till half time.

Both team were sluggish at the start of the second half and struggled to show much quality until the 57th minute, when Ciaran Dunne’s shot forced another save from Kane. Conservative corners were awarded to Peterhead, with Max Barry’s latter finding the head of captain Jason Brown, who nodded home on the hour mark.

Moments later, Caleb Goldie’s commanding run down the right wing almost provided the perfect assist for Shanks to double Peterhead’s lead, but the ball was cleared behind for a corner.

Substitutions slowed down the game, with Stranraer struggling to threaten The Blue Toon as time trickled away. Mark Russell’s strike went narrowly wide of Blessing Oluyemi’s post in the 83rd minute, which would be the closest Stranraer would get to scoring all game.

The away side, perhaps exhausted from the monumental journey, couldn’t offer enough to threaten the home side, who saw out the final moments with ease.

Full Time: Peterhead 1-0 Stranraer

Peterhead welcome Stirling Albion on Saturday whilst Stranraer host league leaders East Fife at Stair Park.