Balmoor played host to its first match of 2025, with Peterhead hosting Stranraer. The blue toon hoped to build on their 1-0 victory in the capital on Saturday, and their opponents were looking to make a winning start to the new year, as this was their first match since the end of December.
Jordan brown made one change to the victorious lineup that started against Edinburgh City, with Ciaran Dunne returning from his suspension to replace Danny Strachan.
The visitors took just three minutes to get their first shot away, Foster using his body well to win the ball high up the pitch, but the Stranraer Striker saw his shot come back off the woodwork. It took a little longer for Peterhead to force the opposition goalie into action, a deflected Andy McCarthy effort from outside the box had Kane scrambling across his goal-line and tipping the ball round the post for a corner. Ciaran Dunne found himself in shooting positions a number of times on his return to action, the first chance falling on 16 minutes, Jack Brown firing a low cross from the right hand side, and Dunne in the right place, but unable to hit the target. Perhaps the best chance of the first half for the hosts was an effort from David Wilson just after the half hour mark, a corner not cleared by Stranraer fell kindly for the defender, but Kane got down well and crucially held the shot, with Kieran Shanks waiting to pounce.
Half-time: Peterhead 0-0 Stranraer
Similarly to the first half, both teams struggled to create any clear cut opportunities in front of goal, but Ciaran Dunne’s determined running on the left flank was once against causing the visiting defenders headaches, getting himself into a good area on the edge of the box, but his effort straight down the middle and comfortable for Kane. The breakthrough then came in the 59th minute, an excellent inswinging corner delivery from Max Barry was met by the head of Jason Brown, and the Peterhead skipper who had found himself unmarked was able to steer his header with enough power and accuracy into the back of the Stranraer net. In the 63rd minute, Peterhead made their first change, a debut for the new signing on loan from Dundalk Jamie Walker, coming on to replace Dylan Forrest. Both teams made a number of changes to try and get a better grip on the game, most notably a home debut for Oliver Colloty, but chances were still hard to come by. Ciaran Dunne once again was marauding forward on 73 minutes, finding himself in a similar position as his chance in the first half. This time, he did get his shot on target, but Kane got down sharply to his left and palmed the strike away. With little time to go, Peterhead started to drop deeper to protect their lead, but inviting pressure from their opponents. The best chance for an equaliser came from Stranraer’s top scorer Mark Russell, who made a good run into the box and was found by his winger’s cut back, but could only poke his effort around the post and away for a goal kick. For all their late efforts, Stranraer could not find a way past Oluyemi, and Peterhead claimed all three points.
Full-time: Peterhead 1-0 Stranraer
(Jason Brown 59’)
Starting XI: Oluyemi, Dunne, Wilson, Jason Brown, Goldie, McCarthy (McAllister 85’), Forrest (Walker 63’), Pawlett (D. Strachan 75’), Barry, Jack Brown, Shanks (Colloty 75’).
