Airdrie Utd ran out deserved winners in a tight battle. For the first hour the match was a one way procession towards the Stranraer goal. Poor finishing, however, was Airdrie's downfall with Stephen Docherty and Gary Twigg both shooting wide and Bryan Prunty twice hitting the side netting from close range.
Midway through the first half it was Stranraer who came closest to scoring, but striker Michael Moore was denied by the woodwork. Paul Walker beat Stephen Docherty and sent over a cross which the striker did well to meet. His header had Stephen Robertson beaten, but the ball came crashing back off the angle of the bar and the post.
Airdrie continued to dominate after the interval, but their finishing continued to be a let down. They finally went ahead on the hour mark, with more than a little help from lady luck. Prunty's 20-yard shot looked to be going nowhere until the ball took a wicked deflection off visiting defender Derek Wingate which took it high over Barry-John Corr and into the visitors' net.
Stranraer, who had been largely content to defend until that point, now threw on all three substitutes and they began to make an impression.
Former Aberdeen striker Leigh Hinds saw his deflected shot being tipped round the post by Robinson with 18 minutes left. Then visiting skipper Allan Jenkins tried his luck with a header, but the ball went inches wide of Roberston's goal. As the game drew to a close, Lee Sharp went close to levelling with a wicked 30-yard shot.
But it was too little, too late, and Airdrie hung on for a deserved win.