Match Report

Annan kicked off the first of their  pre season friendlies entertaining local South West neighbors Stranraer on a hot Tuesday evening but it was the visitors, Stranraer who won the match in a highly entertaining game with all six goals coming in the second half and all the goals being scored by the second half substitutes.

It was the first opportunity for Annan manager Peter Murphy to assess the numerous trialists who have been training with the club for the past 2 weeks and he must have been suitably impressed particularly in the first half when the majority of the trialists featured.

There were loads of encouraging points for Annan to take against a competent Stranraer team who went ahead in the 50th minute through a superb well struck Grant Anderson goal. Luke Donnely doubled Stranraer’s lead in the 71st minute with another well struck goal and when Cameron Elliott fired the Stair Park side into a 3 goal lead Annan looked to be facing a heavy defeat.

Annan however staged a late comeback and when Aidan Smith pulled a goal back in the 80th minute a come back was on the cards , 3 minutes later Aidan Smith slotted a penalty kick into the corner of the net to bring Annan back within touching distance of Stranraer but an 87th minute Cameron Elliott goal secured a well deserved victory for the Stair Park men.

Annan continue their build up to the new season when they entertain Queen of the South at Galabank on Saturday at the earlier kick off time of 2-00pm.

Annan have been drawn at Home to Play Celtic Colts in the first round of the Irn Bru Cup, this is the third time that Annan have been drawn to play the Celtic Colts on Tuesday 14th August.