Rangers will face Stranraer in the Scottish Cup fifth round after the League Two side edged past Queen’s Park in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Stairs Park.
The rearranged fourth-round tie, which had earlier been disrupted by a faulty floodlight, finished level after extra time before Stranraer goalkeeper Lyndon Tas emerged as the hero. Tas produced a crucial save from Queen’s Park’s ninth penalty, before Lewis Hunter stepped up to convert the decisive tenth spot-kick and seal a 5–4 shoot-out victory.
The match had been thrown into uncertainty earlier in the evening when a floodlight malfunction forced players off the pitch after 48 minutes, with Queen’s Park leading 1–0 thanks to Aidan Connelly’s early long-range strike. After a 30-minute delay, play was allowed to resume following safety checks, and Stranraer fought back to force the contest beyond 90 minutes.
Despite both sides creating chances in extra time, neither could find a winner, setting up a tense shoot-out in front of an anxious home crowd.
Tas’ save on the ninth penalty shifted the momentum decisively in Stranraer’s favour, and Hunter showed nerves of steel to convert the winning kick and book his side’s place in the fifth round.
For Rangers, the result confirms a home tie against the League Two outfit at Ibrox over the weekend of February 7/8, bringing back memories of the sides’ last Scottish Cup meeting. That came in January 2020, when Steven Gerrard’s Rangers recorded a comfortable 2–0 victory, just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic brought football to a halt.
While Stranraer will arrive as clear underdogs, their dramatic victory over Championship opposition underlines the unpredictable nature of the Scottish Cup – and the dangers of underestimating lower-league teams.
Danny Röhl’s Rangers side progressed with ease in the previous round, dismantling Annan Athletic 5–0 at Ibrox. Bojan Miovski’s hat-trick, Thelo Aasgaard’s stunning free-kick and the addition of several key signings highlighted the growing momentum at the club.
However, Rohl will be well aware that cup football demands full focus and intensity, regardless of the opposition. Last season’s shock 1–0 defeat to Queen’s Park at the same stage of the tournament remains a fresh reminder of what can happen when complacency creeps in.
Ironically, Rangers had been hoping for clarity earlier in the week, but the floodlight issues at Stairs Park delayed proceedings. One Queen’s Park supporter even claimed on social media that “sparks were coming out of one of the floodlights” but insisted the ground was still “well lit” and “looked playable”. Safety concerns ultimately took priority before the match was allowed to resume.
Stranraer’s resilience – both during the lengthy stoppage and through the pressure of penalties – will give them belief heading into the Ibrox clash.
The road to Hampden is rarely straightforward, and Stranraer’s shoot-out success is another reminder of the drama the Scottish Cup can deliver.