A first home defeat in five months for Cowdenbeath did not affect their push for a promotion play-off place.
While the Blue Brazil were producing a ragged performance against Stranraer, fourth-top Albion Rovers were losing to Ayr United, so they are still four points off the pace but boss Colin Nish was more interested in why, after a series of excellent home shows, this emerged.
Cowdenbeath had only one real chance and that came in the first 10 minutes when striker Ross Caldwell got free in the Stranraer box and it took a brilliant save from fellow debutant, Blues keeper Cameron Belford, to deny the former Ayr frontman.
After that it was really a story of Stranraer stringing together some grand moves, with former Dunfermline player Willie Gibson pulling the strings.
Cowden shots-stopper Grant Adam made a series of good saves from Craig Malcolm, Jamie Longworth and Andy Stirling to ensure the hosts turned around level.
The game continued to flow the same way after the interval and it was a matter of time before Stranraer scored.
The opener came in the 64th minute a 25-yard free-kick from Gibson while ad Adam had to deny both Stirling and sub Ryan Thomson before the clinching second goal came seven minutes from time from the spot.
Fraser Kerr needlessly fouled Stirling in the box and Malcolm converted the spot-kick to tie up the points.
Nish said: “We really just did not turn up. All the good things we have done over the past few months at Central Park just did not happen on the day for us.
“We did not create many good chances and at no time did we stamp our authority on the game.”
“I do not want to be too hard on the guys for they have worked so hard so far this season and really looked a good side so often.”