The League Two outfit found themselves two goals to the good in the first half thanks to goals from Tommy Sharp and Jordan Stuart.
Aiden McCallion then reduced the arrears for the young Gers in what was a much improved second half display, but the hosts made sure of the points in the latter stages when Corey O’Donnell slammed home from the penalty spot and Scot Rough added another.
It was a harsh scoreline for Stevie Smith’s side as they will now shift their attention to their third fixture of the league phase when they make another lengthy trip, this time to Dumfries, to face Queen of the South during the upcoming international break.
The Under-19s Head Coach named three changes to his side from the league triumph over Hearts eight days ago as Calum Adamson, Callum Burnside and Chris Eadie returned to the starting lineup.
The young Gers have been guilty of being slow out of the blocks in matches this season and it was an accusation which could be levelled at them as Stranraer enjoyed superiority in the opening exchanges.
Indeed, a direct pass upfield caught the away side on their heels as Tommy Sharp raced through on goal but could only stab a tame finish straight at Rydnn McGuire in goals.
Evan Dunne then slashed wide when Rangers failed to clear their lines from a free-kick before full-back Jordan Stuart worked space inside and saw his effort deflect off the outside of the post.
It is an almost 200 mile round trip for Smith’s side and the effects of the long bus journey down the A77 appeared to be taking its toll as the hosts broke the deadlock inside a quarter of an hour.
James Dolan had too much time and space to pick out a cross from the left-hand side where the lively Sharp stole in at the far post to volley beyond a helpless McGuire.
Stranraer goalkeeper Josh Lane was a spectator for the opening 25 minutes before Lewis Stewart took it upon himself after winning a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area to crash his subsequent effort off the woodwork.
Slowly but surely the visitors were beginning to gain a foothold in the contest. Stewart once again posed problems of the hosts when he drifted inside off the left and delivered in search of Alex Smith, although the Gers winger couldn’t quite bring the ball under control.
Eadie then looked to pick out Burnside when the forward dropped deep without being tracked by a Stranraer body, but the midfielder always looked under pressure as he unleashed on the first-time volley.
Down the opposite end and McGuire spared the blushes of the visitors when he saved smartly with his feet from Dolan.
But the Gers goalkeeper was hapless to prevent the home side from doubling their advantage on the stroke of the half-time interval.
After Eadie went close following a patient piece of play from Smith’s side, a direct punt upfield from Stranraer goalkeeper Lane wreaked havoc on the backline and allowed Stuart to latch onto the bouncing ball to loop a finish over a stranded McGuire.
Rangers required a strong response following the restart and they were immediately on the front foot when Ben Hutton picked out Burnside in spaces and the Northern Irishman blasted over.
Indeed, the visitors found themselves in a similar predicament a fortnight ago in their opening league phase match against Stenhousemuir, eventually running out of time to find a leveller after Hutton reduced the arrears midway through the second half.
Whatever Smith’s message in the dressing room at the interval carried itself onto the pitch as the young Gers manufactured a lovely passage of play involving Lyle Wark and Stewart before Eadie was eventually crowded out.
Aiden McCallion then stung the palms of Lane just shy of the hour-mark before the goal which Rangers craved to halve the deficit arrived moments later.
The home side were guilty of being careless inside the penalty area and it was a moment of opportunism from Adamson to nip ahead of Sallu Turay which led the Stranraer man to clip the back of the midfielder’s calf.
There was no doubt about the decision, and as he did against Hearts last week McCallion stepped up to dispatch confidently from 12 yards.
It certainly set up an intriguing final 20 minutes as Rangers sought the leveller that their second half display merited.
However, the hosts put the game beyond doubt when the referee pointed to the penalty spot for the second time in the half, this time in favour of Stranraer, when Sharp went down under minimal contact from Connor Campbell amid a header floated dangerously back across goal.
Corey O’Donnell assumed spot-kick duties for the League Two side and blasted high beyond McGuire, before the home side added a fourth in stoppage time through Scot Rough from close-range.
STRANRAER: Lane, Stuart (McManus, 60), Rough, Docherty, Dolan (Turay, 45), McKnight (O’Donnell, 72), Dunne, Sharp (Lang, 81), Coll, Hunter, Edgar (Quigg, 60)
Subs not used: Henderson, Ecrepont, Russell
RANGERS: McGuire, B. Hutton (Wyllie, 57), Kerr, Campbell, Wark, McCallion, Adamson (Fernie, 70), Burnside, Smith (Cameron, 57), Stewart (McClure, 57), Eadie (Christie, 57)
Subs not used: Thackray, Reid, Hynd, Crilly
REFEREE: Sean Murdoch
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