Goals from Robbie Raeside and Barry Sellars helped Arbroath record a two-goal victory over Stranraer in the first leg of their Irn-Bru Scottish Football League play-off final.

After controlling the first half, the Red Lichties took a deserved lead through Raeside in the 43rd minute.

Paul Watson delivered a dangerous inswinging corner to the back post, which Jamie Bishop headed back across goal and Raeside nodded home.

Arbroath - who finished fourth in Division Three, two places below their opponents - doubled their lead in the 60th minute thanks to a superb counter-attack.

Stranraer had threatened with a free-kick but Alan Brazil pushed forward for the home side before he released Sellars.

The Arbroath captain showed great composure and fired a low drive into the bottom corner of the net to give his side the upper hand ahead of the second leg on Saturday.