In the last minute at Stair Park, when most of the fans were agreeing that a draw was a fair result, Dundee's Andy Ferguson sent a ball into the depths of the home defence where it eluded everyone and Steven Robb had the simplest of jobs in tapping home.
But as the Dundee players started to celebrate, referee David Somers spotted a linesman's raised flag and chalked off what would have been a big steal. There was simply nothing to choose between the sides.
Dundee had started the game in fine style with fast movements and crisp confident passing threatening to sweep Stranraer apart.
But their attacks and hard-work failed to provide a matching finish as an Iain Anderson shot which Simon Lynch diverted over the bar after three minutes turned out to be their most dangerous production.
Stranraer slowly took control in the middle of the park and provided Kelvin Jack with some real action. He fielded dangerous balls from Paul Walker and Lee Sharp and was pleased to see a strong header from Stephen Swift lift over the bar.
There were three bookings in a half which in the end was dominated by Stranraer. Craig Higgins of Stranraer and Tom McManus of Dundee were yellow carded for fouls and were followed quickly in the ref's book by Dundee's Callum McDonald, who was booked for dissent.
This trio was joined after the break by the visitors' Scott Robertson for a foul, almost the only incident of a half which started with a header from Stranraer's David Hamilton striking a post and then Robb's last-minute goal that was disallowed.