The away side set the precedent for the match by starting sharply, and it took prolific striker David Graham only five minutes to open the scoring. Kevin Finlayson showed quick feet to skin Stephen Fraser on the touchline and his cut-back found Graham, whose finish was aided by a slight deflection.
To their credit Arbroath responded positively to this setback, and from their next attack Gavin Swankie picked out the onrushing Kevin McMullen, but his effort was well saved by Michael McGovern.
Shortly afterwards though, Arbroath's new-found fighting spirit was shattered by a second Stranraer goal. Lee Sharp flighted a free-kick into the box and Murray Henderson's header across goal drifted in at an unguarded back-post.
Stranraer goalkeeper McGovern then played his part in maintaining their advantage, producing two great saves near the end of the first half to block long-range efforts by Euan Donaldson and Stuart MacDonald.
Arbroath survived conceding a third goal when Finlayson's low effort struck the post.
However, Stranraer didn't have to wait long for the next goal as Finlayson latched on to a long punt and slotted the ball past Neil Inglis with ease. Five minutes from time, Allan Jenkins compounded the home side's misery and rounded off the scoring when his low effort from the edge of the box eluded the dive of Inglis and found the corner of the net.