Group have ‘become used to winning’ – Feeney
By Neil Watson
sport@spectatornewspapers.co.uk
THE top of the Championship table got even tighter after another round of exciting fixtures last weekend.
Bangor defeated Dundela to move within two points of Friday night’s league leaders and jump into second place, but a victory for Institute on Saturday saw the north-west men leapfrog both Bangor and the Duns as they marched into top spot, with league favourites Portadown also strengthening their position in fourth after a nail biting win over Dergview.
While there may have been some nerves on display at Clandeboye Park, particularly in a shaky opening spell for the Seasiders, Lee Feeney was proud of how his team grew into the game and claimed a deserved victory.
“I thought we didn’t settle in the first 20 minutes, it just wasn’t us at all,” admitted the Bangor manager.
“I knew that if we could get a foothold then we would be able to go on and dominate, and create chances and ultimately win the game.
“Tiarnan Mulvenna started to get his foot on the ball in midfield and dictate things, and that seemed to settle everyone down. It allowed us to start playing football and doing what we have been working on and I thought we got the upper hand at that stage.
“Dundela are at the top end of the table for a reason and are always a dangerous team,” he continued.
“They threatened us on the counter attack a few times, but I thought we bossed most of the game and deserved the win.
“We scored three good goals and we had three disallowed. I didn’t think they were offside at the time and having watched them back since, I’m certain they were onside. Thankfully those decisions didn’t prove to be match defining.”
Bangor’s win on Friday night extended their unbeaten run to 10 games – seven victories and two draws in the Championship alongside a win in the Irish Cup.
Even though the Seasiders are on a great run of form, Feeney points to the focus within the dressing room and his players’ mentality that means they hate losing more than they enjoy winning – something that all four of Feeney’s January recruits are all buying into.
“The boys are so focused on winning each game it’s unbelievable,” he said.
“I tried to tell them how well they have done so far in the Championship, but they are not bothered by that, they just want to go out and win each game.
“There is no arrogance in this statement, but the boys have become used to winning,” Feeney added. “They won nearly every match in the PIL last season and they have largely continued that form into this season.
“So they don’t get carried away when they win because they have grown used to it. The biggest reaction from the boys is when they lose a game, you can see that they are really hurt by it and they want to get back out for the next game to put things right. It’s a fantastic mindset for them.
“The new players that have come in have given us a real lift and they have just slotted into the team and into a brilliant dressing room really easily. The lads have been really welcoming to them and that no doubt makes them feel at home.”
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