By Joe McCann
LEE Feeney was left rueing mistakes at both ends of the pitch as the Seasiders lost out to Glentoran on Tuesday night.
The Glens bagged four goals which the Bangor boss felt his side could have done much better with. Feeney was able to welcome Gareth Deane back into his starting lineup and the goalkeeper was Bangor’s only player over the age of 30 with a youthful back three of Alfie Mitchell (17), Harry Lynch (19) and Lewis Francis (21) caught out against a ruthless Glentoran side.
While Feeney believes his side could have done better defensively, he was also left frustrated at his side’s lack of killer instinct in front of goal as they failed to convert a number of big opportunities at crucial stages of the game.
“It was a strange game and I don’t think the scoreline was a true reflection of the match,” reflected Feeney.
“I felt we competed with Glentoran and went toe-to-toe with them but ultimately we were naive in our defending. That is to be expected because we had a very young back three in terms of age and experience in the Premiership.
“But we should have defended better. I don’t think Glentoran cut us open too many times at all but they got the ball into wide areas and put good deliveries in which we just didn’t deal with. Then their fourth goal was a really poor mistake and that summed it up.
“We didn’t stay in the game with our defending. When we went behind we should have kept things tight but we make another mistake and gift Glentoran a second goal. Giving away silly goals prevented us from having any sort of foundation to build on.
“At half time the message was to keep ourselves in the game and if we can get the next goal then we’re back in it. We had the chance, but all of a sudden we were three goals down and that knocked the stuffing out of us.
“Glentoran were ruthless in our penalty area and at the other end we weren’t – and that was really disappointing.”
Feeney continued, “Goals change games and we didn’t take our chances.”
“We had a chance to make it 1-1 but don’t take it and find ourselves two goals down. Then we had a chance to make it 2-1 and a minute later we’re three behind. Mick Morgan was very unlucky with his effort that hit the crossbar on another day that drops in instead of hitting the bar. But ultimately we don’t score and Glentoran go straight up the pitch and put the game out of sight.
“When we drew with Glentoran at Clandeboye Park earlier on this season we didn’t create anywhere near the number and quality of chances we had on Tuesday – yet this time we’re on the end of a four goal defeat.”
With just six games remaining for the Seasiders in this season’s Premiership campaign, Feeney wants his side to finish strongly and secure their place away from the bottom two places in the league.
An injury time Cliftonville goal in Tuesday night’s north Belfast derby ensured that Bangor maintained an eight point lead over Crusaders in the relegation play-off spot, while the Seasiders are eleven points clear of bottom side Glenavon. Both teams have one game in hand over Bangor – and that takes place this Saturday when the Seasiders are without a fixture.
Feeney admits that it’s at this time of the season it’s hard not to look at other results – and when Crusaders host Glenavon this Saturday in a clash of the bottom two, Feeney will be an interested spectator.
“It is an exciting time of the season because every team is playing for something,” explained Feeney.
“Whether it’s at the top of the league, European play-offs or at the bottom of the league, every results matters and that makes it interesting.
“There’s no getting away from checking other results and seeing how the teams around us are doing, and with no game on Saturday I will probably go and watch Crusaders against Glenavon.
“We’ve struggled for results recently, but I think everyone would have taken this position if we were offered it when we won the Championship last season.
“We need to focus on the remaining six games and I’m confident that we will finish the season strong. We have the belief and the togetherness in the dressing room to finish well, and I think some of the lessons we’ve had recently will be really good for us.”
