Photos - Jordan Connolly - @Life Through A Lens NI

Bangor manager Lee Feeney was pleased with the performance in defeat against Annagh United on Saturday and, while disappointed with the result, feels that his team is trending on the right path and will truly click into gear before long.

The Seasiders lost 1-0 at the BMG Arena thanks to a Kenny Ximenes finish on the counter seven minutes from time - although the inquest began amongst supporters, players and staff alike afterwards as to whether it should’ve stood after substitute Ben Cushnie was upended well inside the Annagh half. Cushnie and defender Ben Walker brought life into the encounter when they were drafted in from the bench just before the final half-hour, which fell right in line with Feeney’s tactical blueprint for the contest at the Portadown venue.

Bangor, searching for their first win of the season following the opening-day 2-2 draw with Harland and Wolff Welders at Clandeboye Park, created plenty of chances and were denied by impressive Annagh stopper Jason Craughwell on multiple occasions as well as by a goalline clearance by home captain Paul Finnegan.

Feeney says that the Yellows are “nowhere near our best” but the number of chances they have created in the first two clashes fills him with belief that it won’t be too long before a winning streak is established.

“I felt performance-wise, we were better than we were against the Welders, it was an improvement but I still feel we’re nowhere near our best.

“We had it in our game-plan that we would manage the game and then bring on certain individuals and push on in the last 30 minutes, and I thought we did that.

“I thought we were creating chances, we had good territory, we were getting the upper hand in the game at that point and put the pressure on in key areas of the pitch.

“The goal was a sucker-punch, getting caught with a long ball on the counter-attack and it left us chasing the game late on.

“But again, we ended the game the stronger; I don’t know how we didn’t score. The Annagh goalkeeper did well, made a few big saves that ultimately won the game for them.

“It was the same against the Welders, we had chances, and we had chances here as well. I think we’re on the right track, we’ve been unlucky in that they’ve not been going in, but I’d say looking back, I thought we were the better side against the Welders and shaded this one.

“At the end of the day, we’re sat on one point from two games, which is disappointing as I think we’ve done enough to get more from those games, but the players were sat in the changing room and they’re all really looking forward to Newington next week and putting things right.”

Feeney, who was also booked on 75 minutes for an unrelated incident, expressed his dismay that what appeared a clear foul on Cushnie in the middle of the park went unpunished before the Annagh breakaway that teed up the match-winner.

“Listen, I don’t mind saying as I’m not one for sour grapes, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s an absolutely blatant foul on Ben Cushnie that’s not given and Annagh broke off that to score the goal that won them the match, it’s had a big influence on the result.

“I’m alright with referees making mistakes and I’ll never put the decisions they make above how my team plays and the effort they put in, which they did, but it’s disheartening to lose a game on the back of something that to me is obvious like that, it’s really disheartening.

“Those sorts of things can have a big influence on the day and in the season and, you know, Annagh are going to be there or thereabouts at the top of the table at the end of the season, and if for example we’re three points behind them, it’s decisions like that we’ll look back on; it’s disheartening.”

The Kilkeel man also insists he’s confident that, with a bit of luck and as long as his team continues to probe in the right areas of the pitch, the chances will hit the back of the net.