Bangor salvage comeback point against Ballymena for first point of season

Irish Premiership Bangor 2 - 2 Ballymena United FT Bangor claimed their first point of the Irish Premiership campaign after coming from two goals down at half-time to draw 2-2 with Ballymena United at Clandeboye Park. The visitors looked to be in a strong position as goals from Josh Archer and Matthew Clarke gave them a 2-0 advantage at the interval. But Bangor battled back in the second period with Lewis Francis and Tiarnan Mulvenna finding the net, both as a result of long throws from Reece Neale. Bangor had striker Lucas McRoberts red-carded in stoppage time but the Seasiders were able to hold on to open their account for the season. The visitors went in front on 15 minutes when Bangor failed to clear Chris McKee's cross from the left wasn't cleared and the ball dropped to Josh Archer who found the bottom corner with a low strike. United doubled their advantage just after the half-hour when Chris McKee whipped in a free kick from the left flank which ended up in the back of the net with Ballymena skipper Matthew Clarke claiming the final touch. Bangor came close when Lewis Harrison's glancing header from Neale's cross brushing the outside of the post on its way past. Ballymena almost grabbed a third on the stroke of half-time when Igor Rutkowski raced on to a through ball from Charlie Allen but his low shot was superbly kept out by Gareth Deane. The home side reshuffled their formation at the break and found a way back into the game on 5 minutes when Ballymena made a poor effort at clearing Neale's long throw and defender Francis was on hand to steer home a low shot from 12 yards. Buoyed by this, the home side almost levelled when Lucas McRoberts' snap-shot inside the area was superbly tipped over by United keeper David Walsh. Bangor maintained the pressure and grabbed a deserved equaliser on 89 minutes when Ballymena once again failed to deal with another Neale long throw and this time Mulvenna was on hand to fire home the loose ball. Bangor were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when striker Lucas McRoberts was shown a straight red card following an off-the-ball incident in a crowded goalmouth but Bangor were able to hold on to secure their first point. What the managers said Bangor manager Lee Feeney: "Today, especially second half, we were back to ourselves and we showed some desire and heart and we cared and thankfully we got something out of the game because I think we deserved it. "It wasn't so much what was said (at half-time) it was what we done. We spoke collectively and changed the formation a wee bit to put them under a bit more pressure higher up the pitch and the second half they never got out of their half. "The manner of how we got the point was pleasing – it was the desire and the hunger to get on the end of things that got us the point today." Ballymena United boss Oran Kearney: "The first half was all the good parts of us – it was a really strong and solid away performance. "We got two goals and came close to possibly getting a third just before half-time. The big emphasis was to go out in the second half and replicate that, knowing that Bangor were going to throw the kitchen sink at it. "It was two long throws and set pieces, which we were aware of, but we just don't land on those second balls and all of a sudden three points becomes one. For two moments we just lapsed and sadly it has hurt us today.