Bangor 'had to show a lot of bottle' with first Premiership point set to act as platform for more

The Co Down club headed into the half-time break trailing 2-0 after efforts from Josh Archer and Matthew Clarke and looked destined to suffer a fourth consecutive league loss.

However, Lee Feeney’s men responded in fine fashion as Lewis Francis pulled one back before Mulvenna’s strike in the dying moments helped rescue a crucial point and drag Bangor off the bottom.

“It’s the story of the season so far – we’re always conceding really early, we’re not giving ourselves a chance,” Mulvenna told the club’s website. “It was two stupid goals we conceded.

"If we can sort them out, start cutting them out, we’ll definitely kick on and start winning games hopefully.

“The early goal in the second half was massive and obviously we changed shape, we went into a diamond (in midfield).

“That meant we could stay high on their number six and press more and, to be fair, it suited us – balls into the channels, getting second balls and that’s what our game is and, luckily, we got the result from it.

“I don’t like going back to last year but that’s what sort of got us most of our results – getting in behind, long throws and getting second balls.

“We had to show a lot of bottle and it didn’t surprise me because that’s what we have in our locker.

“We have the fight, we have the character – it’s just sometimes showing that and we haven’t given ourselves a chance in the last few weeks with conceding early and then our backs are against the wall...we kick on from here.”

Bangor will now travel to defending champions Larne on Tuesday night before taking on Glentoran at The Oval next weekend.

“Hopefully we can kick on,” added Mulvenna. “I got a goal there and it’s rare for me, but I was glad to get that one, especially with it being a late equaliser that got us a point.

“It’s a massive thing to build on going into Tuesday, we’re all happy in there and we’re looking forward now to Tuesday night.”