Safety push back on track with draw

However, manager Dean Smith returned to Portadown satisfied at drawing a line under back-to-back cup defeats and moving one step closer to Championship One safety.

Scott McCordick scored two goals in the league away test, with Chris McElroy and Jaime Gardiner also on target.

Dergview held a 2-0 lead inside the opening half-hour period but it was level entering the break.

Dergview moved back on top ahead of a two-goal Annagh response, with the hosts scoring a late equaliser.

“You could argue it was disappointing to only get a point when 4-3 up so late in the game,” said Smith. “However, I was more pleased with the response to cup exits to Dergview and Wakehurst and how we put so much hard work into Saturday.

“A point is a good result and another forward move for us in this first season as a Championship One club.

“The league is the priority and we sit a few points beyond the target we set at the start of the season for this stage.

“We can take confidence from that and Saturday was another example of what we can achieve with sticking together and hard work.

“Two late goals left us level so changed completely my half-time teamtalk.

“We were much more dynamic in the second half and the overall response to recent cup defeats was more important for us long-term than disappointment at the difference between getting a draw or win.”

Annagh visit Bangor tomorrow (Saturday).