It felt like a defeat, says McKenna as Vale snatch a point
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WICK manager Tom McKenna admitted it felt like a defeat after Deveronvale snatched a share of the points in the dying stages of Saturday’s match at Harmsworth Park.
“I thought it was a game we really dominated,” McKenna said after the 2-2 draw. “It was just our decision-making and a couple of mistakes that ruined the day for us.
“We should have seen it through but it wasn’t to be. In the changing room afterwards the lads were really down – they had put so much into the game.
“Okay, it’s a point, but it felt more like a loss to them and from Deveronvale’s point of view it probably feels like a victory.
“For the first goal Sean [McCarthy] held his hands up – he just got caught in two minds. It was a mistake, but Sean probably gives us 12 to 15 points a season with his quality.
“I said at half-time to the lads, if you’re not going to be clinical enough in front of goal and finish teams off it’s going to come back to bite you – and it has done. We were creating chance after chance, but you’ve got to punish teams.
“I felt sorry for the guys because they put so much into it.
"But on the positive side the performance levels and fitness levels are there now. Sam Mackay was exceptional and deserved his man-of-the-match award.
“It’s a hard one to take, but it’s a point against a team who did the double over us last year. It’s taking small steps to get to where we want to be.
I felt sorry for the guys because they put so much into it.
“No disrespect to the lads that are playing, because it’s a squad and they’re good lads, but the guys that are missing will probably have a big say in how we go forward this year. Jack Henry, Jack Halliday, Marc Macgregor, Joe Steven and Davie Allan are players with experience and a lot of quality who would enhance any team in the Highland League.
“When these lads come back it’s going to make us stronger and there will be competition for places as well then.”
