Carrick Rangers manager Stephen Baxter said that he was “devastated” by Portadown’s late equaliser at Shamrock Park.
A Shay McCartan own goal had given Carrick an early lead, which they held until the last kick of the game, with McCartan’s deflected strike rescuing a point for the Ports.
But Baxter believed his side’s performance deserved all three points as they were left to rue missed chances.
“I’m devastated, last kick of the game and we will blame ourselves in many regards because we should have been five to the good such as the chances we have missed here,” he told BBC Sport NI.
“We should have been four up at half-time and we missed a few in the second half.
“We restricted Portadown to nothing until the shot at the end and it flicks off one of players’ shoulders and flies the other way, you can’t legislate for that, that is football.”
Despite only picking up a point, Baxter said that his side’s display was “the best it’s been” since he arrived at the club.
“That is a cruel way to draw a game, but we’ll take nothing away from our performance today,” he continued.
“Everyone working so hard for each other, the quality, the movement, we were magnificent, and you can be pleased with that.”