The Macleay Valley Rangers dropped their first competition points of the season, but coach Dean Riordan said it felt like a victory after his team overcame a 2-0 deficit halfway through the second half.
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“It shows that we have that fighting spirit,” Riordan said.
“Even when our backs are against the wall, we are down on troops and on the scoreboard, we will find a way back.”
The Rangers faced the Port Saints in a top of the table clash in wet and muddy conditions on Saturday.
They found themselves behind on the scoreboard for the first time this season in the second minute.
Saints took a free-kick from just outside the box and it rebounded off Kurt Riordan into the back of the net.
The two sides shared equal possession and chances but the score remained 1-0 heading into half-time.
Riordan told his side this match would be a character builder and he was proven to be correct when the side was caught on the break and punished.
A through ball put a Saints player one-on-one with the keeper and he mishit the ball past the keeper and it rebounded off the post and into the back of the net.
With 20-minutes remaining in the match, Riordan made a change to put fresh legs and speed into his attack.
Jesse Polzen substituted onto the field and onto the right wing while Andrew Potter moved to the central striker position.
The move paid dividends with the stand-in captain Potter reducing the deficit.
The attack started with Daniel Saul winning the ball in the midfield and feeding Polzen who beat his defender and found Potter in the middle who turned and fired a shot.
It was deja vu with five minutes remaining as the three players combined in the same fashion to level the scores.
“Both sides were able to put on a great display of football in terrible conditions,” Riordan said.
"The score was a good reflection of the match.”
Rangers Premier League side will host Wauchope on Saturday at 3pm.
