CHESHAM United’s unbelievable cup run came to a frustrating end after they were beaten 2-1 by a below-par Peterborough side at London Road.

Andy Leese’s team were the better side in the first half but they fell behind shortly before the interval when Shaquile Coulthirst scored a stunning individual goal to give Posh the lead.

The Generals began to tire in the second period and it seemed all but over when Coulthirst got his second when he finished from close range late in the second half.

Although they pulled a goal back through Ryan Blake ten minutes from time, it was too little too late for Chesham who had defied all the odds to get to the first round.

Although 94 places separated Chesham and their League One opposition, it was the Generals who started brighter and they looked more comfortable on the ball from the first whistle.

Sam Youngs had the first opportunity for the visitors in the fourth minute when he took aim from long-range after Posh failed to properly clear Dave Pearce’s driven corner.

Youngs picked up a loose ball from just outside the penalty area fired in a rasping drive which Peterborough keeper Luke McGee had to be at full-stretch to turn round the post.

At the other end, Posh full-back Andrew Hughes failed to take full advantage off some hesitancy in the Generals’ defence when Darren Purse failed to to head clear a high ball.

Hughes had time to pick his spot but his tame effort fell into the grateful hands of Ashlee Jones.

Posh grew into the game and started to enjoy more possession but it was Leese’s side who were still carving out all of the meaningful opportunities in front of a restless home crowd.

After 20 minutes Brad Wadkins did well to beat the offside trap and darted in behind the Posh defence but his final effort lacked the power and direction to trouble McGee.

But the Generals were made to rue their missed opportunities when the home side opened the scoring after 40 minutes through a sumptuous drive by Coulthirst from all of 25 yards.

Adam Martin was caught in possession in the Generals’ half when he tried to flick the ball over Marcus Maddison’s head but the ball cannoned of the Posh midfielder into the path of Coulthirst.

Coulthirst had time to pick his spot and Jones could only watch flat-footed as the ball rifled into the top-right corner of the net.

After half-time the League One side emerged a different proposition and they should have doubled their lead in the 48th minute when Hughes’ powerful free-kick stung Jones’ palms.

And ten minutes later the home side wanted a penalty when Coulthirst was through on goal and was seemingly tripped by the covering Bruce Wilson but the referee waved away the protests.

Leese’s side were tiring and they were fortunate Posh striker Tom Nichols was having a bad day when he spurned an easy chance inside the box in the 65th minute when it seemed harder to miss.

But Coulthirst was enjoying differing fortunes to his strike partner and he grabbed his second in the 70th minute when he ghosted into the box to meet Michael Smith’s inch-perfect cross and finished calmly.

Leese rolled the dice by introducing Blake, and ten minutes later the striker gave his team a lifeline when he capitalised on some some sloppy defending.

Pouncing on a woefully short back pass, Blake beat McGee to the punch, swiftly rounded him and slotted the ball into the empty net to set up a frenetic finale.

But despite piling on the pressure in injury time, the Generals were unable to create a meaningful in the dying embers.

Peterborough United (4-4-2): Luke McGee; Michael Smith, Ricardo Almeida Santos, Ryan Tafazolli, Andew Hughes, Marcus Maddison, Michael Bostwick, Chris Forrester, Leo Da Silva Lopes, Shaquile Coulthirst, Tom Nichols

Subs used: Gwion Edwards 61 (Da Silva Lopes), Lee Angol 73 (Nichols), Paul Taylor 77 (Maddison)

Subs not used: Mark Tyler; Adil Nabi, Callum Chettle, Jerome Binnom-Williams

Chesham United (4-4-2): Ashlee Jones, Benji Crilley, Mat Michtel-King, Darren Purse, Bruce Wilson, Dave Pearce, Adam Martin, Sam Youngs, Matt Taylor, Brad Wadkins, Drew Roberts

Subs used: Ryan Blake 69 (Roberts), Barry Hayles 79 (Youngs), Toby Little 79 (Wilson)

Subs not used: Matt Nolan; Stephan Hamilton-Forbes, Taylor McKenzie, Kenani Murray

Referee: D Handley

Attendance: 4328