CHESHAM United manager Andy Leese says his players can hold their heads high despite exiting the Emirates FA Cup in frustrating circumstances against Peterborough.

The Generals did not look 94 places below their League One opposition but they were undone by two goals from Posh striker Shaquile Coulthirst either side of half-time.

And although they forced a thrilling finale when Ryan Blake halved the deficit ten minutes from time after latching onto a woeful backpass, there was no grandstand finish.

“I have absolutely no regrets,” admitted Leese. “We showed good quality and competed with them apart from a small period in the second half where they bossed the play.

“We laboured a bit after half-time, they pushed on and Michael Bostwick played ten yards further forward which hurt us and we lacked a little bit of belief at that point.

“Perhaps we should have made changes earlier, but we stuck at it, kept our shape and we could have nicked something at the end.”

Chesham were not far away from snatching a replay when Benji Crilley put his diving header over the bar in the dying embers, but there was to be no fairytale ending.

“If we’re honest with ourselves and everybody who was in the ground is honest, we slowed their tempo and we didn’t just bang it down the other end and defend for our lives,” added Leese.

“We looked good, kept our shape, stuck at our game plan and played the way we know we can and for that I was really pleased with us, very proud.”

More than 600 Chesham fans made the short trip north to Peterborough and, their support is something Leese believes has been paramount to their cup heroics this season.

“It’s just the best ever,” he said. “Last year at Bristol Rovers and Bradford I felt like we couldn’t top it, but I got to our ground this morning to see all these supporters’ coaches.

“It’s the best support I’ve ever known and I think the players were lifted by them towards the end because they never stopped believing in us.

“I couldn't be prouder of the football club.”