'I can only apologise' (From Bucks Free Press)

Chesham dumped out of FA Cup

3:23pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in Sport By Alan Feldberg

MORE than three days after the event Chesham United boss Andy Leese is still coming to terms with his team’s FA Cup demise.

They lost to lower league opponents Northwood to bow out of the famous competition at the first hurdle and continue the club’s wretched recent cup record.

Leese, who told the Bucks Free Press last week that the fans deserved an FA Cup run, said: “I’m still trying to get it straight in my head. I’m still reconciling myself.

“We were prepared, we understood what the opposition were about, we knew what to expect...

“But despite all that either consciously or subconsciously we decided it wasn’t a like a standard league game and we’d score when we were ready to.

“We had so much possesion and I think mentally we convinced ourselves we’d score.

“But we didn’t. We hit the post, we had one cleared off the line and then suddenly we are caught on the counter and it’s game over.”

The 1-0 defeat continues a cup trend at the club that is at odds with their league form.

This season for example they went into the match as joint leaders of the Southern Premier League with four wins a draw from their six matches.

Leese said: “I didn’t see it coming, it doesn’t fit in with what we’ve been doing this season.

“But that’s the fourth year running we’ve done that.

“It’s a mental issue. It’s not a lack of desire or a lack of application.

“The cup doesn’t have the blood and thunder of the Southern Premier League, the players step off it, relax a little bit and get sloppy.

“But there are some great stories every year and we want to be a part of it.

“We’ve got a bit of soul-searching to do now and I can only apologise. It’s not acceptable, we’re letting people down.”

Without a midweek game, Chesham have a the whole week to stew and Gosport Borough could face the backlash on Saturday, when new centre back Andrew Fagan could make his debut.

Leese said: “We need to learn how to apply ourselves every minute of every game and every training session.

“If we don’t, well, we’ll finish where we finish. But we can still affect that.”