Leese: 'We let down club and fans'

Oct 4 2011 By Greg Burns

Andy Leese

CHESHAM United boss Andy Leese has called on his side to show their character and bounce back from FA Cup heartache tonight.

The Generals boss was angry with his side's second qualifying round defeat to lower-league Dunstable Town on Saturday.

He insists they didn't underestimate their Spartan South Mids Premier Division opponents and expects his players to respond when high-flying Hitchin visit the Meadow this evening.

“We know we did not perform as we can on Saturday,” said Leese. “We did not underestimate Dunstable who have a number of very experienced players in their ranks, and to suggest other wise is disingenuous.

“We know it was not acceptable, and the FA Cup is proving a difficult competition for us to progress in each season. We are all bitterly disappointed with the result, and we let ourselves down as well as the club and the travelling support.

“We can handle the criticism, and we will use this week to test the character of the squad we have here. We have two intense local derbies, and that requires mentally tough players to
respond after Saturday.”

Club chairman Alan Calder and director Mike Warrick and wife Laura walked the 20-miles from Chesham to Dunstable on Saturday in aid of the Aaron West Goalkeeping Academy.

““Walking all that way gives you plenty of thinking time, in particular as to why we were doing it; it helps you prioritise what is important in life. I was so disappointed that the day did not finish on a high, and there is no denying that the prize money would have come in handy.”