PEWSEY Vale boss Adi Holcombe was chuffed to see his players rise to the challenge of going toe-to-toe with higher-league opposition, even if their efforts to progress in the Sydenhams League Cup ended in disappointment.

Seven days after overcoming Calne Town in the county cup, Vale twice came from behind - Zak Messenger and Ricky Franklin both finding the net - to take Premier Division Brockenhurst all the way to a penalty shoot-out and after the home side were only bested from the spot, Holcombe is savouring a bounty of positives to take from his team’s display.

However, the Pewsey boss reckons they could easily have nicked the tie.

“We had a double chance right at the end of the game. Ricky Franklin had a shot saved and the rebound fell to Adam Field and if it had gone in, the whistle would have gone straight away,” said Holcombe.

“We beat Calne 2-0 last week, which was superb, and I said to the lads that we needed to try and step it up a notch. Even when we went behind, we just carried on doing what we were supposed to be doing.

“No pressure on the players but we’ve got Andover (New Street) next weekend and we’ve got to be going there and winning now.”