“There’s lots of emotions,” said Gary McCann after their 2-1 injury time defeat to Oldham.

Having taken the lead through a Chris Dickson penalty, Richmond and Hampton Borough looked like they were heading into the FA Cup second round for the first time in the clubs’ history until late goals from Rob Hunt and Callum Lang turned the game on its head.

Speaking after the match at the Jezzards Beveree Stadium the dejected Beavers manager said:

“I’m proud in knowing the team left everything out on the pitch.

“It’s very easy for a manager to say don’t play the occasion and play the match. But 2,800 people, live on TV, you have to play the occasion, be expressive and do things at the right time.

“It’s not about freezing, it’s about puffing your chest out, showing your worth and stand toe to toe with opposition of a higher level, and I thought we did that.

“There was a fine difference between the two sides.

“The one moment we haven’t dealt with a long ball we got punished.

“But, I couldn’t have asked for any more.”

READ: Beavers' goalscorer Chris Dickson left devastated 

With the emotion of defeat still raw, the very personable McCann admitted that when the dust has settled on the tie, the club will be able to look back on the event fondly.

In only their third first-round FA Cup tie in their 97-year history, McCann hopes that Monday’s game that was broadcast live on TV will have helped raise the profile of the club.

“I think we’ve won admirers with our style of play, but we’d of won a lot more if we’d seen the game out.  That’s where the only tinge of disappointment is.

“We are a positive forward-thinking team. We like to take the game to the opposition, I think you’ve seen we don’t just crash the ball in to the front two, we try to play.

“We are a football minded team and we will always think forward.

“We are a progressive club looking to increase its’ fan base and get more people through the door. I think we’ve done that with the performance, and not the result.” 

READ: Hampton and Richmond Boriugh1-2 Oldham:Match Report

The much-publicised cup tie has affected the Beavers league form, dropping to 16th in the National League South they welcome Dartford on Saturday and McCann says a performance against the team two places above will be how they pick themselves up from the cup defeat.

“The distraction that presented itself in a cup-run has proved to be a downfall in our league performances for sure, because our league performances are nowhere near what I expect.

“We’ll rest up a few days, come in and our focus will be Dartford from Thursday.”

As for how McCann will deal with the loss he said:

“Who motivates the motivator? The wife. I’ll go to her and she’ll put me back where I need to be.”