Chatham Town goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney on their penalty shootout win over Horsham in the Isthmian Premier play-off semi-final

Goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney blazed the first kick of Chatham’s play-off semi-final penalty shootout over the bar but had the knowhow to make amends.

Up against his former team Horsham, Beeney had a sense of where his old team-mates would put their kicks and went onto save two penalties as Chatham won the contest 4-3.

Report: Chatham 1 Horsham 1 (4-3 on pens)

The penalty drama came at the end of a thrilling match on Wednesday night where Horsham pushed Chats all the way. It ended 1-1 after extra-time before being settled on penalties.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself after putting my penalty over into the next town!” smiled the big keeper.

“I like the pressure and I am confident enough to take the first one. I’ve said to the boys and the gaffer all along, if the option is there I will take the first one, I thrive off it and if I miss then I know I am going to have to save one or two.

“We did our homework. I have played there before and knew a few of the boys and knew where they liked to go, homework definitely helps and it was a good evening!”

Read more: “The support was incredible!”

Manager Kevin Hake joked afterwards that his keeper would be paying for the lost matchball that was skied well over the bar into the trees behind the stand. It was Chatham’s first kick after James Hammond had beaten Beeney with Horsham’s opener.

“It was a bit wild!” admitted the 28-year-old former Chelsea academy player. “I changed my mind and everyone says you shouldn’t change your mind when taking penalties.

“I thought their keeper would remember where I went so I tried to change and the result is being down a matchball and a few conifer branches missing!”

Beeney backed himself to make amends, however. He went straight back in goal