Mitch Walker went from villain to hero as Dover Athletic reached the Blue Square Bet South play-off final after an afternoon of drama at Crabble.

The 21-year-old keeper was largely responsible for Eastleigh's second goal, which took the tie to extra time, but then produced two stunning saves in the penalty shootout to help secure a 4-2 success for the hosts.

Watched by their biggest crowd of the season - 1662 - and protecting a 3-1 lead from the first leg, Dover were second best for much of the game and their only effort of note in the first half came when Daryl McMahon's 20-yard drive was saved low down by former Whites keeper Ross Flitney.

Another former Dover man, Glen Southam, was a pivotal figure throughout for the visitors and he squandered a great early chance when he fired wide at the far post.

Mark Hughes and Chris Zebroski both shot wide before the break, but five minutes into the second period Eastleigh breathed fresh life into the contest when they broke the deadlock courtesy of a freak goal.

A foul 40 yards out gave Southam the chance to float a free-kick into the Dover box, and with no-one able to get a touch the ball bounced once before curling inside the far post.

Dover responded with a Ben May shot, that was blocked by the legs of Flitney who then saved a header from home man-of-the-match Ian Simpemba, but Eastleigh continued to look dangerous and in the final minute of normal time they levelled the aggregate score.

As Walker came off his line to collect a long punt forward from Southam he collided with his own defender Tom Wynter and when the ball ran loose Eastleigh substitute Damian Scannell curled a shot home from the tightest of angles.

Walker partially atoned in extra time when he blocked Zebroski's close-range shot with his legs, and his redemption was completed in the shoot out when he saved from Dean Beckwith and former Torquay striker Zebroski.

Calum Willock, Billy Bricknell, Michael Kamara and McMahon all scored from the spot for Whites, with Southam and Hughes converting Eastleigh's first two before Walker produced his heroics.

Dover travel to Salisbury for the final on Sunday, May 12. The Wiltshire side beat Chelmsford 2-0 on Saturday to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory.

Dover: Walker, Kamara, Wynter, Rance, Simpemba, Sterling, Modeste (Sessegnon 78mins), McMahon, May (Willock 95mins), Ottaway, Ademola (Bricknell 72mins); Subs (not used); Webb, Hook.