Chatham Town boss Kevin Hake praised the “unbelievable” support as his side booked a place in the Isthmian League Premier Division play-off final.

There was a 3,000-strong sell-out at the Bauvill Stadium on Wednesday night as fans from Chatham and opponents Horsham snapped up tickets for the big play-off semi-final.

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

The tie went the distance, goalless after 90 minutes and 1-1 in extra-time before Chats clinched it with a 4-3 penalty shootout win.

Hake said: “It was nice to see the fans come out in their numbers and that is an attendance record of 3,000, which is unbelievable, on a Wednesday night as well.

“It is not easy for people to get here and part with their money and fair play, the support was incredible and full credit to the Horsham support as well because I thought that was great.”

Just three points separated second-placed Chatham and Horsham, who finished fifth, and the match was also a close-fought contest.

Both sides had big moments and the two goals came in quick succession as Kareem Isiaka’s 106th-minute opener was cancelled out by the visitors six minutes later.

Hake said: “I wouldn’t say it was vintage Chatham but one thing you get with us is that we always put in an industrious performance.

“I thought we showed great heart throughout the game and I think we took them into deep waters that maybe they weren’t prepared to go to but all credit to Horsham, they are a fantastic team.

“It’s not great to go out on penalties, nobody really deserved to lose, but full credit to them for giving us a great game.”

Chatham goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney produced an heroic performance against his former side - despite stepping up to take his side’s first penalty and blazing it over.

He responded with two saves in the shootout before Jamie Yila hit the winner.

Hake said: “Beeney is our best penalty taker but I think he damaged the conifers that he hit behind the goal and he lost us a match ball which isn’t cheap so I’m not happy - that’s coming out of his wages!

“But he showed great character, to have missed the first one and then to come back and save two is remarkable, fair play to him for having the steely nerves to be able to do that.”

And on Yila’s winner, he added: “He does the short run-up, which none of us like, it adds to the tension but he doesn’t miss. He has had a great season, as the rest of the lads have.”

Chatham will play Enfield Town in the play-off final on Monday, May 6 (3pm kick off).