Goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney blazed the first kick of Chatham’s play-off semi-final penalty contest out the ground 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!”

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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 and kept out Jack Mazzone’s spot-kick and when James Dunne scored for Chats the contest was level again at 1-1.

Both sides scored their next two, with Chris Dickson and Jack Evans netting for the Chats which effectively meant sudden death on the fifth kick.

Beeney saved again to deny visiting captain Jack Brivio and Jamie Yila was cool as you like to slot in the winner.

“That was relief,” said the keeper. “There was a lot of pressure but Jamie is very calm under pressure so it was fantastic that he managed to get the winning penalty for us.

“I like the pressure - I thrive off the pressure in that situation. I know if I do miss I am going to dig the boys out and get the result, make a save or two and hopefully we’ll win.

“We did our homework and I knew where they should go, if they didn’t change their mind, and I made the saves.

“It could have been a disastrous night for myself - I was disappointed to concede the goal we did in the match - but that’s football, it’s what we live for and we enjoy it.”

It was a long night for the team and Beeney - the son of former Brighton and Leeds stopper Mark Beeney - was keen to get off after the match with his home near Horsham, ready for a 7.30am start to his day job in estate management.

He said: “It’s an early start but it keeps me out in the sunshine, a bit of fresh air, can’t go wrong!”

Preparation is now building for Monday’s play-off final against Enfield Town.

“It is going to be a big challenge,” he said, having on just played them last weekend in a 2-2 draw.

“They know what we are about, we know what they are about, they will try and stop us and we have to find a way of beating them, simple as that. We need to find a way to beat them no matter what.”