Joe Taylor has missed four penalties this season but there was only one man for the job when Ramsgate were awarded an injury-time spot-kick on Saturday.

Taylor stepped up to complete his hat-trick and earn a 3-2 victory at Sevenoaks as unbeaten Rams went top of Isthmian South East with a 14th win from 15 games.

The striker’s latest treble took his goal tally for the season to 26 in all competitions, with 18 in the league.

He’d already be on 30 but for those missed penalties, including a double miss against Margate in the Kent Senior Cup.

But he showed his mental strength to take responsibility at Sevenoaks and deliver the winning goal.

“Part of being a penalty-taker is missing penalties,” said Rams skipper Taylor.

“There were calls for me to come off penalties but England didn’t give up on Harry Kane when he missed a penalty in the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo missed in the Champions League final and still takes penalties and Lionel Messi’s missed penalties.

“I’ve been a penalty-taker for so many years now and when you miss it’s about regaining your composure, going back to your basics and your routine.

“A lot of people said to me that must have been nervous on Saturday after missing a few but it’s just normal for me.

“I will miss more penalties in the future but I will still back myself over anyone at this level to take a penalty and there is no one else I’d have wanted on that ball than myself.

“You need that mental strength and if you don’t back yourself, nobody else is going to back you.

“I remember Ronaldo in the Euros, he was getting a lot of flak because he’s getting on and he missed a penalty in the 90 minutes to send Portugal through, then he stepped up first in the penalty shoot-out and buried it.

“He came out afterwards and said I will never stop putting myself in those positions, no matter how much I fail, and that’s the mentality you have to have if you want to achieve anything.

“You can’t, because you have a bad game or a bad day, shy away from the spotlight.

“If you’re a goalscorer, you’re a goalscorer; if you’re a penalty-taker, you’re a penalty-taker.

“When you miss a few, it does add a couple of nerves but those nerves have to make you stronger, they can’t make you weaker.”

Taylor is on course to match last season’s record total of 53 goals but is more concerned with leading Ramsgate to promotion.

They go to East Grinstead tonight and host Herne Bay this Saturday (3pm).

It’s a quick return meeting with Bay having won at Winch’s Field 2-1 on Tuesday last week, thanks to Taylor and Lee Martin.

“Last year, I was focused on numbers,” said Taylor.

“I always try to play like I’ve got a point to prove to everyone with numbers, that’s my mentality.

“But this year, genuinely, and I’m not just saying it because I’m Ramsgate captain, we are trying to get promotion after that heartbreak of missing out last year.

“So all the personal numbers and accolades, it does feel like it’s coming second to what we want to do as a group this year.

“As a striker, I am numbers-driven, I’m very focused and I’m my own worst critic, so I want to hit those big numbers, but promotion is definitely number one this year.

“We’re in good form but, to be honest, it’s not been as plain sailing as it looks from the outside.

“We’re still improving and there’s been a lot of games where we’ve won by the odd goal and even though we’ve been the better side, there’s been some hairy moments.”

Taylor is enjoying his first full season as Ramsgate captain.

He’s surrounded by leaders, making the job that much easier.

The striker is intent on joining ex-Rams skipper Warren Schulz on the wall in the Southwood clubhouse.

“There’s nothing I’d love more, being a local boy, than being the captain of a successful season,” said Taylor.

“It feels like we’ve got the right ingredients to do that.

“There’s a picture in the clubhouse of Warren Schulz lifting the League Cup.

“I got to play with him and some of his team-mates and I learned a lot from Warren.

“He was my captain when I was young and the club haven’t won anything since then.

“I speak to Warren every now and then and I’d love to have my picture next to his. That would be good, wouldn’t it?

“Back then, they had that group of local players, and I was lucky enough to play with lots of them, and I feel like it’s got a similar feel to it this season.

“It’s rare you get a lot of local players, even at this level, so I’m really excited for it.

“We’ve got a good group of local boys, especially with the signing of Billy Munday.

“James (Lawson, chairman) said to me not long ago, who are the best local players, let’s go and get them.

“We’ve done that with Billy, he’s been great, and the club are looking for the next ones.”