Hythe beat Ramsgate on penalties to reach the Isthmian South East play-off final.

Steve Phillips saved from Ashley Miller and Theo Osinfolarin as the Cannons won 4-3 on spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw.

Hythe, who took the final play-off spot on the last day of the season, travel to Whitehawk for a place in the Isthmian Premier on Friday night.

Rams substitute Osinfolarin broke the deadlock in extra-time but Frannie Collin equalised from the penalty spot as a fascinating tie went the distance.

Play-off games are tight and cagey at the best of the times and this was no different.

Hythe started well, putting the ball in some good areas, with the long throws of Jack Steventon and Marvin Hamilton keeping the Rams defence honest in the opening exchanges.

Ramsgate gradually got on top with the Cannons - who finished with the league’s tightest defence - happy to sit in, soak up the pressure and deal with a series of Jake McIntyre corners.

The hosts’ one clear chance of a goalless first half came when TJ Jadama got across his man from McIntyre’s lovely left-wing cross but couldn’t keep his header on target.

They went close from distance a couple of times, Phillips with a fingertip save from Jack Paxman’s 25-yard drive and Rowan Liburd narrowly missing the target when going for placement.

But Hythe kept them away from their goal effectively and were content to go in goalless at the break.

Jason Fregene worked Rams keeper Patrick Lee from a Collin free-kick early in the second half before Gil Cavalho went close with a shot on the turn at the other end.

Phillips then got down well to deny Paxman, whose low effort was heading for the bottom corner, while Jadama nodded wide from Ashley Miller’s free-kick.

Back came Hythe with Collin’s driven free-kick causing chaos in the six-yard box, Jerald Aboagye with the block, and Fregene heading inches wide from a Collin corner.

With Hythe finishing the game strongly, Collin hit the base of the post from a free-kick on the edge of the box on 88 minutes, following a foul on Johan Caney-Bryan.

From nearly winning it at one end, Hythe needed an outstanding block by Fregene to deny Liburd, with Osinfolarin putting the follow-up over the bar.

Ramsgate tails were now up and Hythe had to defend for their lives in five minutes of added time.

Liburd had more time than he realised when well placed in the box at the start of extra-time.

The breakthrough followed in the 94th minute with Osinfolarin turning home Jadama’s cross from close range.

It felt like a big moment in such a tight game but it wasn’t the end of the story, with Hythe level six minutes later after Lee brought down Caney-Bryan in the box.

Collin stepped up and confidently scored from the spot.

Phillips made a fine stop from McIntyre’s free-kick to stop Ramsgate regaining the lead, then Osinfolarin hit the bar from the edge of the box at the end of the first period.

Jamie Coyle’s side were looking the more dangerous during the second period, with several efforts on goal.

A golden chance fell to Ben Fitchett, who got the run on his man from a McIntyre corner, but the big man headed wide.

Shad Ngandu, Liam Smith, Caney-Bryan and Jeff Duah-Kessie scored from the spot as Hythe’s remarkable story continued.

McIntyre, Paxman and Blaise Riley-Snow were the successful Rams takers.

But when Phillips, having already saved from Miller, kept out Osinfolarin’s penalty, the Cannons were celebrating.

Ramsgate: Lee, Aboagye, Emptage (Riley-Snow 44mins), Miller, Carvalho (Osinfolarin 65mins), Paxman, Liburd (Liburd 106mins), Olomowewe, Fitchett, McIntyre, Jadama. Subs not used: Coyle, Bexon.

Hythe: Phillips, L Smith, Goldsmith, Steventon (Duah-Kessie 81mins), Fregene, Allan, E Smith, Hamilton (Trespaderne 71mins), Caney-Bryan, Collin, Ngandu. Subs not used: Stirman, Itauma, Williamson.

Referee: Craig Barnett.

Attendance: 1,151.