After a truly dramatic night at the Bauvill Stadium, Chatham Town are just ninety minutes away from becoming a National League club just two years after leaving the SCEFL.

It was a titanic Medway evening that highlighted everything good about the Play Offs for the neutrals, but left supporters of both sides stressed, strained and downright exhausted. 

The ninety minutes were tight with few chances; extra time was pulsating and end-to-end with two superb goals – Kareem Isiaka’s brilliant diving header cancelled out by James Hammond’s pile driver… and then there were the penalties, where Chats keeper Mitchell Beeney went from villain as he skied his side’s second, before donning the super hero cape with two stunning full length saves, before Jamie Yila kept his nerve to slide home the winning spot kick at a little past 10.30pm. 

It is a credit to both sides that there were still two full sides on the field to make this a true spectacle as Mr Hillier the referee seemed intent on brandishing cards like confetti as he cautioned twelve players and a member of both benches, but then when you book a defender in just the fourteenth minute for time wasting trying to take a throw, then you get what you get… 

And sadly for the three thousand crowd, which included Gillingham owner Brad Galinson and Dartford boss Adrian Pennock to name but two, the referee’s decisions led to a very stop start opening period where the visitors had the better chances – a stretching Danny Barker sent the ball high over Beeney’s crossbar, Harvey Sparks fired straight at the Chats stopper and Hammond went close twice, firing over from the edge of the box before crashing an effort off the right post.

Khale Da Costa was denied by a last-ditch Horsham challenge on the edge of the box as the home side struggled to get a foothold while the chances kept coming at the other end as Isaac Philpott flashed a header a yard wide and just before the break a Hammond free kick left Beeney rooted as the ball flashed a yard wide. 

Whatever Kevin Hake and his coaching team said to his side at the break worked as after the break, we saw more of the Chatham that have served the Medway side so well this season. 

Jamie Yila’s influence grew and grew – on one occasion Jack Strange almost “mugged” Yila wide and from the free kick, the Chats winger was off balance as he shot over. 

Beeney pulled off the save of the match to deny a low stinger from Reece Myles-Meekum who was excellent for the visitors throughout, whilst Dean Beckwith did really well to deny Jack Mazzone after the Horsham man seemed set to shoot.

Indeed, Beckwith alongside Reece Butler were immense for the Chats at the heart of their defence, and slowly but surely the Chats used that base to begin to boss the game. Yila drilled the ball across the face of goal that eluded Isiaka, and as time elapsed skipper Jack Evans thundered in a drive that Lewis Carey did well to beat out for Horsham.

The first extra period saw Beeney palm another Hammond effort away whilst Rowan Liburd was wide and Isiaka high with efforts for the home side. 

And so, we get to the second period of extra time and the start of the real drama of the evening. Within a minute of the restart, Yila’s deep cross to the back post was magnificently headed back by Jamie Mascoll for the diving torpedo that was Isiaka, and the roof was blown off the Bauvill as the striker’s brilliant diving header arrowed into the bottom corner. 

Full credit though must go to Horsham and their response was magnificent. A great run down the left and as the ball was worked to Hammond on the edge of the box, the midfielder let fly with an unstoppable drive that not even Beeney had a hope of keeping out. 

The home side did have chances – Yila went down after appearing to have been clipped but nothing was given, and they were inches away from a stoppage time winner as a lunging Isiaka just could not stretch far enough to convert another stinging centre from Yila. 

So, to the shootout, which was at the visitor’s end and was marred by some fans shining phone lights at the Chatham players as they were preparing to take their spot kick.

Back to the football itself and after Hammond hammered Horsham in front, Beeney sent his effort into the park behind the ground. He redeemed himself immediately though making a terrific save to deny Mazzone and James Dunne levelled it up.

Barker and Chris Dickson made it 2-2 and then Horsham keeper Carey and Evans made it 3-3 and effectively sudden death. 

Beeney then pulled off another brilliant save to keep out Jack Brivio’s effort and it was left to Yila to send the Chats fans into wild scenes of celebrations that went well into the Medway night. 

Now “just” Enfield Town (who beat Wingate & Finchley in the other semi-final) stand between Chatham Town and the National League… 

CHATHAM TOWN – Beeney, Scarlett, Robins (Dickson), Butler, Beckwith, Evans, Da Costa (Mascoll), Yila, Dunne, Isiaka, Bradbury (Liburd) 

Subs – Kedwell, Nzala 

HORSHAM – Carey, Brivio, Sparks, Barker, Strange, Philpott, Hammond, Rodrigues, Mazzone, Ajakaiye (Hester-Cook), Myles-Meekum (Romaine) 

Subs – Price, Tuck 

REFEREE – Mr Hillier 

Pictures supplied by Chatham Town.