Herne Bay 3 Haywards Heath Town 3 (Herne Bay win 6-5 on penalties): Reaction from Bay boss Ben Smith as they book Isthmian South East play-off final spot to face Ashford United

Manager Ben Smith praised Herne Bay’s character after they beat Haywards Heath on penalties to book their place in the Isthmian South East play-off final.

After a six-goal thriller on Tuesday, which saw Bay concede twice in stoppage-time, they had to play extra-time a man light after midfielder Eddie Allsopp was sent off for an off-the-ball incident in the final minutes of normal time.

But Smith’s side actually looked the more threatening in extra-time before they won 6-5 on penalties to set up a showdown with Ashford this Saturday.

“They (his players) gave me something that I have questioned all season - character and some good old-fashioned balls,” he said.

“To concede the way we conceded late on, and I’ll get on to the added time in a minute, but to concede then after the celebrations at 3-1, the momentum swung. (After) the red card, it was backs against the wall (in extra-time).

“I said to them in the dressing room at the end of normal time ‘We have questioned it all season (the team’s character), so now go and show it.’”

Earlier in the piece, in front of a massive crowd of 1,102 at Winch’s Field, Bay had led 2-1 through efforts from Zak Ansah and Jack Parter before the final 10 minutes - including seven minutes of stoppage-time - produced a red card and three goals.

Smith, who was ill the build-up and during the match, commented: “Madness, absolute madness. It had it all, didn’t it?

“I don’t think anyone can go home and say their £10 was wasted tonight!

“We certainly don’t do it the easy way but we are there, and that’s all that matters.

"We are there and have got a fighting chance. It’s fitting - second against third - bring on Saturday.”

Smith had no complaints with referee Scott Rudd’s decision to send off