Maidstone United’s two-goal penalty star Ben Brookes speaks after National League South play-off eliminator win at Worthing

Maidstone defender Ben Brookes finally experienced that winning feeling in a play-off match - and earned himself a new nickname.

Brookes scored a pair of penalties as United won 2-0 at Worthing in their National League South eliminator on Tuesday night.

That’s nine out of nine from the spot for the left-back, who’s been dubbed “Pen Brookes” by fellow defender Temi Eweka after maintaining his 100% record.

Brookes has suffered play-off disappointment in the past two seasons with Chelmsford, losing to St Albans and a Braintree side featuring future Stones team-mate Aaron Blair.

But he was celebrating at Worthing, along with 600 away fans, as Maidstone secured a semi-final away to Eastbourne Borough on Sunday.

“It’s the third year in a row playing play-offs and it’s the first actual win I’ve got,” said Brookes.

“I’m delighted with the two goals but, most importantly, we’ve gone through to the next round.”

Brookes had never taken a penalty in a match before this season.

However, he got a taste for them in training at Chelmsford and broached the subject with Stones skipper and designated taker Sam Corne.

There’s no getting the ball off of Brookes now.

“Last season, when we were doing the warm-ups for the play-offs, I was taking them in training,” explained Brookes.

“I’d never, ever taken them in a match before this season.

“I was basically scoring every single one in training and I thought, ‘I’m going to speak to Corney’.

“I said, ‘If you’re not playing, or whatever happens, if I get the opportunity, let me take one’.

“I scored and, ever since then, I’ve been taking every single penalty.

“He was on the pitch when I first took a penalty.

“I scored and he said, ‘Do you know what, because you scored, keep taking them’, and it’s