Ramsgate 1 Hythe Town 1 (aet) Isthmian South East play-off semi-final match report: Hythe win 4-3 on penalties

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