Faversham let a half-time lead slip in their Southern Counties East Premier Division play-off semi-final penalty shootout defeat at home to Corinthian on Tuesday night.

Midfielder Billy Bingham gave the Lilywhites the perfect start and, although the visitors levelled through Michael Hagan, defender Connor Essam ensured Town had the lead by the break.

But the Hoops simply wouldn’t go away and Dean Nayler ensured it finished 2-2 in normal time with his second-half goal.

It was Michael Golding’s side who then progressed 4-1 on penalties to face Erith Town in the play-off final on Bank Holiday Monday, with substitute Charlie Clover converting the winning spot-kick.

It took the Lilywhites less than a minute to cause problems from a Bradley Simms long throw - something which was to become a real theme of the last-four tie - before winger Kieron Campbell shot over at Salters Lane.

But Faversham hit the front in just the fourth minute from another Simms long throw, which was cleared only as far as Bingham. The 33-year-old former Gillingham and Bromley midfielder blasted beyond away keeper Nathan Boamah to break the deadlock in style.

The Hoops responded well, though, and equalised nine minutes later.

A long-range shot by ex-Faversham winger Hagan flew past the dive of home goalkeeper Jacob Russell in front of a pocket of visiting fans.

Top scorer Stefan Payne then was given his first shot on goal for Faversham but was denied by a fingertip save by Boamah.

Corinthian simply had not found a way to cope with any of the long throws from left-back Simms at this point though and, three minutes later, the home team restored their lead in front of a crowd of 803.

After his initial header crashed against the crossbar, captain Essam got his angles just right the second time around. He nodded into the top corner to restore their advantage.

Town nearly got a third on the half-hour mark, as teenage visiting player Nayler superbly cleared off the line to thwart Payne after a great run and right-wing cross from Campbell. That proved a critical moment.

Faversham looked fairly comfortable throughout the rest of the first period, albeit they only had a slender lead to show for it.

Lilywhites playmaker Nathan Wood became the first player in referee Jack Owen’s book in the 55th minute as the game got off to a slow start after the restart.

But eight minutes later, Corinthian sparked the contest into life with a second leveller, once again displaying the impressive resilience the Gay Dawn Farm club has become known for in recent years.

Nayler bundled in after Oscar Housego’s free-kick had been tipped against the post by Russell.

Tempers frayed both on and off the field in the 66th minute when 31-year-old Essam was only cautioned with an away player potentially clean through on the right wing.

With 16 minutes to go and all very much to play for, Town brought on Warren Mfula for fellow forward Daniel Thompson.

Darnelle Bailey-King also was introduced for playmaker Nathan Wood.

Midfielder Billy Bennett went down under a challenge by goalkeeper Boamah with 88 minutes played but dramatic home penalty protests were waved away before Essam nodded wide a corner less than a minute later.

In five minutes of injury time, it appeared the away team were the happier to see the 90 minutes through with the Lilywhites looking the more dangerous as it ended 2-2.

Corinthian captain Jamie Billings emphatically fired the first spot-kick of the shoot-out into the top corner - then proceeded to get cautioned for his over-zealous celebrations - and the visitors then firmly went into the box seat.

Unexpectedly, 35-goal top scorer Payne crashed against the crossbar from 12 yards for Faversham.

After Housego and Bennett converted, Ahmed Salim Futa scored and the Hoops were on the brink, with home defender Ben Gorham also skying his penalty.

That left Clover to win the shootout and seal their progress to another away tie on Bank Holiday Monday, as it will be them out of the two clubs looking to immediately bounce back from Isthmian South East relegation who will have the opportunity to do so at the first attempt.

The play-off final will be a replay of the Challenge Cup Final, which Erith Town won on penalties at Hollands & Blair.

Home manager Tommy Warrilow made a change to their starting line-up from the one which ended the regular season with a 2-0 victory at Punjab United on Saturday, despite traffic issues delaying some of their squad.

Thompson replaced Bailey-King, with influential midfielder Sam Hasler still banned.

For Corinthian, who warmed up in shirts in support of defender Cameron Beckles, who collapsed in the middle of a game in December, they made two changes from the team beaten 2-0 at Whitstable.

Alex Billings came in for ex-Faversham defender Ryan Cheek while another former Faversham player, midfielder Sam Bewick, was suspended.

Their other switch saw Festos Kamara in for Clover, who dropped to the substitutes’ bench. But he still made a massive impact.

All this season’s other meetings between the teams had previously gone the way of the home side, Corinthian knocking Faversham out of the Challenge Cup, as well as winning the early-season league fixture, albeit the Lilywhites had ran out 4-0 victors at Salters Lane earlier this month.

Faversham Town: Russell, Ossai, Gorham, Essam, Simms, Wood (Bailey-King 79mins), Campbell, Bingham (Newman 90mins), Bennett, Thompson (Mfula 74mins), Payne. Subs not used: O’Mara, Briggs.

Corinthian: Boamah, A.Billings (Idiehi 64mins), Unwin, Nayler, J.Billings, Fitzgerald, Salim Futa, Davey, Kamara, Housego, Hagan (Clover 84mins). Subs not used: Young, Holden, Adams.

Referee: Jack Owen.

Attendance: 803.