Teenager Dean Nayler proved an integral part of Corinthian’s play-off semi-final shootout success at Faversham on Tuesday night.

Nayler made key contributions at both ends of the pitch, as Michael Golding’s Hoops won 4-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to progress to the inaugural Southern Counties East Premier Division play-off final at Erith Town.

With his side trailing 2-1 in the first half, the 18-year-old defender delivered an excellent goal-line clearance to deny 35-goal Faversham forward Stefan Payne before he got their second goal in normal time.

On Nayler’s goal-line clearance, Corinthian manager Golding, whose troops had initially hit back through winger Michael Hagan, said: “We said as a management team that, if it goes to 3-1, we probably don't come back from that.

“They have enough experience and enough quality to then go on and win the game. That was young Dean clearing it off the line. He also got the equaliser.

“He’s a young kid - only turned 18 a couple of weeks ago - and the character of the boy just sums up what Corinthian are all about.

“We’re about hard work, we’re about determination, putting everything on the line and, for him to get the clearance off the line and then get the equaliser as a youngster learning his trade, I’m delighted.”

Play-off semi-final match report: Faversham 2-2 Corinthian (Corinthian win 4-1 on penalties)

Town twice went in front during the first half but were pegged back by the resilient Hoops.

Golding reflected: “I’m delighted for the boys, the management team, our small band of supporters and the people behind the scenes at the club.

“I thought it was a good game, an interesting game. Tactically, we got it pretty much spot-on.

“They caused us problems for the first 20 minutes with balls into the box from long throws and set-pieces. They have got good players.

“They’re a really good side and a side that shouldn’t be at this level. But our boys stuck at it and stuck to the game-plan.

“We worked incredibly hard and it’s fallen our way today, so we’re absolutely delighted.”

The Hoops boss revealed he was proud of his players’ efforts in front of a bumper 803-strong crowd to take the tie to penalties - even before the shootout.

He said: “We know what we are - we’re a team that works incredibly hard from the training pitch to a match day.

“When we play to our levels and it all comes together, we are a match for those teams. We said to the players beforehand that it’s potentially the last game of the season, so don’t come in with any regrets.

“Even if penalties had gone the other way and we had been on the wrong side of it, I think we had put on a performance and 800-odd people would go away, saying Corinthian held their own against a good Faversham side.

“But it’s gone our way and we’re absolutely delighted.”

Corinthian, thumped 4-0 at Salters Lane in the league a matter of weeks earlier, fell behind to an excellent effort by midfielder Billy Bingham inside the first five minutes.

“Mentally, coming here, you’re trying to break it down into 15-minute segments,” said Golding, whose side struggled to deal with defender Bradley Simms’ long throws, especially in the early stages.

“Can you get a foothold in the first 15 minutes? The first long throw, we’re just caught on our heels slightly and it drops to Billy on the edge of the box, and it’s an unbelievable goal.

“I don’t think there’s too many people who take on the shot at this level and that’s why he has played at the levels he has - and he probably still should be there. We came here a few weeks ago and got rolled 4-0.

“They scored an early goal that day and you just think that you don’t want the boys’ heads to drop.

“But full credit to the boys. They dug in when it was tough in the first 20 minutes and then came out the other side.”

As the game went to a shootout, substitute Charlie Clover, taken out of the team in one of two changes from their weekend 2-0 loss at Whitstable, secured their Bank Holiday Final at Erith Town - a repeat of the Challenge Cup Final which the latter won on penalties.

“I’m delighted for Charlie,” enthused Golding. “He has been exceptional for us this year.

“He has scored 16 league goals and is in double-digit figures for assists. He was unfortunate to miss out.

“We felt the pace of Fes (Festos Kamara) would cause them problems and I think we were justified in that. Luke Adams didn’t get on tonight and the young lad, Corey (Holden), is an exceptional footballer.

“For a team that are all mates, we’re very lucky with what we have got.

“We have got four or five not in the squad for various reasons and that gives us a headache for Monday.

“In terms of Charlie, he had opportunities on Saturday to score. If he had taken those, we probably would have had a home play-off game.

“But he’s popped up throughout the season with 16 goals and converted his penalty.

“I thought all four of our penalties were exceptional. They were absolutely world-class penalties.

“Anyone stepping up to take a penalty in front of 800-odd people under that kind of pressure, my hat comes off to them.”

When the teams met in the regular season, it finished 4-3 to the visitors at Erith Town last September and 2-1 to the Hoops at Gay Dawn Farm in late December.