Whitstable’s dreams of an Isthmian League return ended for another season as they lost dramatically on penalties to Fisher in their Southern Counties East League Premier Division play-off semi-final on Tuesday night.

Captain Jake McIntyre looked to have set the Oystermen on their way, but Kesna Clarke came up with a late leveller as it finished 1-1 in normal time.

And it was away goalkeeper Isaac Ogunseri who came up with the goods in the shootout, which finished 4-3 to them.

They will play at VCD, who saw off Punjab 2-0 at home on the same evening, in the play-off final on Monday.

Whitstable do, however, still have a day out at Wembley to come. They will play AFC Whyteleafe in the FA Vase final next Sunday.

Dean Grant had been quick to make his physical presence felt up front for the Oystermen, although no clear-cut chances were created in an understandably cagey start.

A first sight of goal for Jamie Coyle’s troops, who shaded the first half, came in the 16th minute in front of a crowd of 762 at The Belmont.

Ronald Sithole dragged just wide of Ogunseri’s right-hand post after he had cut inside.

Midway through the first period, goalkeeper Dan Colmer nicely gathered a 25-yard shot from Fisher midfielder Tyron Mbuenimo in a largely even first half which showed why both sides ended the regular campaign on such impressive runs.

Ogunseri was forced into a good save on 32 minutes. Sithole let fly after Bradley Schafer’s long throw had been half-cleared, but the away keeper palmed to safety.

Flavio Jumo then got Ogunseri out of jail on the stroke of half-time amid a lovely April night.

Young Dartford loanee wideman Ashdon Day beat Fisher’s on-rushing No.1 to a high free-kick from McIntyre that appeared destined for the net until midfielder Jumo quickly back-pedalled and acrobatically cleared.

But six minutes after the break, the home side - remarkably playing their 10th match in a mere 23 days - got the game’s first goal.

Another Schafer long throw caused problems and left-back McIntyre was on hand at the back post to stroke in his fourth goal this season to spark wild scenes.

While the visitors were quick to react as they made a first change, the next chance also went the Oystermen’s way, with midfielder Connor Wilkins denied by Ogunseri.

Whitstable tails were now firmly up and Grant was thwarted in the 55th minute while Schafer was unable to bundle home from an offside position.

Soon after, the hosts - again - nearly doubled their tally when a deflected shot cracked off Fisher’s right-hand post and away to safety.

Visiting skipper Jack Gibbons tried to find a leveller shortly after the hour when he drove forward and screwed wide of Colmer’s right-hand post.

Colmer was alert enough to thwart Salim Nassor in the 76th minute, with the substitute attempting to catch out the Oystermen’s No.1 with his effort from the halfway line.

As Ajay Ashanike’s men pushed for a late equaliser, they made the first contact on a corner from substitute Armani-Jordan Martin that flashed inches wide of Colmer’s right-hand post.

But Fisher did manage to equalise ahead of six minutes of stoppage time.

Top scorer Clarke found room to turn and hammered low beyond Colmer from the edge of the penalty area to find the bottom corner for his 18th goal of the campaign - and arguably his most important one.

With four minutes of added time played, there was still time for home substitute Robbie Rees to strike straight at Ogunseri.

Nerves were now really playing their part as Colmer crashed into defender Finn O’Mara and they were lucky the end result was only a Fisher corner, with the ball rolling wide, to set up a shootout.

It means Whitstable’s sole loss inside 90 minutes in their past 26 matches remains this month’s Kent Senior Trophy 3-2 final loss against Larkfield & New Hythe.

McIntyre took the Oystermen’s first penalty and, although he converted, Fisher substitute Siao Blackwood also kept his cool, and his team held the advantage after Ogunseri dived right to deny Sithole. Martin then pushed home the visitors’ lead.

Substitute Harvey Smith scored for Whitstable, but defender Donald Macaulay rolled past Colmer to make it 3-2.

While Schafer thumped home emphatically, despite Ogunseri’s antics on the line, substitute Jacob Katonia made it match point to Fisher.

Drama then really ensued. Ogunseri saved from substitute Nathan Jeche but, just as celebrations started, referee Matthew Pollington ordered a retake - but it made no difference.

Ogunseri again guessed the right way and saved from Jeche to send them through and to deny Whitstable a return to Step 4 football for the first time since 2022.

Just McIntyre had survived in the starting line-up from the team that had edged their season-ending five-goal home game against Glebe on Saturday.

That meant there were starting berths for vastly-experienced forward Grant and midfielder Schafer.

But teenage attacker Jeche, who headed into the match with a remarkable eight goals from 11 club appearances, was on the substitutes’ bench.

Ogunseri returned between the sticks for the visitors, having been an unused substitute for last weekend’s 3-3 home draw against Hollands & Blair at the end of their regular league campaign.

Midfielder Jake Lovell, once of Faversham, and ex-Herne Bay forward Courtney Barrington also started for Fisher.

The teams had played out a goalless draw at The Belmont just eight days previously, with the Oystermen earning a 2-1 triumph at Fisher in early February through goals from McIntyre and Schafer.

Whitstable Town: Colmer, Thompson, McIntyre, Dalton, Coyle, O’Mara, Sithole, Wilkins (Rees 88mins), Grant (Jeche 93mins), Schafer, Day (Smith 83mins). Subs not used: Aboagye, Boulton.

Fisher: Ogunseri, Gibbons, Darwish, Mbuenimo (Blackwood 84mins), Djadja, Macaulay, Lovell (Katonia 57mins), Yiadom-Konadu (Nassor 52mins), Clarke, Jumo (Flemming 76mins), Barrington (Martin 74mins).

Referee: Matthew Pollington.

Attendance: 762.