To save a penalty with your final touch as a player is something you can only dream of, isn’t it?  Well for Punjab United keeper, Mitch Beeney, it came true in the SCEFL Premier play-off final.

As in the game that Beeney himself called “the very last one”, the giant keeper made a tremendous save to deny the unfortunate Reuel Powell-Downey and send the Gravesend based United into Step Four for the very first time in their career.

After the game we exclusively caught up with the giant keeper and he told us, “It has been an interesting couple of weeks where we have been playing so many games, but to do it today on penalties, couldn’t be happier for the boys!”

“When I faced the last kick, I just picked my side and dived and got lucky if I’m honest. You have to pick your side; you get sort of a gut feeling and then you just have to go with it and what will be will be!”

Beeney not only saved the winning penalty; he also superbly scored the shoot outs first kick as he took many of the onlooking fans by surprise taking the opening kick and drilling the ball into the top corner of the Rusthall net. We asked the keeper who writes his scripts, “I do!” he replied laughing.

“It’s a mental thing in my own head if I am honest. I know that if I don’t score, I have to save at least one, but if I do score it’s a bonus as no-one expects it. They cannot do their homework on a keeper taking the first penalty and where does he go? It confuses everyone!”

Beeney’s spot kick was arguably the best of the shoot-out which led him to admit with a broad grin – “Worrying isn’t it when the keeper takes the best penalty!” 

Beeney then reflected on a difficult season for him personally that saw him start at Sittingbourne before stints at Faversham and then Punjab. “It didn’t work out at Sittingbourne, and I took the opportunity to go to Faversham which again I knew what I was getting myself into with certain people being on contracts and having to play. But when Chipie gave me a call to come in and help out, I am just so happy that it has ended this way!”

“It could have ended at Wembley (Punjab were beaten semi-finalists in the Vase), but I think that as a Club as much is Wembley is nice, as a Club we will take this and days like these all day long!”

With his experience at Step Four, the giant keeper seemed the obvious person to ask if his teammates could hold their own in the new season and the Isthmian League. “I think it’s a very mixed bag that level as some teams will try and play a little bit of football. Punjab like to be a bit more direct as that’s what suits their personnel – I think they will be there or there abouts – they will be fine, I am sure!”

“The Club has had amazing support with a number of big games and they’ve all turned out – they have been great since I came to the Club and I am sure that Chipie will emphasise that they have been brilliant all seasons!”

Beeney’s Dad Mark played professionally for Gillingham and Leeds United among others before coaching at Chelsea for many years after his own playing retirement – “Dads told me that if the time is right, you know it’s right and then that’s that. Deep down I know the time is right as I have two young kids and that’s the priority now – I didn’t have them here at the game as I never play well when they’re watching me!”

Reflecting on his career, Beeney told us, “I have had no disappointments – I have been at the top, worked my way down and enjoyed every minute if it; simple as now it’s done!”

“I have loved ending it (his playing career) for Chipie – he’s a top bloke and wish him and the Club all the very best next season; they so deserve to be up there in the Isthmian League!”