A disputed stoppage-time penalty earned East Grinstead Town a 1-1 draw at home to division two rivals Rye and Iden United.

Victory would have put Rye second with six games in hand on leaders Eastbourne Town but Phil Thompson kept his cool to ensure a share of the points for fourth-placed Grinstead.

The flashpoint came when Rye's Steve Willard tangled with Wasps midfielder Paul Otway and a penalty was awarded on the advice of the linesman. Willard was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for the offence.

Earlier, Grinstead's Dave Garrett had been dismissed for a second booking and soon after that Rye took a 65th-minute lead through player-manager Keith Miles' half volley.

Miles said: "We were robbed. It is gutting because we felt we should have had a penalty when Dean Chamberlain was brought down from behind. We did enough to have won it."

Wasps boss Bob Smith disagreed: "I thought we more than matched them. We were just getting on top when he had Dave Garrett sent off.

"It could have gone either way. I raised a few eyebrows within the club by playing three up front. Everyone thought it was a gamble but I wanted to stop them playing by putting bodies in their half."

Rye goalkeeper Simon Rudgeley is a doubt for tomorrow's trip to leaders Eastbourne Town.