BIGGS REACHES 20 BUT EP LOSE

East Preston's striker put his side ahead on seven minutes from the spot. Matt Huckett was hauled down in the penalty area and Biggs stepped up to push the ball into the left-hand corner.

Rye then came back into the game and equalised on 18 minutes through Shaun Loft before, eight minutes later, Phil Rhodes gave them the lead.

Chris Hibberd's rich goalscoring form continued as he netted his fourth goal in as many games, two minutes before half-time. Matt Huckett's shot was saved by Rye's keeper but Hibberd was quickest to the rebound to nod home from inside the six-yard box. It was his fifth goal of the season.

Within seven minutes of the second-half, Rye were in the lead again when Peter Baker beat EP keeper Andy McCarthy with a swirling 20-yard drive. EP boss Mark Chaplin said he was disappointed with the amount of time Baker had to line his shot up.

Chaplin introduced Dave Walker and Dan McLaughlin with 25 minutes left and EP bossed the rest of the game. Several chances were created but none taken.

Walker had a header from a corner saved and then Biggs, five minutes into stoppage time, skied his penalty. It was awarded after Rye's Steve Yates lashed out on Walker in an off-the-ball incident. Yates was red-carded but Rye still took home the points.

Chaplin said: "We definitely deserved a draw, although probably not the win.

"It's a shame we couldn't keep our good little run going, but now we've got to look to win our last two games because we could then finish a couple of places higher in the league."

On Biggs, Chaplin said: "He has done really well for us since Wayne (Wren] and myself have been here. He was a bit-part player, really, before we arrived but he has responded really well.

"He side-footed the first penalty, and when I asked him why he blasted the second one, he said he felt confident doing it, so fair enough."

Of Biggs' 20 goals, three have come from the penalty spot. Last season he struck just eight times.

EP do not have a game on Saturday but entertain Hassocks in their final home game of the season on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

Joe Perry is unavailable but EP will otherwise be at full strength.

EAST PRESTON: McCarthy; Yelling, Hall, Wren; Perry, Mike Huckett, Hibberd, Lucking, Axell; Biggs, Matt Huckett. Subs: McLaughlin, Walker (Perry, Axell 65), Holliday, Couzens, Keet.