A STOPPAGE time header from John Akinde saw Southend United held to a 2-2 draw at Colchester United tonight.
Second half goals from summer signings Dan Mooney and Cav Miley seemed to have given the Shrimpers victory at the Community Stadium.
But Akinde’s late effort saw the pre-season friendly end all square.
Colchester started the stronger of the two sides and wasted an excellent early opportunity to take the lead when Akinde pushed into the left hand side of the penalty area before seeing his shot well saved by Shrimpers goalkeeper Steve Arnold.
Moments later, another long ball down Colchester’s left hand created an almost identical opportunity for Noah Chilvers who also saw his effort well saved by Arnold.
Blues soon replied with Sam Dalby wasting a fine opportunity of his own as the striker sent a left wing cross from Jack Bridge wide of the left post from close range.
Mooney then curled a 20 yard shot straight at Colchester goalkeeper Sam Hornby before the U’s hit back and opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with Freddie Sears on target.
The goal came following another dangerous move down the U’s left hand which resulted in Akinde rolling the ball into the path of Sears who sent a low shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Blues came close to netting an equaliser just past the half hour mark when Tom Clifford’s left wing cross picked out Dalby whose header clipped the outside of the left post.
At the start of the second half, Mooney curled a 20 yard shot wide of the right post before the visitors made a trio of changes on the hour mark.
New signing Wes Fonguck entered the action along with Cav Miley and trialist striker Chris Wreh as Dalby, Harry Taylor and Noor Husin all made way.
Wreh soon sliced a left footed shot wide of the target from the left hand side of the penalty area before he helped the Shrimpers draw back level in the 71st minute.
Wreh was fouled down the right flank before getting back up to power forward and roll the ball into the path of Mooney whose deflected 20 yard shot worked its way past Hornby.
Shortly after the equaliser the Shrimpers made seven further changes with Jaden Crowhurst, Tommy Davis, Luke Reeve, Louis Arrowsmith, Oli Coker, Callum Powell and Jack Wood all coming on.
But Blues remained on top and took the lead four minutes from time when a low, 25 yard shot from Miley somehow squirmed under the body of Hornby and hit the back of the net.
The Shrimpers came close to adding a third late on with Wood seeing his powerful shot pushed away by Hornby.
However, the U’s attacked late on and netted a late equaliser with Akinde heading home from close range.
Southend United: Arnold, Demetriou (Crowhurst 76), Ralph (Reeve 76), Taylor (Fonguck 62), Hobson (Davis 76), Kensdale (Arrowsmith 76), Bridge (Powell 76), Husin (Miley 62), Mooney (Coker 76), Dalby (Wreh 61), Clifford (Wood 76).
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