JAMES Lindie returned from his spell on work experience at Harlow Town to grab an important equaliser as Southend United's Under-18 side stretched their unbeaten run to four matches with a 1-1 draw against Peterborough United on Saturday.

The second-year scholar was on hand 11 minutes before half-time to score his 10th goal of the season for the club's youth team after Posh had taken the lead midway through the first half on a cold day at Boots and Laces.

Blues began brightly and enjoyed most of the possession in the opening stages, but had just two unthreatening Dan Harvey corners to show for their endeavours when Peterborough took the lead from their first flag-kick.

A Peterborough forward raced onto the ball to nod home a perfectly-executed header, leaving Nathan McDonald with no chance.

On 22 minutes, the Shrimpers were only denied by a full-stretch save from the Posh goalkeeper.

Stuart O'Keefe linked up with Harvey down the right flank before releasing Lindie, the front man crossing for Yong, whose well-struck shot was pushed away by the inspired custodian.

Just before the half-hour mark, it was McDonald's turn to make a heroic save, expertly tipping a powerful strike over the crossbar after David Obaze had misjudged the flight of the ball.

The visitors had managed to keep Blues at bay, the goalkeeper claiming a succession of centres from Jamie Forshaw - playing in a central midfield position - and O'Keefe, but he could do nothing with Lindie's excellent finish.

The ex-Potters Bar Town youngster latched onto a mis-hit clearance and drove the ball hard into the corner of the net from inside the penalty area.

It could have been even better for Southend as they went in at half-time when Obaze connected with Harvey's deep corner kick, but his header across the face of goal rebounded off of the crossbar and was hacked to safety.

Hobbs withdrew Adeyinka at the interval, with Jack Morris coming on and first-year O'Keefe moving into a more central role as part of a 4-5-1 formation. Both sides played enterprising football although Southend had the better opportunities, and a Jamie Forshaw free-kick was deflected just past the post.

From the resultant corner, Osifuwa's fine downward header was blocked to O'Keefe, whose low effort was again saved by the goalkeeper.

Southend ended the match the stronger and, inside the final minute, Lindie almost scored as he took the ball wide of the keeper, only for his nemesis to recover and block the shot out for a corner.

Finally, the forward and O'Keefe combined to make space for substitute Dubi's thunderbolt from 20 yards, the shotstopper brilliantly turning the ball onto the crossbar.

Southend: McDonald; Harvey, Obaze, Osifuwa, Reynolds; O'Keefe, Abbey (Dubi 70), Forshaw, Yong; Lindie, Adeyinka (Morris 46). Unused substitutes: Rieck, Ljungström and Abalimba.