NOOR Husin’s equaliser 11 minutes from time secured Southend United a 1-1 draw at Oldham Athletic this afternoon.

The fifth placed Latics took the lead on the hour mark with Nathan Sheron on target.

But Blues battled back for a share of the spoils at Boundary Park with Husin netting with a deflected effort from 20 yards.

Both sides had good chances to score in the first half but it was the Shrimpers who threatened first.

Wes Fonguck curled a long range shot straight at Oldham goalkeeper Matthew Hudson before play switched back to the other end of the field with Nathan Ralph making a fine last ditch challenge on Oli Hammond when the Latics midfielder appeared to be clean through on goal.

Ralph soon took centre stage at the other end of the field as he scuffed a six yard shot wide of the right post after being found by an intelligent free-kick from Jack Bridge.

Moments later, a dangerous right wing cross from Gus Scott-Morriss fizzed just inches over the head of Harry Cardwell before the Latics hit back with Devarn Green having a well struck shot parried away by Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi.

With play switching back to the other end of the field, recalled Shrimpers striker Danny Waldron fired wide of the left post before the Shrimpers wasted a clearer chance to score with Bridge volleying wide of the left post following a long throw from Scott-Morriss.

But, after surviving the scare, the Latics pushed forward and, with 41 minutes on the clock, they were denied by a wonder save from Andeng Ndi.

A goal seemed certain when Joe Garner teed up Nathan Sheron but the Blues shot-stopper appeared from seemingly nowhere to dive full length to his left to somehow stop the striker scoring.

Garner then saw a long range effort dip just over the crossbar before Blues came close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time.

Scott-Morriss then had a powerfully struck long range shot tipped over by Hudson who then denied Waldon from three yards after a left wing corner from Bridge had dropped into the striker’s path.

After the break, Waldron saw a low angled effort smothered by Hudson before Oldham replied with Oli Hammond firing inches wide of the right post from the edge of the penalty area.

But the Latics were not to be denied for long and broke the deadlock on the hour mark, with Sheron latching onto James Norwood’s header forward before scoring with a right footed shot into the right hand side of the net.

Blues were angered again just moments later when Bridge went down in the box after appearing to have his shirt pulled by Sheron but referee Andrew Humphries opted to wave play on.

In a bid to get back into the game, the Shrimpers made their first change of the afternoon with Marcus Dackers replacing Cardwell in attack.

Blues rallied well after the change and drew back level in the 79th minute, with Husin on target.

The midfielder raced onto the ball after Dackers had deflected Bridge’s left wing cross into the path before scoring with a powerful 20 yard shot which took a deflection on its way in.

Both sides looked to bag a late winner with Blues introducing Henry Sandat in place of Waldron two minutes from time.

But the game ended all square to extend the Shrimpers’ unbeaten run to five games.