SOUTHEND United and Oldham Athletic have shared several similarities in recent seasons.

And on Saturday the two teams shared the points at Boundary Park too.

Both very well-supported clubs are bidding to work their way back from severe financial issues, controversial chairmen and relegation into the National League.

And progress is certainly being made where that is concerned.

That made for an entertaining encounter at the weekend with both teams having opportunities to pick up more than a point.

The Shrimpers will definitely feel they could have secured a fourth win in succession with Nathan Ralph wasting an excellent opportunity to score early on before Jack Bridge could perhaps have done slightly better with a volley from close range.

Danny Waldron and Gus Scott-Morriss were then both denied by Oldham goalkeeper Matthew Hudson.

But he was definitely overshadowed by his opposite number, Collin Andeng Ndi, who produced the save of the season so far to somehow stop Nathan Sheron opening the scoring.

So certain was I that the ball was about to hit the back of the net that I had already started writing the tweet!

The game’s opening goal looked odds on when Joe Garner rolled the ball across to Sheron just six yards out.

However, Andeng Ndi appeared from seemingly nowhere to dive full length to his left to somehow stop the Latics midfielder scoring.

And it is most definitely a save which deserves to be highlighted.

Goalkeepers do not always get the praise their performances can deserve, especially nowadays when managers can see doing so as a slight on their own side’s performance.

Throw in the fact that Andeng Ndi is not keen on doing interviews and his work can often go under the radar.

Of course the custodian does still have plenty to work on but a quick look at the statistics back up the fact that Blues could well have unearthed another talented goalkeeper of their own.

Sheron did eventually get his own back on the hour mark by firing the Latics into the lead.

But this is a Shrimpers side made of stern stuff nowadays and, for the third game in succession, they fought back from going behind to take something from the game.

A deflected effort from Noor Husin ultimately secured a point for Kevin Maher’s side 11 minutes from time.

And while it may not have been one of the most impressive goals of the season so far it was probably one of the most pleasing.

There has been little to criticise Blues about for most of the season but at times a reluctance to shoot from potentially promising positions has been a sense of frustration.

In some games gone by, the Shrimpers would have looked for an extra pass rather than going for goal from the situation Husin found himself in on Saturday.

But you never know what might happen if you do go for goal and that stance was firmly underscored at the weekend as Husin’s effort took a wicked deflection on its way in.

The goal ultimately made it five games without defeat for the Shrimpers and took them up to 12th in the table, six points above the relegation zone.

Blues will now look to continue their resurgence with three games in quick succession at Roots Hall.

But there has to be a concern surrounding the lack of depth in defence.

The Shrimpers have strengthened their squad since the removal of the transfer embargo back in December and boss Kevin Maher has several options both in attack and in the centre of the park.

However, the same cannot be said about the rearguard.

With Ollie Kensdale out for at least another fortnight with a fractured cheekbone and Harry Taylor still out with a hamstring issue Blues are down to their last three natural defenders.

Included in that rather meagre total is Nathan Ralph who can struggle to put a run of games together due to his recent injury record and 36-year-old Jason Demetriou who is currently filling in on the right hand side of the back three.

It is somewhat too close for comfort and when Gus Scott-Morriss went down for treatment in the second half at Boundary Park it really did bring home just how short the Shrimpers are at the back.

It is a situation which certainly needs to be looked at and a short term loan signing would certainly seem to make sense if one is available.

But, that aside, Saturday was another positive step for Southend who continue to move in the right directions.

And you sense this fixture next season could well carry even greater significance if the two teams are again sharing a place in the National League.