A DEPLETED Southend United dug deep to secure a 1-1 draw at Oldham Athletic this afternoon.

The Shrimpers – who were missing five players along with the recently departed Harry Cardwell – went in front with Gus Scott-Morriss scoring his fifth goal in six games.

But Oldham hit back after the break and equalised 14 minutes from time with Mike Fondop heading home.

Oldham came close to taking an early lead when Harry Charsley’s close range effort was cleared off the line by Scott-Morriss before ex Shrimpers centre-back Shaun Hobson headed Dan Gardner’s free-kick wide of the left post.

But, after surviving the early scare, Blues broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when an inviting right wing-free-kick from George Moncur was headed home by Scott-Morriss who netted for the fourth game in succession.

However, Oldham came close to drawing back level on the stroke of half-time as a neat passing move ended with Callum Dolan slamming a well-struck shot against the top of the crossbar.

The second half started with far more action than the first with debutant Aribim Pepple firing wide of the left post after being teed up by Jack Bridge.

With play soon switching back to the other end of the field, Latics forward James Norwood failed to get enough on an attempted lob when he appeared to have got in behind the Shrimpers’ rearguard.

Moments later, George Moncur saw a low shot parried out by Oldham goalkeeper Matthew Hudson before Jack Bridge’s follow up effort was blocked.

With the Shrimpers still looking far more threatening, Noor Husin fired over from 25 yards before Pepple’s low shot was pushed wide of the left post by Hudson after more impressive approach play from Moncur.

Shortly after and, with 67 minutes on the clock, Blues made their first change of the afternoon with Keenan Appiah-Forson coming on for his debut in place of Pepple.

The change left the Shrimpers without a natural striker but the visitors soon threatened with Scott-Morriss having a curling 30 yard free-kick pushed wide of the left post by Hudson.

But Oldham soon began to get back into the game and drew back level in the 76th minute when a right wing corner from Gardner’s right wing cross was met by the head of former Billericay Town striker Fondop who nodded a looping effort high into the left hand side of the goal.

The Shrimpers immediately responded by bringing Jack Wood on in place of Bridge but it was Oldham who stayed on to with Conlon having a low free-kick gathered by Andeng Ndi at the second attempt.

Blues fought back with Wood having a close range shot blocked by the onrushing Hudson before the impressive Moncur also had an effort stopped late on as the game ended all square.