SOUTHEND United twice fought back to hold table-topping Forest Green Rovers to a 2-2 draw at Roots Hall.

The Shrimpers produced a spirited showing against the league leaders.

And Kevin Maher’s side were rewarded with a share of the spoils, thanks to equalisers from Nathan Ralph and Oli Coker.

The game was slow to get going but Shrimpers striker Bim Pepple sent a long range effort wide of the right early on before the visitors hit back with Tom Knowles seeing his swerving 20 yard shot well held by recalled Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi.

Harvey Bunker then saw a low effort easily kept out by Andeng Ndi but the Shrimpers soon replied and came within a whisker of taking the lead when Gus Scott-Morriss headed James Morton’s right wing corner inches wide of the left post.

After surviving the scare Forest Green broke the deadlock five minutes before the break when Jamie Robson was found in space down the left hand side and his accurate cross was headed home by Bunker for his third goal in three games.

The visitors soon wasted a golden opportunity to double their lead when Knowles raced clean through on goal only to send his casual effort over the crossbar with just Andeng Ndi left to beat.

The Shrimpers almost made the most of the let-off just seconds later when a low, skimming shot from Jack Bridge hit the inside of the left post before rolling to safety in the final action of the first half.

After the break, Rovers winger Knowles saw his powerful effort from a narrow angle kept out by Andeng Ndi before Blues boss Kevin Maher made his first change of the afternoon in the 58th minute with Macauley Bonne replacing Bridge.

The substitution saw the Shrimpers switch to a back four and, just five minutes later, the hosts were level as a long Scott-Morriss throw into the box was not dealt with by the Rovers rearguard and that enabled Blues captain Ralph to nip in and score with a neatly taken right footed shot from eight yards.

Shortly after the equaliser, Pepple fired wide of the right post after a bright burst down the right hand side by Bonne before the visitors made a trio of changes in a bid to get back on top.

The alterations included Christian Doidge replacing ex Shrimpers striker Cardwell and Rovers’ top scorer soon helped the visitors regained the lead.

Blues initially appeared to have survived the scare when Ralph blocked Teddy Jenks’ cross but Doidge reacted quickly to the rebound to tap home.

Doidge then dragged another effort wide of goal before a long range effort from Bunker clipped the outside of the post on its way wide.

Shrimpers boss Maher reacted by bringing Danny Waldron on in place of Pepple and, with 77 minutes on the clock, the hosts drew back level for the second time as a deflected low, left wing cross from Walker was poorly spilt by Ward, enabling the on-rushing Coker to score from close range.

Blues immediately made another substitution with Noor Husin replacing Cav Miley in midfield and the home-side came close to taking the lead when a deflected 20 yard shot from Coker flashed wide of the left post.

But the visitors came close to winning it late on with Jenks heading over from close range.