JACK Bridge’s 10th goal of the season secured Southend United a 1-1 draw at Woking this afternoon.

Former Blues loanee Marcus Dackers fired the third placed Cardinals in front at the start of the second half.

But Bridge secured a share of the spoils for the Shrimpers with a well-taken effort which kept Kevin Maher’s side five points outside the play-off positions.

The action got underway with fit-again Southend midfielder Noor Husin sending a well-struck 25 yard shot inches over the crossbar after just two minutes.

But, just moments later, Blues were soon forced into an early change following a clash of heads between skipper Nathan Ralph and the home-side's Dan Moss.

Moss was initially fine to continue for Darren Sarll’s side but Ralph was clearly in pain and was immediately replaced at left wing-back by Bridge with seven minutes on the clock.

Shortly after the change Gus Scott-Morriss headed Cav Miley’s left wing cross over the crossbar before the home-side were forced into a change of their own with Moss having to make way for Kyran Lofthouse down the Cards’ right hand side.

Goalscoring opportunities remained few and far between but Woking did register the game’s first effort on target in the 40th minute when Dackers headed Josh Casey’s left wing cross straight at Southend goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi.

However, Dackers did break the deadlock two minutes into the second half when the Shrimpers failed to deal with a long clearance from goalkeeper Will Jaaskeloinen which allowed Padraig Amond to nod the ball into the path of Dackers who scored with a neatly taken effort over the head of Andeng Ndi.

But Blues reacted well to going behind and drew back level just six minutes later when Husin played a fine pass into the path of Bridge who sprinted in from the left hand side before firing a low, left footed shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

With the Shrimpers continuing to attack, a low, left wing cross from Husin then just missed the outstretched boot of Cardwell before Scott-Morriss sent a deflected shot wide of the right post from just inside the penalty area.

Husin then volleyed over after the resultant Cav Miley corner was cleared into his path but Woking soon replied with substitute Soloman Nwabuokei firing straight at Andeng Ndi from 20 yards.

The Shrimpers responded with a replacement of their own as Wes Fonguck took the place of Noor Husin in midfield with 77 minutes on the clock.

Six minutes later, Blues made their final substitution with Dan Mooney replacing Henry Sandat in attack but it was Woking who threatened late on with Rohan Ince firing over from 25 yards after neat approach play from Dackers.

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