A LATE header from Spanish trailist David Cubillas secured Southend United a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid C at their training complex today.

The hosts went in front after just eight minutes when Dani Suarez headed home from close range.

But the Shrimpers recovered well from the setback and made sure of a draw when Cubillas nodded in an Anthony Straker cross five minutes from time.

And that delighted manager Phil Brown.

“We did well in unbelievable heat and I was happy with work-rate and the performance of our players,” said Brown.

“It will be completely different to what will face us in League Two and the Real Madrid team was very young.

“But we played to our strengths and we got a lot from the game.”

Brown also looked at trialists – ex Nottingham Forest defender Julian Bennett, former Chelsea midfielder Conor Clifford and ex Villarreal B striker Cubillas during the game.

And he will now be mulling over their futures.

“It´s difficult coming on as sub and it´s even more dfficult doing that as a trialist but we could have another look at them back in England,” said Brown.

“I thought David got a bit lost in the game at times but he got in to goalscoring positions and should´ve scored another one.”

Blues had an early Ryan Leonard effort ruled out for offside before Madrid took the lead when Ramirez´s right wing free-kick was missed by Daniel Bentley and Suarez headed home from close range.

Bentley made amends for the mistake by doing well to deny both Fran Sol and Bruno in quick succession.

In reply, an unmarked Cubillas then headed a right wing cross from John White wide of the left post but he made no mistake in the 85th minute as he nodded in off the right flank from close range after good approach play from Michael Timlin and Straker.

Southend United: Bentley, White, Phillips, Prosser (Bennett 46), Coker (Straker 80), Leonard, Laird (Clifford 46), Atkinson, Straker (Timlin 75), Eastwood (Njie 64), Corr (Cubillas 46) Sub not used: Chambers