DANNY Hylton’s second half penalty stopped Southend United getting back to winning ways against Oxford United at Roots Hall this afternoon.

The Shrimpers seemed set to end a four match winless streak when Jack Payne fired them in front during the first half.

But Hylton’s spot-kick ensured the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Payne was Blues’ biggest threat early on and, inside the first minute, he unleashed a low 20 yard shot which bounced awkwardly in front of visiting goalkeeper George Long who tipped the effort wide of the right post in unconvincing fashion.

Moments later, Long smothered Shaq Coulthirst’s close range header from John White’s right wing cross and, in the 16th minute, Blues appeals for a penalty after Payne went down inside the box were waved away by referee Andy Davies.

In reply, Oxford winger Alex Jakubiak soon registered his side’s first shot on target as he skipped away from Adam Thompson before sending a low 25 yard effort straight at Blues’ goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

The Shrimpers shot-stopper then easily collected a curling effort from Junior Brown before U’s striker Will Hoskins wasted a golden chance to open the scoring, shooting of the right post when clean through on goal.

But, after surviving the scares, Southend hit back to open the scoring in the 36th minute, with Payne again on target.

The move started down the right hand side with Myles Weston teeing up John White whose cross picked out Conor Clifford inside the penalty area.

The midfielder neatly brought the ball under control before passing to Payne who fired an impressive, low right footed shot in to the bottom left hand corner of the net from 14 yards.

However, Oxford were back on top at the start of the second half with Hylton having a well struck volley smartly saved by Bentley.

Hylton then went close again just seconds later when he cut in off the right hand side and had a curling, left foot shot tipped over by Bentley.

In a bid to stem the pressure, Blues boss Phil Brown soon brought David Worrall on in place of Payne.

But the visitors equalised in the 67th minute, with Hylton netting from the penalty spot.

The striker was adjudged to have been brought down by Luke Prosser and fired the spot-kick in to the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Blues responded by bringing Barry Corr on in place of Shaq Coulthirst and Kevan Hurst then also came on to replace Ryan Leonard.

However, neither of the sides were unable to find a late winner, despite eight minutes of stoppage time being played.

And to make matters worse for the Shrimpers they ended the game with only 10 men after left-back Ben Coker went off with an elbow injury.