SOUTHEND United’s fantastic run against Oxford United came to an end in the Checkatrade Trophy tonight as the U’s triumphed on a penalty shoot-out at Roots Hall.

The two teams were locked level at the end of 90 minutes with Anthony Wordsworth cancelling out Chris Maguire’s opener for the visitors to secure a 1-1 draw.

But Oxford – who had beaten Blues just once in the previous 15 meetings between the two teams - triumphed 4-3 on spot-kicks with Simon Cox and Stephen McLaughlin both failing to convert their efforts from 12 yards.

Southend – who selected an unchanged starting line-up – came close to scoring after just two minutes when Ryan Leonard headed Wordsworth’s left wing corner inches wide of the left post but the visitors soon hit back with Ryan Taylor having a goalbound shot superbly blocked by Southend goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

Moments later, Oxley also parried away a long range shot from Maguire before Blues replied with Simon Cox fizzing a right wing cross across the face of goal, inches past the outstretched foot of a sliding McLaughlin at the far post.

McLaughlin then saw a deflected long range shot smothered by Oxford goalkeeper Simon Eastwood before Wordsworth had a curling right footed shot from 25 yards pushed to safety by the visiting custodian.

With play soon switching back to the other end of the field, Taylor then also had a long range shot parried away by Oxley low down to his left hand side to ensure the first half ended goalless.

Blues came close to breaking the deadlock right at the start of the second period when Wordsworth’s bouncing effort from the edge of the penalty area struck the foot of the right post.

In reply, Oxford then also came close to taking the lead when Phil Edwards fired inches wide of the left post from 20 yards before Maguire’s well struck volley – from a similar distance – was superbly saved by Oxley.

After surviving the scares, Southend were then forced into making their first change of the game in the 53rd minute when Will Atkinson was replaced on the right flank by Luke O’Neill.

And, after making the alteration, Blues thought they opened the scoring on the hour mark when Cox headed home, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

Eastwood then did well to deny McLaughlin before the Shrimpers made a second substitution in the 77th minute with Marc-Antoine Fortune coming on for Nile Ranger in attack.

But, just four minutes later, Oxford took the lead, with Maguire on target with a well taken free-kick.

The U’s winger stepped forward after being brought down by Leonard and fired a 30 yard shot into the top right hand side of the North Bank net.

However, Oxford’s lead was to last just three minutes with Wordsworth netting a well created equaliser.

The on-rushing midfielder was picked out by an excellent low, left wing cross from Fortune and fired the ball into a gaping goal from close range to ensure the game went to a penalty shoot-out.

Cox saw Blues’ first effort saved by Eastwood before the next six spot kicks were all scored with Jason Demetriou, Wordsworth and Leonard on target for Southend.

But Marvin Johnson’s effort for Oxford was then impressively saved by Oxley before McLaughlin fired over to allow Tyler Roberts’ effort to send the visitors through to the last 16.