AMADOU Ba’s well-taken second half equaliser secured Southend United a 1-1 draw at Ebbsfleet this afternoon.

The 18-year-old trialist striker fired home in the 73rd minute to cancel out Darren McQueen’s opener to ensure the Shrimpers’ latest pre-season friendly ended all square.

The first half at Stonebridge Road was played in appalling wet weather but Southend threatened first with Michael Kightly teeing up Ryan Leonard whose well struck long range shot was parried to safety by Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore.

Moments later, Ashmore was called into action again when Jack Bridge teed up Theo Robinson whose goalbound effort was blocked by the advancing custodian.

But, after surviving the scares, Ebbsfleet hit back and only a fine save from Mark Oxley stopped them opening the scoring in the 26th minute when the Blues shot-stopper got down well to his left hand side to deny Luke Coulson.

With the conditions worsening, Marvin McCoy then fired a decent opportunity wide of the left post from a promising position at the far post in the closing action of the first half.

Blues introduced Harry Kyprianou in place of Stephen Hendrie during the break and the left-back was immediately involved as his deflected left foot shot went just inches wide of the right post.

With 48 minutes on the clock, Michael Timlin had a curling 20 yard free-kick tipped over by Ashmore before the Shrimpers made a double change on the hour mark with Simon Cox and Jason Demetriou both entering the action.

But, six minutes later, the home-side went in front went a long ball forward was misjudged by Kyprianou, enabling Darren McQueen to round the advancing Oxley and fire into a gaping goal.

The Shrimpers responded by bringing on trialist striker Amadou Ba in place of Robinson and the Frenchman soon came close to drawing back level when Cox sent a low effort against the inside of the left post.

However, Blues did equalise in the 73rd minute when Ba beat Ashmore to Kightly’s deflected pass forward before stroking a well- controlled finish into the back of the net.

After levelling the scores, Shrimpers boss Phil Brown made another change as Yearwood replaced Timlin the centre of the park.

And the young midfielder came close to putting Blues in front shortly after his introduction when he swapped passes with Ba and sent a rising effort against the top of the crossbar before Leonard also struck the woodwork with a header in the closing stages.

Southend United: Oxley, White, Ferdinand, Matsuzaka (White 60), Hendrie (Kyprianou 46), Bridge (Cox 60), Timlin (Yearwood 74), Leonard, Kightly, Robinson (Ba 67), Fortune