SOUTHEND United were held to a 1-1 draw by high-flying Gillingham at Roots Hall this afternoon.

Blues went in front midway through the first half when Anthony Wordsworth fired home from close range.

But the visitors hit back to secure a share of the spoils with Luke Morris netting a well-taken equaliser just eight minutes into the second half.

Gillingham – who sit fourth in the table - came close to scoring after just four minutes when only a fine double save from Blues goalkeeper Daniel Bentley stopped the visitors taking the lead.

Bentley did well to deny both Luke Norris and Jake Hessenthaler in quick succession after a poor clearance from Wordsworth had enabled Brennan Dickinson to get the ball into the box.

Blues soon hit back with Tyrone Barnett sending a 20 yard shot straight at Gills goalkeeper Stuart Nelson following good approach play from Jack Payne.

And, with 21 minutes on the clock, the Shrimpers went in front with Wordsworth netting for the fourth time this season.

Neat approach play from Barnett and Glen Kamara in the left hand side of the penalty area resulted in the ball dropping into the path of the midfielder who netted with a low, left footed shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Moments later, Hurst fired a scorching 30 yard shot only inches over the crossbar and, in the 36th minute, Payne saw a long range effort tipped wide of the left post by Nelson.

After the break, Payne again came close to scoring when he cut in from the right flank before firing just wide of the right post.

But, with play almost immediately switching back to the other end of the field, the Gills drew back level in the 51st minute with Norris netting from close range.

The striker was picked out by an excellent left wing cross from Dickinson and made no mistake with a clinical cushioned finished from six yards.

In a bid to get back on top, Blues boss Phil Brown responded by making his first change of the game in the 63rd minute with Jamar Loza coming on to replace Kamara.

But Gills continued to push forward with Samuel having a 20 yard shot well saved by Bentley and, in the 86th minute, the striker was again impressively denied by Bentley before Deji Oshilaja’s follow up header was cleared off the line by Wordsworth to ensure the game ended all square.