A LAST minute volley from Andrew Crofts saw Southend United held to a 1-1 draw against Charlton Athletic at Roots Hall this afternoon.

The Shrimpers seemed set for a fourth victory in succession when Simon Cox fired Phil Brown’s side in front midway through the first half.

But, with Blues unable to score a second goal, the Addicks hit back to secure a late share of the spoils as Crofts thundered home a well taken effort via the underside of the crossbar.

In front of a bumper crowd of more than 10,000, Charlton threatened first with Nicky Ajose sending a left footed volley straight at Shrimpers shot-stopper Ted Smith from 18 yards before Blues hit back with Stephen McLaughlin sending a well struck effort from long range inches wide of the left post.

Moments later, the visitors’ Josh Magennis saw a low effort smartly smothered by Smith before Southend broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, with Cox bagging his third goal in two goals.

The in-form striker neatly teed himself up inside the penalty area before turning neatly to fire home a smartly taken half volley with his left foot.

Charlton replied with Joe Aribo having a low effort impressively pushed wide of the left post by Smith before Blues again went close just before the break when Anthony Wordsworth’s rising effort was tipped wide by Addicks goalkeeper Dillon Phillips.

The visiting custodian then kept out a low volley from Cox before his opposite number, Smith, was called into action at the start of the second half as he tipped over Jorge Teixeira’s close range volley.

After surviving the scare, Southend came close to making 2-0 when McLaughlin sent a right footed shot against the outside of the right post after cutting in from the left hand side.

Charlton immediately replied with Ezri Konsa having a 20 yard shot tipped over by Smith and, in the 69th minute, the young shot-stopper did superbly well to keep out a rising effort from substitute Jordan Botaka.

With the visitors remaining on top, Aribo curled a left footed shot against the top of the crossbar before Shrimpers boss Phil Brown responded by making his first change of the game in the 73rd minute as Nile Ranger replaced Cox in attack.

Eight minutes later, Blues were forced into making a second change as McLaughlin limped off injured and was replaced on the left flank by Jermaine McGlashan.

The winger soon set up Will Atkinson whose effort was tipped over by Phillips before Fortune bundled the ball wide of the left post from close range.

And the missed opportunities returned to haunt the Shrimpers in the 89th minute when Crofts popped up to volley home Konsa’s right wing cross via the underside of the crossbar.