SOUTHEND United were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Northampton Town at Roots Hall this afternoon.

The Shrimpers twice took the lead with Jermaine McGlashan and Simon Cox firing home.

But the Cobblers were able to fight back both times to secure a share of the spoils.

All four goals came in the first half and it was Northampton who threatened first with midfielder Matt Taylor sending a well struck 30 yard shot inches wide of the right post before Blues hit back with Michael Timlin having a long range shot smothered by Northampton goalkeeper Adam Smith.

But the Shrimpers remained on top and opened the scoring in the 20th minute, with McGlashan on target.

The winger’s third goal of the season came following a well worked move down the left hand side which ended in Ben Coker delivering a low cross which was missed by Cox at the near post.

But, with Ryan Leonard battling hard, the ball eventually dropped to McGlashan who neatly fired home his third goal of the season.

The close range strike would have delighted the winger who was released by Northampton boss Justin Edinburgh when at Gillingham last season.

However, McGlashan’s goal was cancelled out just nine minutes when Taylor’s dangerous left wing cross was cut out by Coker, only for Marc Richards to latch onto the loose ball and send a rising 20 yard shot into the left hand side of the South Stand net.

But Blues were back in front within two minutes as Jason Demetriou cut in off the right flank and unleashed a curling shot which was deflected into the path of Cox who volleyed home from close range.

The well-taken strike also saw Cox become just the second the Shrimpers player in 57 years to net in six successive games and he soon came close to netting another as his well-taken shot from a narrow angle was parried to safety by Smith.

But, after surviving the scare, Northampton hit back to equalise for a second time in the 44th minute when Taylor’s 25 yard free-kick struck the inside of the left post before hitting the back of Ted Smith and being bundled into the back of the net from close range by John-Joe O’Toole.

Blues nearly went back in front on the stroke of half-time when Anthony Wordsworth saw a curling free-kick parried away by Smith before a quiet start to the second period saw the home-side make a double change just past the hour mark as Theo Robinson and Nile Ranger both entered the action in place of McGlashan and Marc-Antoine Fortune.

A third enforced change followed in the 69th minute with Ryan Inniss coming on for the injured Anton Ferdinand and, seconds after the third substitution, Timlin sent a low 20 yard shot straight at Smith.

Ranger’s header from Demetriou’s right wing cross was then impressively tipped over by Smith who then also kept out a left footed shot from the former Newcastle United striker to ensure the game ended all square.