ANTHONY Wordsworth’s late equaliser secured Southend United a 1-1 draw in a frustrating encounter against struggling Port Vale at Roots Hall this afternoon.

The Shrimpers seemed set for a shock defeat when Chris Eagles headed Vale in front 12 minutes from time.

But Wordsworth’s 83rd minute strike meant play-off pushing Blues picked up a point.

Southend had been hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Gillingham and wasted a great chance to score in the 13th minute when Jason Demetriou played in Simon Cox.

But, with just Vale goalkeeper Leonardo Fasan to beat, the unmarked striker fired somehow a six yard shot well wide of the right post when he seemed certain to score.

After surviving the scare, Vale soon hit with Calum Guy having a goalbound shot brilliantly blocked by a sliding Adam Thomson before Sam Foley’s header from Jerome Thomas’ left wing corner was nodded off the line by Demetriou.

Moments later, Blues goalkeeper Ted Smith easily collected a curling effort from Thomas and, after the break, Smith got down well to parry out a powerful, low shot from Chris Eagles.

In a bid to brighten up his side, Shrimpers boss Phil Brown responded by making a double change in the 54th minute as Jermaine McGlashan and Theo Robinson entered the action in place of Michael Timlin and Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Shortly after the substitutions, Cox volleyed Coker’s left wing cross wide of the left post before Ryan Leonard did well to tee up McGlashan whose curling shot flew over the crossbar.

After standing firm, Vale replied and broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when Sam Foley’s inswinging free-kick was met by the head of Eagles whose effort looped into the right hand side of the net.

But Vale were only able to stay in front for five minutes as the Shrimpers quickly fought back to secure a share of the spoils as Ben Coker’s low cross was met by Wordsworth who slid the ball home from close range for his 10th goal of the season.