MATT Dennis continued his new found goalscoring form to secure Southend United a 1-1 draw at high-flying Bromley this afternoon.

Bromley striker Michael Cheek opened the scoring with a well-taken header midway through the second half.

But Blues hit back with Dennis scoring for the second game in succession to move Kevin Maher’s side a point clear of the relegation zone.

And, with the hosts reduced to 10 men due to injuries late on, the Shrimpers wasted clear cut chances late on to pick up all three points.

Bromley started the contest brightly and came close to taking an early lead when a left wing corner from Luke Coulson found Owar Sowunmi whose downward header was chested off the line by Blues’ Will Atkinson.

In reply, the Shrimpers hit back with Owar Sowunmi clearing a brilliant Zak Brunt cross at the far post before Nathan Ralph strode forward and sent a long range effort wide of the right post.

Moments later, Sam Dalby saw an effort deflected wide of the right post before Bromley replied with Sowunmi heading an excellent opportunity wide of the left post from close range following another corner from Coulson.

Southend soon replied with Dennis having a low, left foot shot smothered by Bromley goalkeeper Mark Cousins but Bromley replied just before the break with Jude Arthurs seeing his goalbound effort diverted over the crossbar by a sliding Nathan Ralph.

After surviving the scare, the Shrimpers were forced into a change at the break with Lewis Gard replacing the injured James Dunne in the centre of the park.

But Blues began the second period brightly with Dennis firing wide of the right post from 25 yards before Dalby latched onto a poor backpass from Sowunmi and rounded the advancing Cousins.

However, after being forced wide, Dalby opted to cut the ball back across the face of goal where the onrushing Jason Demetriou fired over the crossbar.

The Shrimpers were then forced into a second change just before the hour mark when Josh Coulson replaced John White after the Blues skipper clattered into the advertising boards.

And Blues suffered an even bigger blow in the 64th minute, with the hosts dangerman Michael Cheek scoring his 14th goal of the season.

The in-form forward, who worked with Blues boss Kevin Maher at Chelmsford City, was found by a left wing cross from Liam Trotter and glanced a well-taken header into the bottom right hand corner.

However, the Shrimpers were not to be denied for long as just two minutes they drew back level with Dennis on target for the second game in succession.

A right wing cross from Demetriou was misjudged by Byron Webster before Dalby did well to tee up Dennis who netted with a well-taken effort from 12 yards.

Dennis immediately made way for Rhys Murphy after going down with cramp.

But an injury for Bromley midfielder Trotter then saw the home-side reduced to 10 men after the hosts had already made their three allocated substitutions.

Blues soon came close to making the most of their extra man with Gard firing inches wide of the left post before Kevin Maher’s side wasted an even clearer chance to score with Murphy scuffing his close range volley after Dalby had headed a deep Tom Clifford cross back into his path.

Murphy then also fired over following a diagonal ball forward from Demetriou but there was to be no late winner.