SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher praised his side’s perseverance following tonight’s 1-1 draw at Aldershot Town.

A late header from Harry Cardwell secured the Shrimpers a share of the spoils at the EBB Stadium.

And Maher was pleased to see Blues keep on pushing in pursuit of an equaliser against a Shots team sitting back on their lead.

“We knew we had to be patient and we got our just rewards in the end,” said the Blues boss.

“After conceding so early we know they were going to put bodies behind the ball and it’s difficult.

“The hardest thing in football is to break down a low block.

“You need a moment of quality and we probably didn’t work the keeper enough.

“The balls going into the box didn’t ask enough questions but credit to the lads, they kept going and got the goal.

“We were the ones pushing to try and win the game.”

Blues enjoyed long spells of possession before making it count three minutes from time.

And Maher was delighted to see Cardwell bag his first goal for the Shrimpers in just his second appearance for the club.

“He fed on scraps for a long time because there were a lot of bodies in and around him and Dalbs (Sam Dalby),” said Maher.

“There wasn’t much space to play and it was a great finish.

“It was a great ball in from Fergie and it was a brilliant header to score.

“Strikers obviously want to score goals, especially at a new club and he’s great he’s off the mark.”

However, Maher also hinted he was frustrated not to pick up more than a point.

“We always try to win and the amount of ball we had we’re disappointed to only get a point,” said Maher.

“But the way the game went we’ll take that but we were the ones trying to win.”