A FINE second half volley from Marcus Dackers secured Southend United a 1-1 draw with Woking at Root Hall tonight.

The Cards opened the scoring in the first half with Reece Grego-Cox netting from 20 yards.

But Blues fought back to claim a share of the spoils in the second half with Dackers on target for the third time in five games.

Woking, who started the evening in seventh, were on top in the first half and Darren Sarll’s side started brightly with Grego-Cox sending an early effort wide of the left post before Kyran Lofthouse sent a 20 yard shot just inches past the same upright.

But the visitors continued to threaten and broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Grego-Cox turned sharply before sending a well-struck shot, from just outside the penalty area, into the left hand side of the South Stand net.

Blues were angered by decisions from the officials just before the goal was scored and the hosts were quick to express their displeasure towards the officials.

However, the Shrimpers soon came close to equalising with Jake Hyde heading over against his former club.

Woking replied with Rohan Ince seeing a fine looping header drop inches wide of the left post before referee Jason Richardson opted to wave away the visitors’ appeals for a penalty after Lofthouse went to ground in the box following a challenge from Blues midfielder Noor Husin.

With play soon switching back to the other end of the field, Jack Bridge – who passed a late fitness test on a thigh problem – saw a low, left footed shot smothered by Woking goalkeeper Craig Ross.

The visitors then came close to doubling their lead when a close range header from Lofthouse was spectacularly parried away by Blues goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi.

And the Shrimpers almost equalised just before the break with Noor Husin firing inches over the crossbar from 20 yards.

After the break, Woking’s Lofthouse sent a deflected effort across the face of goal before Blues started to rally with Gus Scott-Morriss slicing an effort wide of the right post from just inside the penalty area.

Moments later, a cross-shot from Dan Mooney was impressively cleared off the line by Cards captain Josh Casey before Blues drew back level in the 66th minute, with Dackers on target.

The on loan Salford City striker readjusted himself quickly after a deflected right wing cross from Husin dropped into his path before he netted with a brilliantly taken low volley.

Woking soon started to get back into the game and, in a bid to get back on top, Blues made their first change of the evening in the 83rd minute with Wes Fonguck replacing Mooney in midfield.

Callum Powell then also took the place of Hyde in attack before a heated melee in the closing stages saw four yellow cards being shown.

Southend United: Andeng Ndi, Scott-Morriss, Hobson, Lopata, Kensdale, Bridge, Miley, Husin, Mooney (Fonguck 83), Dackers, Hyde (Powell 87) Subs not used: Clifford, Wreh & Lomas.

READ MORE

>Maher opts to focus on football after late flashpoints in Blues' draw with Woking