Southend United play out goalless draw with York City

Both teams were denied by the woodwork during an even encounter played in front of 8, 735 supporters.

But it was very much defences who came out on top as the game ended without a goal.

The Shrimpers threatened first with Gus Scott-Morriss cutting in from the right flank and delivering a low cross into the path of Charley Kendall whose flicked effort was gathered by York goalkeeper Harrison Male.

Moments later, Scott-Morriss came within a whisker of firing the Shrimpers in front as his effort, following another flick from Kendall, went just inches wide of the left post.

After surviving the scare, York soon hit back and came close to taking the lead themselves in the 18th minute when a powerful 20 yard free-kick from Ollie Banks smashed back off the crossbar.

A deflected effort from Minstermen full-back Joe Felix then dropped just over the crossbar before Blues replied with Scott-Morriss fizzing a long-range shot over the top of the North Bank net.

After the break, Kendall saw a dipping left footed shot pushed wide of the right post by Male who then also gathered a mis-hit volley from the Shrimpers striker.

In a bid to improve going forward, Blues boss Kevin Maher made his first change of the night in the 62nd minute with Tom Hopper replacing Andrew Dallas in attack.

A double substitution followed seven minutes later with Sam Austin and Oli Coker replacing Noor Husin and Keenan Appiah-Forson in the centre of the park.

Coker soon sent a long range effort over the crossbar before the Shrimpers made another substitution five minutes from time with Josh Walker taking the place of Kendall.

Shortly after the attacking alteration, Southend were denied by the woodwork as a deep Scott-Morriss cross found Austin whose header bounced back off the top of the crossbar.

York replied with substitute Josh Stones having a header smothered by Andeng Ndi before Coker saw a shot deflected wide of the left post in the closing action of the evening.