No goals at Nene Park Wednesday evening in another draw for the Shrimpers
Trailist centre-back Mark Phillips got another chance to impress along with some other new names!
Southend started the liveliest up front with Scott Spencer having a good effort saved well by Diamonds shot stopper Dale Roberts.
Trying to keep up his recent good form and make it three goals on the trot, Matt Paterson forced another fine save from the home keeper.
However, it was Anthony Grant who came the closest to opening the scoring but his shot hit the bar and rebounded to safety.
Conference side Rushden & Diamonds at last brought the starting Blues, playing in red, keeper Glenn Morris into the game when he pushed a Lee Tomlin over the bar.
Rhys Evans replaced Morris in goal at half time, while skipper Easton also didn't return as on came the lively Josh Simpson, who could have scored when a super 30-yarder brought another good save.
Though it remained the away side in the accendancy trailist Vitaly Zilts saw only ten minutes of the second half as striker Harry Crawford took his place, and on 74 minutes Barry Corr and Louie Soares were given match time by manager Paul Sturrock for Paterson and Spencer.
Soares certainly showed signs of his pace that could cause plenty of full-backs problems in League Two, but a winning goal was not to be found and it's all down to the Sussex coast for a Saturday afternoon game at Eastbourne, only a week before the season opener against Stockport.
Southend United: Morris (Evans h-t), Clohessy, Lockwood, Easton (Simpson), Prosser, Phillips, James-Lewis, Grant, Zilts (Crawford 55), Patterson (Corr 74), Spencer (Soares 74).Subs not used: Hendry, Gill, Mohsni.
Rushden & Diamonds: Roberts, Huke, Robinson, Porter, Stuart, Osano, Johnson, Smith, Charles, Spence, Tomlin.
Subs: Joe Day, Keehan, Yoffee, York, Jamie Day, Shariff, Farrell.
Attendance: 521
Updated Pre-Season Schedule
Friday, July 16th - Dartford 2 Southend United 0
Monday, July 19th - Southend United 1 Derby County 1
Friday, July 23rd - Salisbury City 1 Southend United 1
Wednesday, July 28th - Rushden & Diamonds 0 Southend United 0
Saturday, July 31st - Eastbourne Borough (away); kick-off 15.00.