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Surprisingly Oxford came close after only 43 seconds, Darryl Flahavan parrying a Dave Savage shot before Leon Cort had to be alert to swipe the ball from the feet of Andy Scott.
Southend though soon got into their stride and on four minutes Tesfaye Bramble headed a Brian Barry-Murphy free kick wide.
Despite their domination Southend actually found it difficult to create a real goalscoring chance, but Phil Whelan came close after 25 minutes, nodding another Barry-Murphy free kick just wide.
Southend finally took the lead on 29 minutes, referee Phil Joslin awarding a penalty when Barrington Belgrave was pole-axed inside the area and Bramble with his second penalty in as many matches sent ex-Southend goalkeeper Andy Woodman the wrong way with his well taken spot kick.
The lead was doubled three minutes before half time. Bramble picked the ball up forty yards from goal and powered yhrough the Oxford defence before seeing Woodman push his 30 yard shot around the post. From the resulting Barry-Murphy corner Leon Cort looped a glorious header into the net at the far post.
In the dying seconds of the first period however Oxford grabbed a most fortunate goal when Stuart Thurgood deflected Andy Scott's wayward shot off the post and into his own net.
Into the second half, and despite Oxford creating early chances, firstly Paul Powell dragging a shot wide before Cort did well to clear Scott's rolling shot off the goalline, Southend continued to dominate.
Belgrave squandered a fantastic opportunity to put the game out of Oxford's reach in the 53rd minute, latching onto a great through ball by Bramble Belgrave knocked the ball past Woodman but somehow the stocky striker's shot wriggled wide of the post with Roots Hall ready to erupt.
After a spell of huge pressure on the visiting side's goal Bramble struck a shot over the crossbar following a Belgrave knock-back. Soon after David Morley, another former Shrimper blocked substitute Scott Forbes shot but referee Joslin failed to award a corner kick. A short corner routine involving Ian Selley and Barry-Murphy saw the latter swing a cross in for Whelan to flick a header just over the crossbar.
In the 70th minute though Oxford equalised and it came courtesy of the second penalty of the match when Forbes was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box. Flahavan almost got a hand to Powell's penalty but nearly wasn't enough as the U's full back struck the ball straight into the centre of the goal.
Southend seemed to panic as they searched for a deserved winner, making basic errors, but in the 74th minute United hit the post for the first time in five minutes, Belgrave feeding the ball to Thurgood who sent a thunderous shot against the outside of the post with the outside of his right foot from 25 yards. After 78 minutes it was Cort who found the woodwork, heading a Thurgood cross against the upright, as the ball rebounded back into play Phil Whelan saw a shot deflected wide however once again no corner was awarded.
A frustrated Southend created the last chance in the third minute of injury time when Ian Selley headed a Forbes corner inches over the crossbar.
Despite only taking a point from the match Southend can be pleased with a an impressive performance which stands them in good stead for the trek to Carlisle on Tuesday night.
Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com