A fourth goal of the season for Graham Cummins earned Exeter City a point at Southend United.
The draw, City's first on the road this season, was well deserved on the balance of play as the Grecians put in a strong performance, especially after the break, that almost saw them snatch all three points in a similar fashion to the way they did at Dagenham & Redbridge at the beginning of the month.
Paul Tisdale made one change to the team that lost 2-1 at home to Hartlepool United last time out, recalling Liam Sercombe after he recovered from a knee injury, quicker than expected, to start.
That meant Danny Butterfield could revert back to his right-wing back role and youngster Connor Riley-Lowe dropped to the bench.
Having lost the last two league games, Southend boss Phil Brown made six changes to his starting line-up but there was still no place in the side for former Grecian striker Barr Corr.
Southend United took a 1-0 lead into the half-time break as David Warrall headed home Will Atkinson's left-wing cross on 33 minutes.
It was a lead the Shrimpers deserved on the balance of play and they could have been further ahead had it not been for the wayward shooting of Lee Barnard.
The 30-year-old striker, who made four appearances for the Grecians in late 2002, blazed over the crossbar after Warrall had found him with a good pass after five minutes.
However, worse was to follow midway through the half as Ryan Leonard's speculative shot deflected into his path eight yards out. Barnard had plenty of time and room to place a shot past Pym, but instead scuffed an effort against the base of the post.
At the other end Cummins was guilty of wasting opportunities. First he hit a right-foot shot into the roof of the Frank Walton Stand after Jimmy Keohane had played a neat pass into him on the edge of the box.
The striker, who scored three in three games in September, then hit a shot into the side netting before ghosting into the area to latch onto a through-ball from Liam Sercombe moments later. However, he took a heavy touch to allow Southend keeper Daniel Bentley to dive at his feet and prevent him getting a decent shot on goal.
The half then drew to a close with the impressive Keohane hit a shot just wide of the right-hand post as City continued to show signs that they were capable of getting back into the match.
Tisdale made one change to the side at half-time bringing on David Wheeler for Arron Davies. That saw Scot Bennett move back into defence and Matt Oakley into midfield as a result. Wheeler joined Cummins up front and Ribeiro took up a right-wing back role as Butterfield moved into the centre of defence.
The changes saw City start on the second half on the front foot as Keohane and Sercombe both struck efforts towards goal in the opening minutes of the second half.
Neither side really threated for the next 10 to 15 minutes though as City struggled to find a telling ball in the final third of the pitch and Southend sat back and tried to protect their slender lead.
Southend had chances around the hour mark but, as Pym spilt a cross, Jack Payne's follow up effort was blocked by Woodman and then Leonard hit a free-kick a foot wide of the right hand upright.
City took until the 74th minute to really threaten the home side again as Sercombe stung the gloves of Bentley with a shot from distance and then Keohane flashed the follow-up shot wide.
The equaliser came two minutes later though as Sercombe floated a lovely through-ball to Cummins from inside his own half. Cummins showed good strength to hold off the challenge of Luke Prosser and lifted a shot over Bentley and into the back of the net.
City came close to taking the lead on 81 minutes as substitute David Wheeler burst down the left wing and pulled a ball back for Keohane to side-foot and effort against the base of the post.
Chances then fell to Grimes, for Exeter, and Corr, for Southend, in the closing stages but neither side could find a winner.
Southend United (4-4-2): Bentley, Leonard, Thompson, Prosser, Williams, Atkinson, Timlin (Hurst, 88), Payne (Weston, 76), Deegan, Warrall, Barnard (Corr, 82), Deegan. Subs not used: Smith, Bolger, Clifford, Coulthirst.
Exeter City (3-4-1-2): Pym, Ribeiro, Oakley, Woodman, Davies (Wheeler, 45), Grimes, Sercombe (Noble, 85), Butterfield, Keohane, Cummins, Bennett. Subs not used: Nichols, Hamon, Riley-Lowe, Tillson, Jay.
Booked: Wheeler (60)
Referee: Phillip Gibbs
Attendance: 5,749 (229 away)
![Southend United 1 Exeter City 1: Match report]( "Southend United 1 Exeter City 1: Match report")
