Southend United ended their pre-season programme with a Roots Hall draw against arch Essex rivals Colchester on Saturday.

Leon Cort's superb headed goal 17 minutes from time looked to have handed Blues a deserved first home win of their summer build up.

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That was until Colchester midfielder Kem Izzet conjured up a magical equaliser from his box of tricks to hand the Second Division side a flattering share of the spoils with only minutes to spare.

But most Southend fans will have gone home happy after watching their side prepare for next Saturday's Third Division opener against Cheltenham Town at Roots Hall with a much improved display.

It was the team from north Essex who made the early running though, with Cort doing well to block a second minute volley from Izzet, before Southend's former U's goalkeeper Carl Emberson had to punch the ball away from the little playmaker.

Blues soon got on top and Broughton unleashed a thumping 25-yard drive on the run, which Colchester custodian Simon Brown did well to claw away from his goal at full stretch.

Colchester squandered a great chance to open the scoring on 72 minutes when Izzet made a brilliant late run to meet midfielder Thomas Pinault's right wing centre, but he planted his six-yard header straight at Emberson.

And within a minute, Blues took the lead through a familiar route. Maher picked out Cort with a right wing free kick and the big defender duly obliged with a bullet header which flew inside the right upright.

Colchester upped the tempo after falling behind and netted a stunning equaliser four minutes from time.

There seemed little danger when Izzet picked up a loose ball, but the midfielder unleashed an unstoppable rocket shot into the top left hand corner of Blues' net, via Emberson's hand and the underside of the bar.

Published Monday, August 4, 2003

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