Why are Southend United not walking their way to promotion from the Third Division?

Chester City's fans can give you the answer to that question straight away - the Shrimpers just cannot finish teams off.

Blues battered a mediocre Chester side for the majority of Saturday's match, failing to convert countless golden opportunities into goals, as they let another shaky defence off the hook for the umpteenth time this season.

A mixture of poor finishing, dogged Chester defending and bad luck denied Southend victory at the Deva Stadium, and yet again it was left to veteran defender Rob Newman to spare their blushes with an injury time equaliser.

It was the same story when crisis club Chester visited Roots Hall and stole a fortunate 1-0 victory back in August.

Southend ravaged the cash-strapped club for 90 minutes only to be beaten by a breakaway goal from old boy Gary Bennett, which was the first league defeat of what has become a frustrating season for all Blues fans.

The Roots Hall supporters have been quick to criticise Southend boss Alvin Martin, which they have every right to do as their team languishes alongside clubs from the dead end footballing backwaters of Rochdale and Hartlepool.

However, Martin's players must also be held responsible for Southend's poor season as they continue to squander the chances which win games and make football clubs successful as well as keep managers in their jobs.

Martin reverted to a flat back-four at Chester - pushing right-back Mark Beard into a central midfield role alongside the much-improved Kevin Maher, and Alex Burns replaced groin injury victim Trevor Fitzpatrick up front.

However, this was the fourth time Martin had shuffled his pack in as many games and during the opening exchanges his side looked far from comfortable.

None more so than David Morley, who had a short but nightmarish afternoon as he was harshly booked for a foul and replaced by Blues' assistant boss Mick Gooding after only 42 minutes.

It was left to Blues keeper Martyn Margetson to keep his side in the game during the opening exchanges.

The Welshman had to get down low to save a Mike Conroy half-volley and also did well to smother a point-blank shot from John Murphy following a rare slip from Southend skipper Simon Coleman.

However, the Shrimpers gradually began to get to grips with their visitors thanks to some slick passing football which workmanlike Chester found too hot to handle.

Barry Conlon should have done better when he headed Scott Houghton's far-post cross straight into home custodian Neil Cutler's arms and Maher was also denied by the keeper with the goal at his mercy before half-time.

Southend failed to take the lead again two minutes after the restart when Burns latched onto a fumble from Cutler and squared the ball back to Gooding, but the 39-year-old somehow found the outstretched boot of home defender Martin Lancaster and not the empty net.

Burns and Houghton both had shots saved and deflected wide before the charmed life of Chester's goal scaled even greater heights on 66 minutes.

Left-back Keith Dublin met a Simon Livett free-kick with a fierce header which Cutler saved and as Lancaster attempted to scramble the ball away his clearance smashed against Coleman and ricocheted against the crossbar.

Then the inevitable happened - Chester scored. Margetson had just pulled off another first-class save from Murphy before the Chester hitman eventually got it right after 77 minutes when he raced past Dublin and volleyed home Conroy's lofted cross.

Eight minutes later Chester shot themselves in the foot when they were reduced to 10-men after Sam Aiston pushed Gooding to the floor, which signalled a final Blues onslaught on the home goal.

Southend's final chance seemed to have disappeared in the last minute as Conlon hit a goal-bound effort against Coleman - but Chester's savaged rearguard finally submitted five minutes into injury time.

Houghton's corner dropped into the middle of a muddy Chester penalty box and Newman threw himself at the bobbling ball to finally slide home the equaliser.

Riding a tackle - Simon Coleman had a solid game for Blues

(Right) Closing in - Keith Dublin, left, and Simon Coleman keep an eye on Chester's Sam Aiston Southend travel to the West Country for the second time in a week when they meet Exeter City in the second round of the Auto Windscreens Shield tomorrow night.

Exeter are currently one place below Blues in the league after beating Carlisle 3-1 away on Saturday.

The Devon side beat Southend 2-1 at home when they met in the league earlier this season. With league leaders Cardiff playing in the third round of the FA Cup, second-placed Brentford moved to within a point of the Welsh side after beating Barnet 3-1 at home.

A point in the 2-2 away draw with Hartlepool was enough to push Cambridge up to third spot at the expense of Mansfield.

Southend remain 16th, a point behind the two clubs above them, Chester and Rochdale, and a point above Exeter City.

In the other Division Three games played on Saturday, Darlington beat Rochdale 3-0, Shrewsbury and Halifax drew 2-2 and Torquay drew 1-1 with seventh placed Brighton.

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