Padraig Amond scrambled a late equaliser to rescue a point for 10-man Accrington Stanley at promotion-chasing Southend United.

Jamie Devitt opened the scoring from the edge of the box for Stanley before Luke Prosser levelled at the back post.

Southend led when Elliot Benyon finished Neil Harris's cut back.

Michael Liddle saw red for a challenge on Anthony Grant but Kevin McIntyre's injury-time corner was bundled over the line by Amond to deny the Shrimpers.

The final touch looked like it might have have come off home keeper Cameron Belford on its way into the net.

The draw keeps Southend in the top three in League Two, above Cheltenham on goal difference, while Paul Cook is still searching for his first win as Stanley boss.

Cook was sent to the stands following Southend's second goal as the assistant referee had flagged for a foul in the build-up, although the referee overruled him.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Southend manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:

"It feels like a defeat, but I think we've got to be positive about the whole scenario. Accrington played very well on the day, you've got to give them total credit for their performance."

"To be 2-1 up, with two or three minutes (left) and one player (advantage), to be ill-disciplined in the situation, it cost us dear.

"It [the cross for the equaliser] can be headed away, and it isn't. You are expecting that your whole team are defending properly.

"To lose a goal off a corner in the last minute is sickening for everybody."

Lineup, Bookings (8) & Substitutions (6)

Southend

  • 35 Belford
  • 02 Clohessy
  • 03 Gilbert
  • 15 Phillips
  • 16 Prosser
  • 07 Grant Booked
  • 08 Timlin
  • 11 Sawyer (Hall - 54' )
  • 14 Martin
  • 09 Harris (Ferdinand - 89' Booked )
  • 26 Sampson (Benyon - 59' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Ferdinand
  • 27 Baldwin
  • 04 Hall
  • 24 Benyon
  • 31 Flood

Accrington Stanley

  • 22 Nicholls
  • 02 Coid Booked (Evans - 54' )
  • 05 Nsiala Booked
  • 12 Murphy
  • 29 Liddle Dismissed
  • 08 Barnett Booked
  • 11 Joyce
  • 14 McIntyre
  • 17 Devitt Booked (Guthrie - 86' )
  • 07 Lindfield Booked (Hatfield - 79' )
  • 23 Amond

Substitutes

  • 25 Dunbavin
  • 18 Willis
  • 30 Hatfield
  • 09 Guthrie
  • 19 Evans
Ref: Danny McDermid
Att: 5,954

Match Stats

Shots

10 7

On target

2 6

Corners

5 7

Fouls

7 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:09 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +1:02

Assist by Kevin McIntyre. Effort from outside the penalty box by Anthony Grant goes wide right of the goal.

90:00 +1:02 Goal scored

Goal - Padraig Amond - Southend 2 - 2 Accrington Padraig Amond finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Southend 2-2 Accrington Stanley.

90:00 +0:53

Corner taken left-footed by Kevin McIntyre to the near post,

90:00 +0:26

Corner taken by Kevin McIntyre played to the near post, Sean Clohessy manages to make a clearance.

89:46 Booking

Booking Booking for Kane Ferdinand.

89:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kane Ferdinand on Aristote Nsiala. Lee Nicholls restarts play with the free kick.

88:33

Peter Gilbert takes the free kick.

88:33 Substitution

Substitution Kane Ferdinand comes on in place of Neil Harris.

88:33

Anthony Grant fouled by Peter Murphy, the ref awards a free kick.

86:34

Sean Clohessy delivers the ball, clearance made by Peter Murphy.

85:42 Substitution

Substitution Kurtis Guthrie replaces Jamie Devitt.

81:36

Free kick taken by Michael Timlin.

81:36 Booking

Booking Caution for Anthony Grant.

81:30 Booking

Booking Aristote Nsiala booked for unsporting behaviour.

80:04 Dismissal

Dismissal Michael Liddle is shown a red card for serious foul play.

79:50

Michael Liddle concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Grant.

79:14

Corner taken left-footed by Kevin McIntyre to the near post, Ryan Hall makes a clearance.

78:04

Lee Nicholls takes the free kick.

78:04 Substitution

Substitution Will Hatfield is brought on as a substitute for Craig Lindfield.

78:04

Elliot Benyon challenges Aristote Nsiala unfairly and gives away a free kick.

77:28

David Martin has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

75:27

Assist by Neil Harris.

75:27 Goal scored

Goal - Elliot Benyon - Southend 2 - 1 Accrington Elliot Benyon scores a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Southend 2-1 Accrington Stanley.

75:27

Centre by Neil Harris,

74:00

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ryan Hall.

72:30

Ryan Hall takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Neil Harris produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

70:39

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie Devitt by Luke Prosser. Free kick crossed by Kevin McIntyre, Cameron Belford makes a save.

70:07

Michael Timlin delivers the ball, save by Lee Nicholls.

68:12

Kevin McIntyre takes the inswinging corner, Header from close in by Aristote Nsiala misses to the right of the target.

66:58

Anthony Grant has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses left.

66:28

The ball is crossed by Sean Clohessy, clearance by Peter Murphy.

64:35

Ryan Hall provided the assist for the goal.

64:35 Goal scored

Goal - Luke Prosser - Southend 1 - 1 Accrington Luke Prosser scores a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Southend 1-1 Accrington Stanley.

63:44

Ryan Hall restarts play with the free kick.

63:44 Booking

Booking Charlie Barnett receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

63:32

Unfair challenge on Anthony Grant by Charlie Barnett results in a free kick.

61:39

The assistant referee flags for offside against Neil Harris. Lee Nicholls takes the direct free kick.

61:18

The assistant referee flags for offside against Padraig Amond. Direct free kick taken by Cameron Belford.

60:26

Handball decision goes against Elliot Benyon. Peter Murphy takes the direct free kick. A cross is delivered by Padraig Amond.

60:10

A cross is delivered by David Martin, Luke Joyce makes a clearance.

59:22

Ryan Hall produces a left-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the target.

58:39

The assistant referee flags for offside against Elliot Benyon. Direct free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

58:03 Substitution

Substitution Elliot Benyon is brought on as a substitute for Jack Sampson.

56:04

Ryan Hall concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Liddle. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Devitt.

55:14

Jamie Devitt delivers the ball.

54:31

The ball is crossed by Micah Evans.

53:31 Substitution

Substitution Micah Evans replaces Danny Coid.

53:31 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Hall replaces Lee Sawyer.

52:26

Lee Sawyer has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the goal.

52:00

Peter Murphy takes a shot. Cameron Belford makes a save.

51:35

Danny Coid sends in a cross, clearance made by Luke Prosser.

50:06

Lee Sawyer produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

49:20

Jamie Devitt takes a inswinging corner to the near post.

49:00

Jamie Devitt takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Prosser.

48:47

The ball is crossed by Craig Lindfield.

47:25

The assistant referee flags for offside against Jack Sampson. Lee Nicholls takes the free kick.

46:12

Jack Sampson takes a shot. Save made by Lee Nicholls.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +3:54 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +3:10 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Jamie Devitt for unsporting behaviour.

45:00 +3:01

Unfair challenge on Anthony Grant by Jamie Devitt results in a free kick. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

45:00 +2:07 Booking

Booking Craig Lindfield goes into the book.

45:00 +1:56

Craig Lindfield gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Timlin. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

45:00 +1:22

Outswinging corner taken by Craig Lindfield from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Michael Timlin.

45:00 +1:16

The ball is crossed by Danny Coid, clearance made by Luke Prosser.

45:00 +0:35

The ball is delivered by Danny Coid, Luke Prosser makes a clearance.

44:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Peter Gilbert by Padraig Amond. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

42:30

A cross is delivered by Lee Sawyer.

40:47 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Devitt - Southend 0 - 1 Accrington Goal scored by Jamie Devitt from outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Southend 0-1 Accrington Stanley.

40:20 Booking

Booking Danny Coid is booked.

39:28

Jack Sampson produces a cross, Danny Coid makes a clearance.

38:30

Neil Harris is ruled offside. Direct free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

37:05

Foul by Aristote Nsiala on Neil Harris, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by David Martin.

34:45

David Martin has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.

34:11

Corner taken right-footed by Lee Sawyer from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Padraig Amond.

33:57

A cross is delivered by Sean Clohessy, Peter Murphy makes a clearance.

32:56

Jamie Devitt takes a shot. Save by Cameron Belford.

25:32

The ball is delivered by David Martin.

24:06

Corner from the right by-line taken by Lee Sawyer, Lee Nicholls fouled by David Martin, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lee Nicholls.

24:01

The ball is crossed by Lee Sawyer, Luke Joyce manages to make a clearance.

21:35

Peter Gilbert crosses the ball, clearance made by Kevin McIntyre.

20:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Aristote Nsiala on Anthony Grant. Cameron Belford takes the direct free kick.

20:23

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jamie Devitt, save made by Cameron Belford.

18:06

Craig Lindfield crosses the ball, clearance made by Mark Phillips.

16:43

Craig Lindfield takes a shot. Luke Prosser gets a block in.

16:01

Padraig Amond is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Cameron Belford takes the free kick.

15:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Charlie Barnett by Lee Sawyer. Direct free kick taken by Kevin McIntyre.

14:50

Lee Sawyer takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Padraig Amond manages to make a clearance.

14:44

David Martin produces a cross, clearance made by Michael Liddle.

14:09

Anthony Grant fouled by Peter Murphy, the ref awards a free kick. Sean Clohessy restarts play with the free kick.

13:25

The ball is sent over by Lee Sawyer, Aristote Nsiala makes a clearance.

11:31

Peter Murphy fouled by Anthony Grant, the ref awards a free kick. Luke Joyce takes the free kick.

5:47

The ball is crossed by Jamie Devitt, save made by Cameron Belford.

4:30

Charlie Barnett crosses the ball, Cameron Belford makes a clearance.

1:24

The ball is swung over by David Martin, save by Lee Nicholls.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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