Southend United and Rochdale indicated why they are level on points in the League Two table by playing out an evenly-contested 1-1 draw at Roots Hall tonight.
Teenage striker Jamie Allen gave the visitors a 14th-minute lead, but Kevan Hurst continued his fine scoring form by netting Southend's equaliser just prior to the break.
Allen, 18, scored only his second professional goal with a curling effort from a yard inside the box, after Ian Henderson's initial effort had been blocked into his path.
Preston North End loanee Graham Cummins could have improved Dale's position on 21 minutes when he stooped to head over the crossbar from six yards, and Keith Hill's side, eighth in the table ahead of kickoff, continued to threaten.
However, two last-ditch interventions on the line by Luke Prosser, who first denied Scott Hogan and then foiled Henderson's shot moments later, kept Southend's deficit to just one goal, and Hurst cancelled that out on 44 minutes.
The midfielder netted his sixth goal in his last eight games after collecting Barry Corr's flick-on from a long ball on the inside left and shooting into the top corner to earn the Shrimpers half-time parity.
Corr had the best opportunity for either side after the interval, but his looping header on 84 minutes grazed the top of the crossbar, as Southend had to be content with a point against their fellow playoff hopefuls, who remain below them on goal difference.
