Christophe earns derby day draw

Southend strike late to deny Colchester win

Last updated: 1st November 2008

Christophe earns derby day draw

Christophe: Late equaliser

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A dramatic injury-time goal secured Southend a share of the spoils in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Colchester in the Essex derby.

The Shrimpers threw away a 2-0 advantage to see the Us take a 3-2 lead, but Jean-Francois Christophe bundled the ball home three minutes into stoppage time to earn a point.

Southend took the lead in the eighth minute when Dan Harding floated in a free-kick from the right to the far post, where Peter Clarke beat Colchester goalkeeper Dean Gerken from 15 yards.

And the hosts doubled their advantage in the 13th minute when Lee Sawyer crossed from the right flank, Alex Revell failed to make proper contact and Francis Laurent slid the ball home from six yards.

The visitors reduced the deficit after 35 minutes when Johnnie Jackson's free-kick from 25 yards took a deflection off the five-man wall and beat Adam Federici's dive to the right.

A scrappy second half saw few chances until Mark Yeates equalised for Colchester after 71 minutes. David Perkins' run went unchecked and he passed to Yeates, who rode several tackles before rifling the ball past a diving Federici from just inside the box.

And the Us went ahead in the 81st minute when unmarked substitute Anthony Wordsworth headed in John White's centre from the right byline at the far post seven minutes after coming on.

Christophe grabbed the late equaliser when Kevin Betsy's left-wing corner was nodded on by Clarke and the French midfielder bundled the ball over the line.