A second-half strike from Ian Goodison secured a valuable 1-1 draw for struggling Tranmere at Southend.
Shrimpers rue missed chance as Rovers capitalise
A second-half strike from Ian Goodison secured a valuable 1-1 draw for struggling Tranmere at Southend.
The Shrimpers took the lead through Scott Vernon's 15th minute penalty, but three minutes into the second-half Goodison fired home to earn Rovers a much-needed point.
Southend went ahead when French forward Francis Laurent was brought down in the box by Rovers defender Zoumana Bakayogo.
Vernon stepped up to take the spot-kick and opened the scoring and also his account for the League One club.
Despite neither goalkeeper being really tested in the remainder of the half, Southend should have doubled their advantage in stoppage-time when Simon Francis' free-kick was headed over from six yards by Laurent.
The hosts were made to rue that chance shortly after the interval when Paul McLaren's corner was volleyed in by Gareth Edds for Goodison to smash home from close range.
Southend shot-stopper Steve Mildenhall kept his side in the game with a fine one-handed save to stop Ian Thomas-Moore from adding a second for Rovers five minutes later.
