Woking came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Southend United in the National League.

Substitute Aiden O’Brien’s 61st-minute equaliser earned the Cards a share of the spoils in front of a crowd of 3,583 at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

Following a quick turnaround after Friday night’s 1-0 defeat at Hornchurch, Woking returned to the Laithwaite Community Stadium to face Southend United on Bank Holiday Monday.

The visitors came into the fixture in third place, having adjusted to life under Kieron Dyer admirably.

Fixtures between these two sides previously have been hotly contested, with nothing separating the teams in both matches last season.

The current FA Trophy holders, however, started the quicker of the two sides. Southend forced a wave of corners and Ben Goodliffe headed wide from close range with the goal gaping.

Chances remained limited in the first 20 minutes of the match, before some wonderful footwork from Southend winger Lewys Twamley created space for him, allowing him to curl an effort from long range towards Cards keeper Will Jaasklainen, who was equal to his effort.

Steven Turner was the first to test Joe Duncan in the Southend United goal, however his overhead kick was comfortable for Duncan.

Minutes later, the visitors had another gilt-edged chance to take the lead as Anthony Georgiou was caught in possession by Twamley.

Twamley, bearing down on goal, rounded Jaasklainen, before Georgiou made a last-ditch block to make amends for his error, before Harry Cardwell diverted a first-time effort wide as the visitors pushed for the opener.

The opener soon arrived for the away side as Josh Popoola was adjudged to have been felled in the box before Cardwell converted the penalty in the 38th minute.

The Shrimpers continued to push for another goal following their opener and perhaps should have doubled their lead before half-time, as Cardwell saw his effort saved one-on-one from Jaaskalainen and captain Oli Coker blasted over from the rebound.

The Cards made a triple substitution at half-time and started the second half on the front foot as Roy Syla was unable to convert a goalmouth scramble and Duncan saved efforts from Matt Ward and Liam Dulson.

One of the half-time substitutes, Jake Forster-Caskey, also tried his luck on the half-volley, only to see his effort bounce wide.

The pressure soon paid dividends as Woking levelled up the game courtesy of O’Brien, who followed in to turn home on 61 minutes after efforts from Syla and Dulson were both palmed away by Duncan.

In the following 20 minutes, both sides had their share of chances, including Ward curling wide for Woking.

Woking nearly scored a later winner as the match drew to a close, with Forster-Caskey’s 88th-minute free-kick forcing Duncan to make a sharp save and tip the ball over the bar.

Neither side were able to find a winner in stoppage-time, and the points were shared at the end of a competitive encounter at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.

Woking: Jaaskalainen, Odusina (Tunji Akinola 46), Okoli, Ogie, Asare (Putman 83), Syla, Timmy Akinola (Forster-Caskey 46), Turner, Georgiou (O’Brien 46), Ward, Dulson (Harris 71).

Unused substitutes: Ross, Sohna.

Attendance: 3,583.

By Cameron Donaldson